
New York, NY — For 2026, Kia is expanding its “EV” line-up – we put “EV” in quotations here because in Kia’s case, “EV” is both a proper now and a powertrain designation – with the EV4 compact send, which took to the stage at the New York International Auto Show.
They’re calling it a sedan but with its aggressively-raked rear window it looks quite coupe-like, although it has a truck as opposed to a hatch so sedan it is. Otherwise, with the EV4 we see a unique design with many squared-off corners and edges – even the wheel wells are square-ish in that instead of being round, they’re formed from a series of acute angles like a hexagon with four sides; it’s neat, but makes the 19-inch wheels on the GT-Line pictured here look small. The vertical headlight lenses do well to fit in with the rest of Kia’s EV line-up, although the way the leading edge of the hood seeps steeply down does take some getting used to.
Inside, the round-but-not-round theme continues with the two-spoke oval steering wheel and rhombus like door pull surrounds, while the dash is fully digital and made up of twin 12.3” displays with a five-inch climate display nestled between. The only buttons seen on the dash are the hazard light switch and the button that changes one of two USB-C ports from a charge port to a plug-in for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The rest of the traditional switches are found on the steering wheel spokes and the gear selector takes the form of a stalk with an end cap. To top everything off in the infotainment department, the EV4 will be getting the latest version of Kia’s “Hey, Kia” AI assistant, which uses machine learning to improve voice-recognition response as well as a select few other features.

Both long- and standard-range options will be offered; standard range models get a 58.3 kWh battery while the long-range version gets a 81.4 kWh battery for a claimed range of 483 kilometres (330 miles), with the standard hitting 378 km (235 miles). To help get the most out of your charge, Kia has fitted the EV4 with its i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal drive system that allows drivers to come to a complete stop simply by releasing the throttle pedal, and recharging the battery as they do.
Of course as with any EV the range is one thing; the speed at which you can charge an EV is another important factor. The EV4 will feature support for ultra-fast NACS charging at launch, allowing for a 10-80 per cent charge time of around 30 minutes. Curiously, no power figures have yet been claimed; we’re expecting around 200 horsepower if the EV4 is going to compete with the likes of the Nissan Leaf.
Kia K4 Hatchback

Sharing the stand with the EV4 is a version of that car’s gas-powered K4 sedan sibling: the new K4 Hatchback. We saw an early version of the five-door compact hatch when the sedan was revealed at last year’s New York Auto Show, and now it’s here for real as a 2026 model.
Like the K4 sedan, it makes use of Kia’s new “Opposites United” design language and it works well. On the sedan, you can really see what that means when you look at the way the c-pillar meets the rear deck/trunk; it’s eye-catching to be sure, but a little awkward.
On the hatch, however, that interaction happens much more smoothly for a quasi “floating roof” look that works rather well. The proportions are also very good, with a nice, long hood, long roof and roof spoiler all combining to stretch the car’s profile for a more grounded, refined look. Add the bright yellow paint and dark wheels seen on the show car and there’s no other way to say it: the K4 hatchback is quite the looker.

Of course in addition to looking great, the switch to small wagon or hatchback means more rear headroom (with rear legroom equaling that of the sedan), and of course more rear cargo room to the tune of 1,679 litres with the rear seats folded.
Like the EV4, the K4 hatchback gets dual digital displays for the dash, as well as a central climate display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and if you want to splurge, you can add Harmon Kardon audio as well as heated front seats. There’s “Hey Kia” AI available, too, and it can play your music, get you directions and even adjust climate settings.
Power comes from two engine types: a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder good for 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque is standard, while the GT-Line model gets a 1.6L turbo four good for 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. The NA engine gets an intelligent variable automatic transmission, while the turbo motor comes paired with an eight-speed automatic.
Watch for the K4 Hatchback to arrive at dealers in late 2025 and the EV4 in early 2026, with pricing announced closer to the on-sale date.