Kia EV4 Protoype Spied For First Time

Even though it’s only been a few weeks since the debut of the EV3, we already have images of the upcoming EV4 thanks to spy shots caught by the South Korean YouTube channel Healer TV. In two separate videos, the model can be seen on a trailer covered in thick camouflage while the other shows off a very cropped shot of the vehicle’s interior. While much of the vehicle is still a mystery, both offer glimpses into what we can expect from the brand’s next electric sedan.

The model was first unveiled in concept form alongside the EV3 concept in the fall of 2023, with both showcasing Kia’s ambitious, futuristic design language that we had our first taste of with the larger EV9. The lighting elements are a massive departure from models like the EV6, even if the overall silhouette is very similar. Comparing the EV3 to its concept, you can tell Kia stayed pretty true to its original design, and we expect the EV4 to continue this trend.

Stays True To The Concept

Sitting on a transport carrier in the first video, you can tell the shape of the model is still set to be a compact sedan with a hatchback. The wheels it sports continue the black and silver trend of other models in the lineup, and you can make out the slit headlights ever so slightly through some black mesh that is just like the concept. Everything is pushed to the corners of the model helping to give it a much wider appearance.

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Sensors can be seen all around, with a prominent one that jets out in the front that we assume will be changed in the production model. There are much larger inlets in the front too, perhaps indicating greater cooling of some kind, but they also may just be there for testing purposes at this time. One thing you can see very well is the roof, which will offer cool double bumps that again seem to build on the EV6’s design with a little more added sportiness.

There’s only one picture of the interior, and it’s of the passenger seat, but it’s obvious the model is going to offer a minimalist design that will focus on sustainable materials like the use of mushroom roots as a replacement for leather and other materials. The company took inspiration from the Earth specifically for this model, so the color should be subtle greens and tans. Seat controls can be seen on the side that indicate plenty of movement for the optimal seating position.

How It Fits In The Lineup

As the name suggests, it will slot above the EV3 and below the EV6, bringing the brand’s electric lineup to five along with the 7-seat EV9 and the China-focused EV5. As a compact electric sedan, it enters a space only occupied by the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 in the US, giving it a lot of room to compete. We expect a starting price of around $35,000 to make it competitive, and production will start at the Gwangmyeong Plant 2 in South Korea, but could eventually shift to the US helping it to take advantage of the $7,500 EV Tax Credit.

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We expect performance to closely mirror the EV3, which will debut with up to 373 miles of WLTP-estimated range and a single front motor that produces 201 horsepower. Utilizing 400-volt architecture as a cost-cutting measure, it can be charged from 10-80% at a DC fast charger in around 30 minutes. As a slightly more expensive model, the EV4 could offer all-wheel drive from the start. With the EV3 set to arrive in mid-2025, expect the EV4 to arrive either later that year or in early.