Kia has broadened its electric line-up further with the start of sales for its EV4 in hatchback guise.

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Priced from £34,695, the Citroën ë-C4 and Volkswagen ID.3 rival offers the longest driving range of any Kia EV produced to date, with up to 388 miles on a single charge, and will be joined by a saloon-bodied Fastback version later.

For now, the focus is on the hatchback body style, which is available from launch with two battery options and a three-grade line-up similar to the EV3, EV6 and EV9.

Debuted at the brand’s EV Day in Spain in February 2025, it’s Kia’s first-ever electric C-segment hatchback and a core model that sits between the EV3 and EV5 SUVs.

Built on the E-GMP platform that also underpins Kia and Hyundai’s other EVs, the EV4 is tailored to European tastes, both with a hatchback bodystyle and a handling set-up developed on European roads and conditions.

As with the EV3, EV6 and EV9, the line-up adopts a three-tier model format featuring Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S grades.

The entry-level Air version is offered with a choice of 58.3kWh standard-range or 81.4kWh long-range battery packs, with the ability to travel up to 273 miles (WLTP) on the smaller battery, or up to 388 miles on the larger 81.4kWh version. The latter heralds the first time that one of the brand’s EVs has offered a range of up to more than 380 miles on a single charge.

Both the GT-Line and the top-spec GT-Line S come solely with the 81.4kWh long-range battery pack, offering a range of 362 miles.

All versions are powered by a single front-mounted electric motor delivering 204hp and 283Nm of torque, and equipping the EV4 to accelerate from 0-62mph in as little as 7.5 seconds, onto a top speed of 105mph. Drive Mode Select gives a choice of Normal, Eco, Sport, MyDrive and Snow set-ups.

The 400V electrical architecture, also seen in the EV3, enables DC charging at up to 350kW, giving a 10-80% charge in 29 minutes, rising to 31 minutes for long-range models. The 11kW onboard charger accepts both single- and three-phase inputs and enables a 10-80% charge in five hours and 20 minutes, or seven hours and 15 minutes for models with the long-range battery.

Onboard tech includes Kia’s new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCNC), integrated into the dual 12.3-inch display and infotainment screens and with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a range of on-demand features. There’s also an additional 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen, accompanied by physical switches on the centre fascia to control heating and ventilation.

The Kia AI Assistant, also seen on the latest EV3 and powered by ChatGPT, can be used to interact with and control the vehicle’s features directly and intuitively.

Other standard equipment across the line-up includes start/stop button with smart entry system, free seven-year Kia Connect Bluetooth connection, six-speaker audio system and a raft of driver assistance features.

The hatchback bodystyle also comes with 60:40 split folding rear seats and boot space of 435 litres, with all seats upright, and starts customer deliveries in the autumn.

Details on the EV4 Fastback, including pricing and specifications, will be revealed closer to its arrival.

Kia EV4 prices – hatchback