Kia EV4: The Earth moved

What is it?

The Kia EV4 Earth Long Range arrives with a problem.

Before we had driven a single kilometre, explored a menu or even adjusted the driver’s seat, I found myself staring at the styling and wondering what happened in the design studio.

The EV4 has the awkwardness of a teenager who has not quite grown into their limbs.

Some panels are sharp and futuristic, others seem oddly conservative.

Character lines start with confidence then appear to lose interest halfway along the bodywork.

From certain angles it resembles an EV6 that has spent a few months stored in a square box.

Yet the longer I live with it, the less I care.

That is because the EV4 commits a motoring crime that should be encouraged more often: it prioritises the experience of actually driving the car over creating social media content in a dealership car park.

After a week of commuting, highway touring and a run through the Royal National Park to Scarborough, the EV4 emerges as one of the most comfortable and capable electric cars Kia has produced.

The irony is that its greatest strengths are almost completely hidden beneath a body that struggles to generate much excitement.

If the exterior leaves you scratching your head, the interior quickly restores confidence.

EV4’s cabin feels fresh, spacious and thoughtfully designed.

Kia’s latest curved display arrangement remains among the better executions of modern digital dashboards, managing to feel hi-tech without descending into the touchscreen madness that has infected much of the industry.

The Earth grade sits in a sensible sweet spot.

Buyers miss out on the head-up display, seat ventilation and a few premium extras found in the GT-Line, but the specification still feels generous.

Heated seats, power adjustment and quality materials create an environment that feels considerably more expensive than the price tag suggests.

What impresses most is the sense of space. The cabin feels lighter and airier than an EV6, partly because the dashboard design is cleaner and partly because visibility is excellent.

Rear seat accommodation is generous enough for adults, while the flat floor and wide cabin make it easy to carry three passengers when necessary.

Kia has also fixed one of the EV6’s most annoying features by separating climate controls from the media controls.

It sounds trivial, but being able to adjust the temperature without accidentally changing radio stations is the sort of practical improvement owners appreciate every single day.

Not everything is perfect. The steering wheel still lacks a little reach adjustment for taller drivers, and the absence of a head-up display is noticeable once you have become accustomed to having speed and navigation directions projected into your line of sight.

What’s it cost?

The Earth Long Range sits around the $60,000 mark before on-road costs, positioning the EV4 in the thick of the mid-size electric mainstream. That money buys the larger 81.4 kWh battery, the single-motor drivetrain and a specification level that feels carefully judged rather than stripped bare.

Equipment in the Earth trim includes heated front seats, power-adjustable seating, the curved digital instrument and infotainment display, quality cabin materials and Kia’s full suite of active safety systems.

The main omissions compared with the GT-Line are luxuries such as the head-up display, seat ventilation and a handful of premium trim elements, but the Earth rarely feels second-best from behind the wheel.

Infotainment is handled by Kia’s latest CCNC platform, presented on that wide curved screen.

Wireless Apple CarPlay is supported, along with the usual digital radio, embedded navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

The audio system is competent rather than spectacular, but it matches the car’s broader emphasis on comfort and refinement rather than outright flash.

Safety is well covered, with the expected portfolio of driver-assistance technologies: autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automatic lane changing.

ANCAP has yet to publish a rating for the EV4, but based on Kia’s recent form and the strength of the safety suite, it would be a surprise if it did not perform strongly once tested.

Warranty coverage follows Kia’s established Australian pattern, with seven years of vehicle warranty and additional battery coverage, backed by capped-price servicing.

Combined with the relatively modest running costs typical of electric vehicles, the ownership package should prove reassuring for buyers making the switch from petrol or diesel.

What’s it go like?

Visually the EV4 is a mixed bag, but in practical terms it delivers.

The footprint sits slightly below an EV6 yet above the smallest urban EVs, making it an easy fit in city traffic and multi-storey car parks.

The turning circle is manageable, and the raised seating position together with generous glass areas makes it straightforward to place on the road.

Getting in and out is simple, aided by wide door apertures and sensible seat heights.

Cabin fit-out, as mentioned, feels impressively upmarket.

Materials largely avoid the hard, hollow plastics still found in some rivals, and the overall design is clean and logical.

Controls fall easily to hand, and the separate climate strip helps ensure daily usability.

Underneath, the EV4 Earth Long Range is built around an 81.4 kWh battery feeding a single electric motor on the front axle.

Outputs are 150kW and 283Nm, enough to push the EV4 from rest to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.

Drive goes to the front wheels rather than all four, and in normal conditions traction proves sufficient without drama.

Official consumption and the WLTP range claim of up to 612km suggest an efficient package, and in everyday driving that impression is largely borne out.

On the road, the EV4 shines brightest.

Australian suspension tuning expert Graham Gambold has once again demonstrated why local chassis development is the magic wand.

Plenty of manufacturers arrive with global suspension settings and simply hope for the best; Kia continues investing in Australian tuning and the results are obvious within minutes.

The EV4 rides beautifully.

Sydney’s roads are goat tracks with potholes resembling coal mines.

Expansion joints, potholes, patchwork repairs and coarse-chip surfaces expose weaknesses very quickly, yet the EV4 absorbs most imperfections with remarkable composure.

It settles quickly after larger bumps, remains quiet over rough surfaces and never develops the nervous fidgeting that affects many electric vehicles riding on large wheels.

The drive south through the Royal National Park highlights just how well judged the setup is.

The EV4 is not a sports sedan and never pretends to be one, but it flows confidently along winding roads while maintaining impressive comfort.

The steering has a natural weight and accuracy that encourages confidence without feeling artificially heavy, while the chassis remains composed enough to make spirited driving enjoyable when the mood strikes.

Over long distances the EV4 feels particularly relaxed.

After several hours behind the wheel, fatigue simply is not a factor.

That quality is difficult to capture on a specification sheet, yet it remains one of the most valuable characteristics any touring car can possess.

Electric vehicles continue to live and die by one statistic: range.

The EV4 Earth Long Range carries that 81.4 kWh battery and claims up to 612km of WLTP driving range.

Real-world conditions obviously vary, but throughout my time with the vehicle the range performance consistently impresses.

Unlike some electric cars that encourage constant battery monitoring, the EV4 quickly fades into the background.

Journeys become about destinations rather than charging strategies, which is exactly how EV ownership should feel.

For many Australians considering the switch to electric motoring, range anxiety remains the final hurdle.

The EV4 does an excellent job of removing that concern.

Whether commuting, touring or tackling a longer regional drive, there is sufficient capacity to make the experience feel remarkably normal.

That may sound like faint praise, but normality is exactly what many buyers are seeking.

While the range figures impress, the performance figures generate a slightly different reaction.

The Earth Long Range produces 150kW and 283Nm, sufficient to reach 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.

Those numbers are not disappointing in isolation, but context matters.

At around $60,000 before on-road costs, the EV4 competes against increasingly capable rivals.

Buyers comparing specifications will quickly notice that vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 Long Range and BYD Seal offer considerably stronger performance for similar money.

The EV4 never feels sluggish. Around town it responds instantly and overtaking requires little planning, thanks to the inherent advantages of electric torque delivery.

However, there is a difference between being adequately quick and feeling genuinely brisk, and the Kia sits firmly in the former category.

Charging performance presents a similar story.

The maximum DC charging rate of 128kW is perfectly usable, but no longer feels especially competitive.

Given the asking price and Kia’s broader EV ambitions, a faster charging capability would have strengthened the package considerably.

Neither issue is a deal breaker, but both feel like missed opportunities in what is otherwise a thoughtfully engineered vehicle.

Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 system introduces automatic lane changing, a feature that feels mildly miraculous the first few times it works.

Activate the system, indicate towards the desired lane and the car performs the manoeuvre on your behalf.

It checks surrounding traffic, confirms the path is clear and executes the lane change smoothly enough to feel almost human.

Most of the time.

The challenge comes during the drive towards the Royal National Park, where the system appears uncertain about whether the Princes Highway qualifies as a highway.

Some sections activate the feature exactly as expected, while others refuse to cooperate despite appearing almost identical.

When active, the system generally performs well. However, the occasional uncertainty undermines confidence and leaves you wondering whether the car is following a set of rules known only to itself.

Lane centring could also be more precise. The EV4 occasionally drifts within its lane more than the best systems currently available, although it never behaves in a way that feels genuinely concerning.

Kia’s CCNC infotainment platform continues to improve, but it remains capable of occasional mischief.

Wireless Apple CarPlay experiences intermittent connection issues during the test period, with unexpected dropouts occurring often enough to be noticeable.

The system generally recovers quickly, but it serves as another reminder that modern vehicles increasingly resemble smartphones on wheels.

Fortunately, the interface itself remains straightforward and attractive.

Menus are logically arranged, screen responsiveness is good and most functions are easy to access without burying drivers beneath unnecessary complexity.

Even so, the occasional glitches prevent the technology experience from matching the excellence found elsewhere in the vehicle.

What we like?

• Comfortable, well-judged suspension tuning for Australian roads
• Spacious, thoughtfully designed cabin that feels more upmarket than the price suggests
• Strong real-world range that makes everyday EV use feel normal
• Clear, logical controls with separate climate and media functions improving usability

What we don’t like?

• Styling that divides opinion and may struggle to turn heads
• Performance that is adequate but outgunned by key rivals at similar prices
• DC charging speed that now feels merely acceptable rather than competitive
• Driver-assistance and infotainment systems that occasionally behave inconsistently

The bottom line?

The Kia EV4 Earth Long Range presents an unusual dilemma.

On paper, there are faster electric cars. There are electric cars that charge more quickly. There are certainly electric cars that attract more admiring glances in shopping centre car parks.

Yet after spending a decent time in the saddle, none of those observations feels especially important.

What Kia has created is an exceptionally comfortable, refined and practical long-distance electric tourer.

The suspension tuning is superb, the cabin is thoughtfully designed and the range performance removes much of the anxiety still associated with electric vehicle ownership.

More power would be welcome, faster charging would strengthen the value equation and the styling remains an acquired taste, but those shortcomings fade surprisingly quickly once the kilometres begin accumulating.

The EV4 may not be the car that captures your attention from across the street.

It is, however, the car that quietly wins you over from behind the wheel. In many ways, that is the more impressive achievement.

 

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