(Credit: Kia)
The Kia EV4 made its North American debut at the New York Auto Show today, where we got a first look at the vehicle and new details about when US shoppers can get their hands on one.
The vehicle arrives in "early 2026," Kia says. Final pricing will come closer to launch, but Kia calls the vehicle "practical" and "affordable," so we expect at least one trim to be below $40,000. That puts Kia in a good position to accelerate its EV sales, but its cars are manufactured in Korea, so hopefully tariff negotiations are resolved by then to keep the price low.
"The arrival of the EV4 underscores Kia’s overall efforts to enhance the appeal of electric mobility to a wider audience—an audience that’s been witnessing the excitement around EVs for quite some time and are now ready to experience the outstanding benefits for themselves," says Steven Center, COO & EVP of Kia America.
Kia shared new details about the trims and 400-volt battery platform. Shoppers can choose between a smaller pack (58.3 kWh, Light trim) and a larger one (81.4 kWh long range, Wind and GT-Line trims.) They have between 235 and 330 miles of range and will charge in a respectable 30 minutes on a fast charger. The charge port (NACS) will work with Tesla Superchargers without an adapter, as we expect most EV brands will start debuting on 2026 models.
Aesthetically, the first thing we noticed when looking at the EV4 is its, well, big behind. The design aims to "emphasize the car’s rear presence and width," offering "fresh take on traditional sedan design, introducing a new typology," or classification, of vehicle type. It sits between a sedan and SUV; Kia admits the latter currently "dominate" the market. The highly rated EV6 has a similar look, though it's slightly larger.
"Establishing a new typology, the sedan combines a low nose, long-tail silhouette, and fastback roofline for a unique and sporty profile," Kia says.
Tech features include a digital key, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and in-car entertainment and connectivity packages. Drivers can choose from a wide range of interior themes, "such as their favorite NBA team, for a personalized cockpit aesthetic." Kia mentioned a new AI voice assistant with more "organic interaction and greater voice recognition," but didn't go into specifics on what types of requests it can handle.
A Level 2 driver assistance system can drive the car for you on highways, making sure to keep an appropriate distance from the car ahead and centered in the lane. The i-Pedal regenerative braking tech can recoup some range while driving. The vehicle can also use its battery to power up laptops, electronics, and lighting through its vehicle-to-load (V2L) tech.
New Kia EV9 Trim
(Credit: Emily Forlini/PCMag)Also at the New York Auto Show, Kia debuted an upgraded version of the EV9, which is the most affordable electric, 7-seat SUV available today with loads of tech, to boot.
This Nightfall Edition goes on sale in Q2. We're still awaiting pricing; Kia is teasing "sophisticated and aggressive styling" and performance upgrades. It features glossy black accents, bigger 20-inch wheels, more torque, and faster acceleration, reaching 60mph in 4.5 seconds. Kia also offers a Nightfall version of other vehicles like the Sportage and Telluride, but it's now available for the EV9 for the first time.
The EV9 Nightfall Edition also comes with a NACS charge port for Tesla Supercharging, and qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit because it is made in Georgia. "This award-winning SUV continues to be a landmark win for the Kia brand," says Center.
