that debuts these days is an SUV — the nature of battery technology (and American car shopping preferences) almost necessitates it. So it’s refreshing to see Kia kicking off the 2025 New York Auto Show this week with the debut of the sharp-styled, new 2026 Kia EV4 electric sedan and the combustion-powered K4 Hatchback that squeezes lots of utility into smaller packages. Positioned at the entry point of Kia’s lineup, these slightly smaller cars will be pitched as more affordable options when they arrive next year, which is a big deal considering .

I’m most interested in and excited about the EV4, and I think you will be too. The EV4 makes its North American debut, playing fast and loose with what I think of as a traditional “sedan silhouette.” The EV4 leads with details and proportions scaled down from , one of my favorite EVs in its class, but the shape transitions abruptly at the rear doors into a sweeping fastback — almost as if Kia copy-pasted the rear end of its K4 sedan onto the EV. 

From some angles, the overall appearance is awkward and a little disjointed. However, I love it when auto designers get weird, and the sedan’s overall look is starting to grow on me.

Up to 330 miles of range

Beneath the sheet metal and glossy black plastic cladding, you’ll find the Hyundai Motor Group’s , which also underpins nearly all of HMG’s dedicated EV models, from to the . The EV4 will arrive in early 2026, powered by a single 150-kilowatt (201-horsepower) electric motor on its front axle and offered with two 400-volt battery options. The base EV4 Light features a 58.3 kilowatt-hour pack expected to deliver up to 235 miles per charge. Upgrading to the EV4 Wind or top-spec EV4 GT-Line steps up to an 81.4 kWh unit promising up to 330 miles of Kia-estimated range for the (presumably) lighter Wind.

Drivers will be able to rapidly juice their EV4 from 10% to 80% charged in 29 to 31 minutes (depending on which battery they’ve got) via the car’s built-in port. The EV4’s charging port has been relocated to the front passenger side, which the automaker thinks is a more convenient placement for charging when parked nose-in at Tesla Supercharger stations. Personally, I prefer the rear-corner position of HMG’s other EVs, but I’m also one of those annoying drivers who back into every parking spot when possible.

regenerative braking system, which automatically adjusts the level of regen based on speed, distance to a leading vehicle and more. The system now works in reverse and retains the driver’s preferred regeneration level when the EV4 is restarted. Like other E-GMP vehicles, this one is compatible with the automaker’s vehicle-to-load adapter, allowing owners to convert the external charging port into a familiar 120-volt/15-amp power outlet to run appliances, equipment or tools when the EV4 is parked.

Inside, the eye lingers on the EV4’s now-familiar dual 12.3-inch display digital dashboard with dedicated 5-inch climate display (similar to the dash of the EV9) before, hopefully, settling on the road ahead. The cabin tech suite includes the new Kia AI Assistant, which will help drivers keep their eyes off those screens while driving with natural language voice commands. Also available are Digital Key 2.0 tech, which lets drivers ditch the key fob for their phone, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and standard Highway Driving Assistant safety tech. The EV4’s software will be kept current with over-the-air updates and feature-on-demand purchases via the Kia Connect data connection, which owners must subscribe to maintain after the three-year included trial.

There are plenty of blanks that will need filling before the 2026 Kia EV4 hits US roads in early 2026, including EPA range and final pricing for the South Korean-manufactured EV. Expect more details to be announced in the coming months.

2026 Kia K4 Hatchback

For budget-minded shoppers not ready to make the leap to electric, the automaker also debuted a hatchback variant of its combustion-powered 2026 K4. Most of the specs are identical to the sedan until you get to the K4 Hatchback’s 22.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the rear seats (up from 14.6 cu-ft), which expands to 59.3 cubes when those seats fold flat. Interestingly, the Hatchback is also around 11 inches shorter from bumper to bumper, despite maintaining the same rear legroom, and boasts about an inch of extra rear headroom.

The 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback will be offered with either a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged 1.6-liter that boosts to 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. Expect the first examples to reach dealerships in late 2025 and pricing, fuel economy and other details to emerge before then.

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Antuan Goodwin started out in the automotive industry the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. Antuan now has 16 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars including electric vehicles, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion cars.

For each car tested, Antuan covers over 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics, acceleration and braking performance, range and efficiency.

Antuan’s goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you’re EV-curious, EV-enthusiast or combustion-car loyal, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists, and news you need.

You can reach Antuan at antuan.goodwin@cnet.com

Article updated on April 20, 2025 at 8:15 AM PDT

CNET staff — not advertisers, partners or business interests — determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.

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Antuan Goodwin started out in the automotive industry the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. Antuan now has 16 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars including electric vehicles, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion cars.

For each car tested, Antuan covers over 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics, acceleration and braking performance, range and efficiency.

Antuan’s goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you’re EV-curious, EV-enthusiast or combustion-car loyal, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists, and news you need.

You can reach Antuan at antuan.goodwin@cnet.com