Louth Motors: Can the stylish Kia EV4 out-muscle the Tesla Model 3?

Stick with me on this, it’s complicated.

Kia has just launched the EV4, a low-slung, full EV car that’s not trying to be a crossover or SUV.

There are two versions of it – a hatchback and a fastback. Both have that Kia “Tiger” face but have very different rears.

The fastback is 4,730mm long which is 300mm longer than the hatchback version. That translates into a boot size difference of 55litres in favour of the fastback.

I can’t praise any car company highly enough that resists the urge to flood their line-up with SUV models and here’s to more of them. And unless I double-checked it, I would not have believed that the fastback version is longer and lower than their EV6 - so it is quite a substantial car.

Despite my contradictory expectation I’m drawn to the fastback. And this is despite the boot opening - it’s hinged at the bottom of the back windscreen - not being the most practical in terms of ope size and kind of defeats the purpose of giving you more space.

I’d get frustrated trying to fit my bicycle in there, I know that. Its side profile meets the sleek claims and that substantial rear reminds me of the Renault Megane advert from the 2000’s using the Groove Armada song - I See You Baby (Shakin' That Ass).

I can’t’ see Kia’s advertising being quite so cheeky as Renault were back then but there’s certainly a lot of similar “look-at-me” rear action going on.

The target buyer is a tech-conscious driver who wants a premium electric feel and not obsessed with an SUV type car.

That word premium is important because the interior of the EV4 is premium. I felt nothing that would contradict that label and takes the EV4 into territory comfortably occupied by Tesla and the likes.

The layout is expansive and the mix of buttons for frequently controlled items works well even if some of those buttons are touch buttons.

Missing from the specification is the camera view of the side when you indicate that pops into the drivers display.

It was a bit of a Kia thing and didn’t make it onto the EV4, which is a shame. You could lose the start button that seems to be disappearing from cars as well in lieu of it.

It’s all to do with cost and factory packages that effect the price and that’s where the EV4 hits the gravel.

For the same money, give or take a trim spec, you could be in a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y.

That’s a tough argument to win because it feels like the Apple v Android argument transplanted onto cars. If they cost the same whey would you not choose the Tesla?

Those in the know would argue the Android is better all round but the buyers are opting for the Apple.

It won't be as clear-cut here and I reckon the EV4 will follow the huge sales success of the EV3 here, let’s see.

I took a long trip in the EV4 and avoided our N roads as much as possible and the comfort levels are tremendous.
It has that lovely, very easy to drive feel about it and wasn’t in any way tiring to drive.

It was perfect for my wife in the passenger seat too who noted the comfort and sereneness where usually she never comments much. So that’s serious praise.

In the back the sloping roof does not seem to be a penalty for passengers and it’s not an issue in the hatchback. It is very quiet with little exterior noise intrusion.

I found no qualm with its driving manners, being as assured as anyone could expect.

Corners were executed unruffled and in terms of feel I’d say it was good to very good.

The car’s profile helps with a low centre of gravity and non-motorway drives are a pleasure to undertake.

It’s a very stable car and the suspension suits my style of driving and back. Kia has mastered the art of one-pedal driving to an exceptional level and it’s the same here in the EV4. Some hate it, I adore it.

All models get an 81.4 kWh battery apart from the headline Earth2 entry hatchback model at €39,940 with a 58.3kWH battery.

Bigger battery range is between 584kms (hatchback) and 608kms in the sleeker fastback.

The standard Tesla Model 3 is deceptively sized and is actually just 10mm shorter than the EV4 Fastback, has a range of 513kms for €40,220 compared to the entry EV4 hatchback that has a range of 400kms.

Tesla has tellingly managed to get 113kms more range out of similarly sized batteries.
Kia though has that comforting 7-year warranty. Also, check out Kia’s Charge card.

Regardless of the EV you drive it has very competitive rates for public charging. It’ll take 31 mins to charge to 80% which is a lot longer than the EV6 at 18mins because Kia are not using their 800V battery architecture in the EV4 and are using 400V instead.

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But pre-conditioning is standard so you’ll reach those target recharge times every time.

As 2025 draws to a close the Kia EV4 was one of my more memorable test drives. It’s also a perplexing car for me.

It has made me consider positions I thought were sorted years ago and were non-negotiable - like a booted car.

So would I buy the EV4 Fastback over the EV4 Hatchback?

And being in the price bracket of both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y would I go for the Kia over the Tesla?

As I said at the outset, it’s complicated.