Kia EV4 Reaches 2026 European Car of the Year Final
Kia’s latest electric contender, the EV4, has made it to the final round of the 2026 European Car of the Year awards. It joins six rivals in what promises to be one of the most competitive shortlists in recent years.
Kia’s record at the Car of the Year competition shows steady progress, with its electric strategy paying clear dividends:
2008 – Ceed, finalist
2018 – Stinger, finalist
2019 – Ceed, 3rd place
2022 – EV6, winner
2023 – Niro, finalist
2024 – EV9, finalist
2025 – EV3, 2nd place
Now the EV4 joins that list, hoping to repeat the success of the EV6 and secure Kia’s second title in just four years.
Facing Strong Rivals
The EV4 will compete against the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric, Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Škoda Elroq. Together, these cars reflect Europe’s accelerating shift toward practical electric mobility rather than futuristic experimentation.
Balanced and European by Design
Kia describes the EV4’s strength as balance: the blend of European-style handling, Korean technology and a price that remains within reach for mainstream buyers. If the jury prioritises engineering finesse, efficiency and everyday usability, the EV4 could well follow the trail blazed by the EV6.
Crucially, it’s the first fully electric Kia built in Europe, produced at the company’s Žilina plant in Slovakia. It sits on the familiar E-GMP platform, shared with the EV6 and EV9.
Range, Efficiency and Charging
The hatchback version delivers up to 625 kilometres of range, while the sleeker Fastback stretches that to 633 kilometres, thanks to an impressive 0.23 Cd drag coefficient. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes around 30 minutes, courtesy of the 800-volt architecture and the new 81.4 kWh battery pack, with a smaller 58.3 kWh option also available.
Engineered for Europe
Kia emphasises that the EV4 was tuned specifically for European roads. Suspension and handling calibration took place at the brand’s technical centre in Germany (HMETC), resulting in a chassis designed for stability and confidence at motorway speeds.
Interior and Technology
Inside, the EV4 follows Kia’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, pairing clean, minimalist lines with advanced technology and meticulous detailing. The driver-focused cockpit integrates modern digital interfaces without clutter.
Equipment highlights include Digital Key 2, over-the-air software updates (OTA), and smartphone integration via the Kia app, which allows users to monitor charging and driving statistics remotely. The EV4 also connects to Kia’s rapidly expanding European charging network, now boasting more than one million charging points across the continent.
A Confident Contender
Stylish, efficient and grounded in European sensibilities, the Kia EV4 represents the brand’s growing maturity in the electric era. Whether it takes home the top prize remains to be seen, but its presence among the finalists confirms that Kia’s electric strategy is no longer about catching up—it’s about leading from the front.
