Electric cars: Kia completes its electric portfolio at the Kia EV Day

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It's nice to defend a good reputation. Kia, part of the Hyundai Group from South Korea, has earned it with electric cars: the unconventional EV6 (test) has established the 800-volt interpretation of the e-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) and charges from ten to 80 percent in 18 minutes under ideal conditions. While the EV6 even towers over a VW ID.4, the EV3 is the compact counterpart that Volkswagen would like to see in the Golf segment.

Kia is now presenting its next electric cars at EV Day: The EV4 as a hatchback as well as a hatchback sedan with a large tailgate, the PV5 commercial vehicle series and a study of the upcoming EV2 small car. What these electric cars have in common is that, unlike the EV6 and EV9, they use the 400-volt version of the e-GMP with front-wheel drive. The frame data is familiar from the EV3. Nevertheless, not everything is identical. For example, the range of the EV4 as an aerodynamically favorable sedan (c_{W value} 0.23) is 630 km. That is 25 kilometers more than in the EV3 (test). This factory specification refers to the large traction battery with 81.4 kWh energy content. As in the EV3, there is a smaller option with 58.3 kWh and a range of 430 km. The hatchback can travel 590 or 410 km on a single charge in the WLTP.

Active with bidirectional charging

Kia is also positioning itself even more than before for V2X applications: Vehicle-To-X refers to bidirectional charging. In the first stage, this means that external devices such as a hedge trimmer or the induction hob in the caravan can be supplied with power. The second stage is electricity price-dependent bidirectional charging and discharging, which Kia is planning for 2026. Industry experts assume that, unlike Renault, the wallbox will use direct current instead of alternating current. The EV4 and the PV5 commercial vehicle are prepared for this. The manufacturer has not yet provided any information on the EV2 concept vehicle; however, it is likely that the small Kia V2X will be able to handle –. After all, the Hyundai Inster from the same group can do this.

Competitors to the Renault Megane, VW ID.7 and Citroën ë-C3

Who does the Kia EV4 compete with? As a hatchback, actually with the VW e-Golf. The BMW []1 Series is also only available with combustion engines for now. This leaves the Renault Megane E-Tech, for example, as a competitor.

The EV4 hatchback is aimed at the Tesla Model 3, the VW ID.7 or the BMW i4 (test), whereby the Kia, like the VW and the BMW, has a large tailgate rather than a stubby lid. The design language corresponds to Kia's modernist style. As a hatchback, the EV4 is 4.73 m long, 1.48 m high and 1.86 m wide. At 4.43 m, the hatchback differs only in length. The normal trunk capacities are 490 and 435 liters.

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Kia EV Day Pkw (8 Bilder)

Plausible speculation is also possible regarding the format of the EV2, although there is no information on the dimensions. The preview of the production version of the EV2 called Concept EV2 fits exactly into the B-segment, i.e., the Polo or Corsa class. The length is therefore likely to be around four meters. As the average European customer likes it, the EV2 is slightly raised and its proportions are similar to those of a Citroën ë-C3 (test). The Citroën is 4.02 m long, 1.76 m wide and 1.58 m high. While there are obvious similarities here, the driving assistance systems in particular are likely to be noticeably different.

Adaptive cruise control as standard

Kia, for example, equips almost all of its newer cars with adaptive cruise control, which regulates the distance to the vehicle in front based on the radar. The Hyundai Inster has it, so the EV2 also has it. There is not much more concrete information about the EV2. Before delivery in 2026, there is mainly marketing language. There is talk of a wide-opening tailgate “tailored to the urban lifestyle” and a “friendly welcome from a smiley projection in the driver's window”. However, Kia does not provide any information on battery size or range. A sideways glance at the slightly smaller Hyundai Inster: it has up to 49 kWh of energy content, which is enough for 370 km in the standard cycle. The EV2 could offer roughly this and perhaps a second, larger battery version as an option.

PV5 commercial vehicle with a range of up to 400 km

In addition to the two EV4s and the outlook for the EV2, Kia is also showing the PV5 commercial vehicle series at EV Day. In contrast to the retro design of the VW ID. Buzz (test), which is likely to work better on the US market than in Europe, the PV5 has a functional and straightforward design. The PV5 Passenger car has three rows of seats that can be “optimized” for luggage or camping scenarios. This can be translated as removable and foldable. The PV5 Passenger is available with either a 71.2 or 51.5 kWh battery. This should provide a range of up to 400 km; the charging time for all 400-volt-based Kias is between 29 and 31 minutes for ten to 80 percent. Depending on the battery size, the PV5 has an engine output of up to 120 kW and a maximum torque of 250 Nm.

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Kia EV Day II (11 Bilder)

Airline rails, chassis cab

A third battery size of 43.3 kWh can be ordered for the PV5 Cargo. The PV5 Cargo is also available with two wheelbases (standard: 4.70 m long, 1.90 m wide and 1.90 m high) and also as a high-roof version. The optional Airline rail system and, of course, the VL2 capability for supplying external electrical devices are attractive for tradesmen and other practical users. Airline is also suitable for wheelchair access (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle).

In addition to the PV5 Passenger and PV5 Cargo, the option of ordering the PV5 as a Chassis Cab is important for commercial vehicle customers: A wide variety of superstructures from a box to a refrigerated van to a flatbed can be realized. This all sounds similar to the new VW, which as an e-transporter costs at least 55,000 euros for a range of just under 300 km and is identical in construction to the Ford e-Transit Custom. Let's see if Kia can undercut the price and exceed the campaign distance.

Kia is systematically converting its model range to electric drive. This is particularly attractive to those who have already said goodbye to the combustion engine and are now only comparing electric cars.

(olb)