Kia EV4 GT review

Hope you like neon green. That’s the EV4 GT’s signature, applied liberally enough throughout the cabin to give it a suitable visual lift that extends to the 12.3in driver’s display in GT mode and of course the brake calipers outside.

The GT also gains front bucket seats over the regular EV4, finished in artificial leather and suede, and heated and ventilated for good measure. They’re supportive and comfy; the kind of items you’ll wish you could pinch for your home office. Quick, look over there!

Other than that, it’s a regular EV4 inside: the central touchscreen also measures 12.3 inches, with a 5.3in climate display annoyingly hidden behind the left side of the steering wheel. Beneath the screen is a row of haptic shortcuts that work 100 per cent of the time some of the time, while the multi-function steering wheel has more buttons on it than Apollo 11 did. You won’t be landing this on the moon though, sorry.

It feels well made, and the cheaper plastics are in places you either won’t touch or won’t look at for too long. But is it special enough for £50k? Arguably not.

Is it an ergonomic masterclass?

Is that you, Mark Corrigan? The touchscreen is okay: a bit menu heavy for our liking but as far as operating the nav and the radio goes, it’s quick-witted and easy to get your head around. Anything more complex takes too much of your attention away from the road.

It’s the integration of the GT-specific functionality that bothers us the most though: the suspension, steering, and motor settings (plus stuff like the launch control and performance timer) are three (!) layers deep. Even a Volvo EX60 puts that stuff on a main tab, so it’s baffling that a supposed hot hatch makes this so difficult to play around with.

Mercifully, you can mute the speed limit warning with a long press of the volume scroller. You’ll also want to kill off the lane keep assist (press and hold the steering wheel icon), which vibrates the wheel if you so much kiss a white line and fights your inputs too aggressively. The driver attention monitor is overbearing as well.

Gotcha. And how practical is it?

The EV4 GT is perfectly spacious up front, although adults will struggle a bit in the rear: if the front passengers have their seats lowered there’s very little foot room in the back, and while the bench itself is quite comfy your knees sit high because of the raised floor. Not one for family holidays, this.

The boot measures 377 litres with the seats up or 1,300 ish with them down, meaning a notable hit over the regular EV4. Hey, that rear motor had to go somewhere.