Kia doubles up on EV4! Hatchback set to join sedan in Australia to battle Tesla Model 3. But Kia EV6 range to be reduced

August 1, 2025September 3, 2025 Bruce Newton 11555 Views Air, EV4, EV6, Hatch, Kia, sedan

Kia is set to launch both the electric EV4 medium sedan and hatch in Australia in 2026 as a double-pronged attack on the Tesla Model 3.

But the EV4 also spells double-trouble for one of Kia’s most respected and honoured electric models, the EV6.

The hatchback EV4 was previously ruled out for Australia because it is made in Europe. The sedan is primarily made in Korea.

The EV6, which includes the 2022 Carsales car of the year and 2023 Wheels car of the year amongst its honours, appears set to fall victim to this internal competition.

The new Kia EV4 should land in Australia by early 2026 as a sedan and be followed within months by the hatch version with pricing the entry-level models of the EV6 won’t be able to match.

Kia is believed to be planning a starting price for the Tesla Model 3 fighter that could even sneak in under $50,000 for at least the sedan.

The cheaper EV6 models have also lost their fleet sales presence to the newer and cheaper Kia EV5 electric medium SUV.

The $72,950 (plus on-road costs) Air rear-wheel drive appears certain for the chop, while the jury is out on what happens to the mid-spec GT-Line which currently comes in both $79,590 rear-wheel drive and $87,590 all-wheel drive.

The berserk $99,590 EV6 GT AWD flagship appears safe.

An update is in the wings for the EV6 and in the lead-up to its introduction sales are off 75 per cent compared to the same period last year.

“We’ve got to make a decision about what we actually want to do with EV6,” Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith told EV Central.

“Do we – and we haven’t mind about this at this point in time – make it a specific performance car, rather than a fleet car plus a performance car?

“So there’s a lot of permutations and combinations that we’ve got to look at.”

Meredith estimated the decision-making process would take six months, which roughly coincides with the planned introduction of the EV4 sedan in Australia.

The EV6 update is likely to arrive late in quarter three and it is yet to be clarified whether the full current range will arrive or only those models which Kia intends to continue on.

The EV4 hatchback had been ruled out because it is made in Slovakia in central Europe, which is land-locked and therefore has added transport costs.

However, the EV4 avoids the five per cent import tariff for cars from the EU because it is an EV. Kia Australia has done the sums and is now keen on the hatch.

“The EV4 hatch and sedan aren’t necessarily small, they are quite roomy on the inside and there isn’t that much difference in terms of interior [compared to the EV6],” said Kia Australia product planning manager Roland Rivero.

In overseas spec both EV4 body styles come with the option of either a ‘Base’ 58.3kWh or bigger Long Range 81.4kWh battery. Both will be combined with a 150kW single e-motor.

With the smaller of the two powerpacks the EV4 can cover 430km (or 410km for the hatch) on the WLTP test cycle. With the larger battery, the range increases to 630km (590km hatch) – the latter beat the most efficient Tesla Model 3 or MG4.