Kia commits to hatchbacks with EV4 and K4
Against the general trend, Kia is committed to launching more hatchbacks and saloons, rather than going all-in on SUVs. Its EV4 and K4 are rivals for Volkswagen Golf and ID 3.
Kia executive vice-president, Ted Lee, recently told Autocar UK that there was still 'big volume' for hatchback models in Europe. He confirmed that the firm would continue to offer them and indeed launch all-new models. Lee co-ordinates Kia's global business outside of Korea.
Read our review of Kia EV3 here.
The first of these newcomers is EV4, set to dot down in New Zealand soon. It will be built at Kia's plant in Slovakia, and will also be offered as a saloon built in South Korea.
The EV4 will be joined by the K4, a hatchback that debuted at the New York motor show.
It replaces Ceed and will be built at Kia's plant in Mexico in both hatch and saloon forms. An estate version is on the cards too.
Lee said that Kia currently has a 'strong position in Europe, especially in the UK.'
Kia sales have grown more than 30 per cent since 2020 in the EU. In the UK, Kia has sold more than 100,000 cars for three years running. It is the third best-selling brand in 2025, less than 300 units behind second-placed BMW.
However, Lee said increased competition in Europe from Chinese brands makes for a 'difficult market '. Kia will further strengthen its aftersales, parts supply and customer journeys in response.
However, it will not become embroiled in a price war in Europe in the face of new lower-cost competition. Instead, it will maintain its focus on residual values, which it credits as partly responsible for the 'sustainable growth' the brand has enjoyed.
Lee said Kia has done this by maintaining demand. Cars are not pushed to dealers and onto customers at discounted rates but are built and sold according to demand.
Describing this as a 'healthy cycle', Lee said: ' It might sound very easy, but in reality it requires a very strong determination and sense of principle.'
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NZ Autocar
8 hours ago
- NZ Autocar
Kia commits to hatchbacks with EV4 and K4
Against the general trend, Kia is committed to launching more hatchbacks and saloons, rather than going all-in on SUVs. Its EV4 and K4 are rivals for Volkswagen Golf and ID 3. Kia executive vice-president, Ted Lee, recently told Autocar UK that there was still 'big volume' for hatchback models in Europe. He confirmed that the firm would continue to offer them and indeed launch all-new models. Lee co-ordinates Kia's global business outside of Korea. Read our review of Kia EV3 here. The first of these newcomers is EV4, set to dot down in New Zealand soon. It will be built at Kia's plant in Slovakia, and will also be offered as a saloon built in South Korea. The EV4 will be joined by the K4, a hatchback that debuted at the New York motor show. It replaces Ceed and will be built at Kia's plant in Mexico in both hatch and saloon forms. An estate version is on the cards too. Lee said that Kia currently has a 'strong position in Europe, especially in the UK.' Kia sales have grown more than 30 per cent since 2020 in the EU. In the UK, Kia has sold more than 100,000 cars for three years running. It is the third best-selling brand in 2025, less than 300 units behind second-placed BMW. However, Lee said increased competition in Europe from Chinese brands makes for a 'difficult market '. Kia will further strengthen its aftersales, parts supply and customer journeys in response. However, it will not become embroiled in a price war in Europe in the face of new lower-cost competition. Instead, it will maintain its focus on residual values, which it credits as partly responsible for the 'sustainable growth' the brand has enjoyed. Lee said Kia has done this by maintaining demand. Cars are not pushed to dealers and onto customers at discounted rates but are built and sold according to demand. Describing this as a 'healthy cycle', Lee said: ' It might sound very easy, but in reality it requires a very strong determination and sense of principle.'
NZ Autocar
a day ago
- NZ Autocar
2025 KIA EV3 Light Review
If there is a brand that doesn't seem to put a foot wrong lately it is Kia. Not content with doing very well in the 'traditional' vehicle space with a solid range of competent and interesting enough models in most segments, it has simply outdone every other brand in the market on the breadth of its EV offerings. And it now has a new, small(ish) offering in the form of the EV3. We've been driving the Light LR 2WD, the second model up the ladder and probably the one that'll suit the most buyers. It pairs the long-range battery with a relatively basic trim – not fancy, but not stripped out either – and comes in at $62,990 before any deals. So, what's it like to live with? Turns out, pretty easy. At 4.3m long and riding on 17-inch wheels, the EV3 slots neatly into the compact SUV category, but Kia's done a solid job of stretching the space inside. It genuinely feels bigger than it looks. There's good visibility, a nice upright seating position, and a dash layout that doesn't try too hard. The vibe is light, clean and calm. Materials lean toward the durable and sustainable. Expect some hard plastics but they're offset by a sense of quality. The twin 12.3-inch screens across the dash join up to form a wide slab of info and control and there's an extra five-inch touch panel for HVAC settings. There is also plenty of storage in the front, with a large tub/tray between the seats and decent sized door pockets. A small design line running through the dash looks like it can hold small items, but really can't. The rear seat space is generous, though not class-leading. Adults will fit but knees may brush the front seatbacks if everyone's tall. The boot, though, is a decent 460 litres, with a smart double-floor set-up and a bonus 25-litre frunk up front. The real surprise comes once you get moving. With an 81.4kWh NCM battery under the floor and a 150kW/283Nm motor up front, you'd expect the EV3 to feel heavy. But it doesn't. That battery chemistry pays off with lower weight, and the EV3 feels far more agile than its spec sheet suggests. Kia's done some good work here. The car feels light on its feet, with quick steering and tidy body control. The MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension combo helps keep things settled and while it's no hot hatch, it's happy on a winding road. Kia's selective frequency dampers (shared with the EV9) seem to do the job. Acceleration is smooth rather than punchy (0–100km/h in 7.7 seconds) but it's quick enough for anything New Zealand traffic can throw at it. There's a full set of regen modes via steering paddles, including a proper one-pedal setting that works well in stop-start. There's a simplicity to the EV3 that makes it easy to live with. The column-mounted shifter is intuitive and out of the way. The Kia Connect app means you can pre-condition the cabin, check the charge status or even lock and unlock it remotely. Handy stuff if it's a shared family vehicle or you simply hate cooking inside after a trip to the beach. Range? Officially up to 605km WLTP. Real-world? More like 500–550km depending on how and where you're driving. That's still seriously useful for a city-sized SUV. And the range estimate in the cluster is one of the more accurate we've seen. Charging is also fuss-free. Plug into a 128kW DC charger and you'll see 10–80 per cent in around 31 minutes. At home on an 11kW wallbox, expect around seven hours for a full charge, which suits overnight top-ups perfectly. One niggle (and it's a personal one) is the start button. It is not in a great position, at the base of the shifter and in a car with this much tech, it seems like the kind of thing that should've been phased out by now. Why not just get in and go? As the 'Light' spec name implies, this isn't the flashiest EV3. You miss out on things like heated seats, power adjustment and some of the advanced aids found in the Earth and GT-Line models. The biggest items we miss are wireless charging and a powered tailgate. But the basics are all there. Forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, high beam assist, parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard. So is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit still wired, and four USB-C ports for devices. It's worth noting the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability is standard across the range too – both inside (via a three-pin socket in the back) and externally with the included adapter. Whether you're inflating a paddleboard, boiling a jug or powering tools, it's handy and becoming a must-have on new EVs. Kia wants the EV3 to be more than a 'starter EV,' and it mostly succeeds. The build quality is solid, the ride and refinement are excellent and the range is downright greedy. It feels more mature than the average small SUV, yet it's not trying to be something it's not. No gimmicks, no weird seats, no intrusive noises. Just a sorted, approachable EV. If you want more bling or kit, the Earth and GT-Line models are there. But honestly? The Light LR does nearly everything right and you'll have money left in your pocket. Can you get more for less with other brands? Potentially, but buttonless tech rocketships or vehicles from entirely new brands simply aren't for everyone. The EV3 Light LR isn't exciting in a headline-grabbing sense but drive it, live with it and you quickly realise it doesn't need to be. Kia's quietly nailed the brief here: give people a practical, efficient, easy-to-drive EV that doesn't overwhelm with tech or drain the wallet. For drivers wanting something compact yet capable, modern but not overcomplicated, this could be the sweet spot of the Kia EV range. And as small SUVs go, EV or otherwise, it sets a high bar. EV3 Light LR 2WD$62,220 / 14.9kWh/100km / 0g/km 0-100 km/h 7.7s Motor output 150kW Max torque 283Nm Battery 81.4kWh Range 605km Drivetrain Single-speed auto / FWD Front suspension Mac strut / swaybar Rear suspension Multilink / swaybar Turning circle 10.4m (2.5 turns) Front brakes Ventilated discs (305mm) Rear brakes Discs (300mm) Stability systems ABS, ESP, TV Safety AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB Tyre size f/r-215/50R19 Wheelbase 2680mm L/W/H 4300 / 1850 / 1560mm Track f-1620mm r-1611mm Luggage capacity f-25L r-460-1251L Tow rating 750kg (1000kg braked) Service intervals 12months/15,000km Warranty 5yrs / 150,000 km ANCAP rating Not yet rated Weight (claimed) 1930kg
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
New Zealand exporters try to see forest for the trees with new EU import rules
The new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. Photo: 123RF New Zealand exporters sending wood or beef and leather products to the European Union (EU) will soon have to comply with new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. New Zealand government officials and industry opposed the approach to anti-deforestation taken by the incoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due to increased compliance costs exporters will face in proving their products have not contributed to the loss of trees. However, the European Commission was standing firm that imports of certain commodities had their part to play in addressing challenges related to deforestation , climate change and biodiversity loss. The EUDR covered seven key commodities, namely cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. Photo: Supplied A European Commission spokesperson said the EUDR covered seven key commodities, namely cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. "These commodities have been chosen on the basis of a thorough impact assessment identifying them as the main driver of deforestation due to agricultural expansion," they said. Deforestation was defined as converting forests to land for agricultural use. For New Zealand, this will affect the $213 million export trade of beef and leather exports into the EU, with new rules coming into force this December. Exporters of wood products - a trade to Europe valued at around $100m - would be required to provide traceability processes to show that their products did not contribute to deforestation too. Products that do not meet the new import requirements will be rejected at the border. Deforestation was defined as converting forests to land for agricultural use. Photo: 123RF In recent months, the European Commission released further clarifications about the rules for operators and traders . A spokesperson said it found New Zealand to be a country with "low risk of deforestation". "Sourcing from low-risk countries entails simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders," the spokesperson said. "Concretely, this means that they need to collect information, but not assess and mitigate risks." It also announced a 12-month phase-in for the new regime in December 2024, a year's delay after the original enforcement date to give operators time to prepare, they said. "Given the EUDR's novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, a 12-month additional time to phase in the system is a balanced solution to support operators around the world in securing a smooth implementation from the start," they said. "This is essential to guarantee certainty about the way forward and to ensure the success of the EUDR." The Wood Processors and Manufacturers' Association chief executive Mark Ross said a working group with forest growers, wood processors and the government had been set up to work through some issues relating to the new requirement, like geolocation requirements. He said, overall, companies were "reasonably confident" they would be in a good position to meet the requirements. "At first glance the EUDR appears complex, but the best way to overcome any risks associated with the legislation and to ensure that our wood product exporters remain compliant, is for the forestry and wood processing industries to continue to work closely together on fulfilling the EUDR requirements," said Ross. "By taking the necessary steps to comply with EUDR, the New Zealand wood products industry can gain a market advantage in Europe and globally, which will further enhance our positive sustainable forestry and wood products reputation." However, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Trade and Investment Todd McClay wrote to the European Commission early last year, urging it to exclude New Zealand and the pastoral farming system from the regulation, among other bilateral efforts. "Without changes, this regulation risks making it too costly for many of our exporters to continue supplying the EU market, affecting over $200 million in Kiwi exports at a time when we should be growing this trade through the benefits of the NZ-EU Trade Agreement, not facing additional barriers," said McClay in October. "New Zealand does not have a deforestation issue, and while we share the EU's goals of promoting deforestation-free products, we already have stringent domestic protections in place. Imposing these compliance costs on our exporters is not justified." Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Trade and Investment Todd McClay. Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele Industry group Beef and Lamb New Zealand helped successfully lobby for the exclusion of sheepmeat with its British counterparts, the UK National Sheep Association, but senior trade policy advisor Nicholas Jolly said in May last year, it should also extent to beef. He said diverting products from the EU to other markets would significantly "devalue New Zealand's trade". "The loss in beef exports would begin at approximately $98 million annually, while the impact on leather exports would also be substantial, considering 45 percent of New Zealand's leather exports by value go directly to the EU and it would be extremely difficult to find alternative markets." Beef and Lamb New Zealand declined to comment further at the time of publish. Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association (MIA), said the deforestation regulation was "unlikely" to tackle global deforestation, as it was "poorly designed and poorly drafted". She said New Zealand already had strict environmental regulations with enforceable penalties for negatively impacting native vegetation. "New Zealand beef exports are backed by world-leading sustainability credentials and should be treated differently to products from countries where deforestation is a genuine concern," she said. Karapeeva said it was working closely with officials to advocate for a "more pragmatic and sensible solution" that recognised New Zealand's trend of afforestation . A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the costs imposed on exporters were disproportionate to the risk that the product was actually linked to deforestation. "New Zealand shares the European Union's objective of addressing global deforestation, but has consistently raised concerns with the approach taken in the EU Deforestation Regulation." It also encouraged the Commission to address these concerns through the relevant committees of the New Zealand/EU Free Trade Agreement. Large exporters had to comply with the new rules by 30 December, 2025 and June 2026 for smaller-sized exporters. Ministry for Primary Industries' Bilateral Relations & Trade divisional manger Steve Ainsworth said it was continuing to liaise with beef and forestry sectors about the requirements. "MPI and MFAT have maintained an open and active dialogue with the beef and forestry sectors to understand their concerns, keep them informed of developments, facilitate opportunities for engagement with the European Commission, and support their preparations for EUDR." The MIA said it was supporting its members on how to comply.
