One of the challenges facing many brands bringing cars into the Irish market is getting the balance right between electric and historic.
It is especially the case where distributors are energetically building market share with EVs while simultaneously trying to woo customers off petrol and diesel models but continuing to cater for those who s need those conventional power-sources.
The further they go down the selection box of EV and ICEs (internal combustion engines), the more accurate their forecasting needs to be.
Get it right and everything in the garden is rosy. Get it wrong and …well the odd thorn of business lost will prod them for some time.
It was interesting to hear KIA Ireland chief Ronan Flood analyse and project current and future markets for EVs and non-EVs recently at a launch.
It said a lot about how the traditionally-powered diesels and petrols still retain a solid, if diminishing, chunk of people’s choice.
Balancing the old and new is challenging to say the least. And it was all the more revealing that he spoke of such challenges as he launched a new twin-set of electric bodystyles: the EV4 hatch and the EV Fastback.
It is an intriguing undertaking.
In KIA’s case the work appears to be bearing fruit; they retain a good line-up of ICE. I know some others who regret finishing with diesel, especially, considering the demand that continues, at a much smaller but still significant level. They all add up and every car sold can make such a difference in a tight market.
I’m also sure that there are marques who wish they had more EV model ranges.
Somehow, I don’t think KIA will be caught out on that front, though a previous experience with the excellent EV3 taught them a positive lesson. That happened when demand for the popular crossover significantly outstripped supply. Luckily they could get extra stock but it goes to show how unpredictable and surprising the home market can be sometimes.
Well, now they have two more new EVs that spread choice considerably while another is due, the EV5 SUV, before Christmas.
Yet while all focus is on the new, there is their little Picanto petrol city car still racking up sales year after year.
Against that multifaceted backdrop, I took the EV4 hatch – their first EV electric hatch produced in Europe – in range-topping GT-line guise for a few drives.
First things first. You get a fair bit of metal, or whatever else they use in cars these days, for your money: It starts from €39,940.
And it does catch the eye because with panels of styling that are sharply drawn yet not so stretched to make it a love-it-or-hate-it model.
I suspect the Fastback is more likely to do that with its swept-back haunches and strong, taut lines.
But as I’m sure I’d be reminded, there is a market for that shape-and-show car too, though they expect the hatch to be the bigger seller.
From a practical perspective, both models have good space. The hatch yields to the Fastback on boot space (435 litres v 490 litres). There is plenty of space in the cabin: no bother getting two adults and not-so-tall frame across the back seats either.
I suppose it added something to the package that the hatch, made in Europe and specially tuned for the continents roads. Which doesn’t mean as much to users of Irish roads as it used to. When ours are good (and greater numbers are up to continental quality) they are very, very good but when they are bad, they are very bad and I see instances of those some days.
Stand back from the EV4 and you get a mixture of looks: KIA call it their ‘Opposites United’ plan. It is sleek and hunky at the same time.
Sit inside and that is in evidence too. It is sensibly arranged, along modern lines, with a dual panoramic display (housing infotainment, and ordinary information etc) stretching more than half way across the dashboard.
Graphics are clear and colourful but we still had difficulty getting Ms Voice Control to accept that certain people I wanted to call actually existed.
It’s a small snipe and it can vary from annoyance to a fun demonstration of pronunciations.
But I had two different criticisms. The ‘drive’ lever beneath, and to the right, of the steering wheel requires a bit of digital gymnastics to engage. It was something I convinced myself I would grow accustomed to quite quickly. Not so. It isn’t as clever as they think.
And while the front electric seating allowed for a great driving position, effortlessly gained, I wanted a bigger seat, lengthwise: support for the back of the thighs was only moderate.
Driving was a different thing altogether. As the EV4 is quite a long, and reasonably tall car I expected a bit of wallow but, no, it held well and even gave a nice bit of steering feedback. I imagine it’s sort of car you’d come to like a lot.
And while the looks etc pay their part, a range of up to 625kms (claimed) is an enticement even if we tend to allow at least a 10pc off the official distance.
And if, like me, you think it’s a reasonably good drive, you can thank the European engineers at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre (HMETC) in Rüsselsheim, Germany for getting the best out of its dynamic properties.
The hatchback is engineered on the dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and is produced in Žilina (Slovakia).
As a family car – and possibly a fleet option too – there is an emphasis on safety with a long list of elements and crash protection.
On both models there is a network of cameras and radars, keeping vigil for potential hazards. They include: forward collision avoidance assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, and lane keeping assist etc. Among more advanced elements are the Highway Driving Assist and Navigation-based smart Cruise Control systems.
The long-range version has an 81.4-kW battery (charges 10pc-80pc in 31 minutes). It’s capable, as I said, of 625 kms between charges.
There is a smaller, standard battery model, with 58.3-kWh that charges from 10pc-80pc in 29 minutes.
a front mounted 150-kW motor comes with both batteries; the larger goes to 100km from zero in 7.7 secs while the smaller one is quicker (7.4secs).
The Fastback is produced at Kia’s Gwangmyeong EVO plant in Korea. It has the 81.4-kW battery and the 150-kW motor and a claimed range of 633 kilometres.
There’s a Kia App with remote vehicle access, driving insights, and maintenance tools. And there are continual over-the-air (OTA) updates after you buy.
They say the charge network, also available with the Kia App, lets customers access more than 5,000 public charging stations in Ireland and more than a million across Europe.
The EV4 and EV4 Fastback come with similar trim. There are three levels: Earth 2, Earth 3 and GT-Line.
Earth 2 has 17ins alloys, LED headlights, dual panoramic display screens, cloth and leather seats and heated front seats.
Earth 3 adds 19ins alloys, electric/adjustable front seats, electric tailgate, wireless charging/and wireless android auto/car play.
The top-flight GT-Line gets special exterior styling, full leather seats, driver head-up display, electric adjustable sunroof. It’s modern plush.
As I said earlier, the start-off price is €39,940 for the Earth 2 with a standard 58.3-kWh battery and €43,275 for the 81.4-kW long range battery version.
Earth 3 starts at €46,175 and the GT-Line at €51,250. Both of these get the long-range battery only.
The Fastback gets just the 81.4-kW long range battery. Prices start from €46,175 for Earth 2; €49,075 for Earth 3 and €53,000 for GT-Line.
In summary: The length of travel time between charges is fairly substantial, comfort levels are high, it’s a good drive, the design is eye-catching and there is a lot of space in the cabin, where elbow room at the front is more than generous).
It may very well be that the EV4 hatch, especially, is the final deal-maker for some ICE drivers who have dipped their toes in the EV market over the past couple or three years and are now better primed to take the leap.
It’s a decision that won’t be taken lightly but I feel more people than ever are disposed to switch to do it. I’ve no doubt the EV4 will well-placed in a crowded market to capitalise on that shift.
It will be a battle, given that rivals include the likes of Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, Peugeot e-308, MG4, Nissan Leaf, Skoda Elroq, Opel Astra Electric, Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, BYD Seal etc.
Watch this space.
