Kia is pitching Americans an affordable EV sedan with EV4 debut

Summary

Kia debuted its 2026 EV4 sedan at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, its first global electric sedan and one designed for customers looking for an affordable EV. Whether U.S. customers will gravitate towards a sedan is an open question — and one Kia isn’t necessarily betting on. The company launched sales of the EV4 in South Korea and plans to bring it to Europe by the end of the year. Sales in United States are expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025 or first quarter of 2026, a Kia spokesperson told TechCrunch. Kia’s primary pitch with the EV4 is affordability, and with a respectable range, interior features, tech touches it could finally give consumers another option. While Kia hasn’t yet shared U.S. pricing, some have estimated that it would start at around $35,000, adding another competitor to the Tesla Model 3. Eric Watson, VP of sales at Kia America, confirmed the ballpark price range to TechCrunch. “The EV4 makes all-electric ownership accessible for those customers who are seeking a more practical and affordable option on the EV landscape while still desiring an advanced, technology-driven in-car experience,” Steven Center, COO and EVP of Kia America, said in a statement. “The arrival of the EV4 underscores Kia’s overall efforts to enhance the appeal of electric mobility to a wider audience — an audience that’s been witnessing the excitement around EVs for quite some time and are now ready to experience the outstanding benefits for themselves.” For U.S. buyers, however, that attractive price point could be at risk. President Donald Trump’s proposed automotive tariffs threaten to add 25% to the cost of any imported vehicle — including the EV4, which Kia plans to build in South Korea and launch stateside in the first quarter of 2026. With the tariff landscape shifting by the day, it’s impossible to say what buyers will be facing a year from now. The Kia EV4 does have several things going for it that could make a buyer risk the tariffs, mo...