Tag Archives: KIA

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2026 Kia EV4 GT: The Electric Hot Hatch That Aims Straight at the Golf R

Kia’s not done turning heads in the EV world. Fresh off the success of the ballistic EV6 GT, the Korean automaker is doubling down on its performance ambitions with something smaller, sharper, and arguably even more intriguing — the upcoming EV4 GT.

The car won’t officially land until 2026, but Kia just pulled the wraps — or rather, the GT Wrap — off a working prototype at the Car of the Year “Tannistest” in northern Denmark. The camouflage may hide its final styling, but the intent is crystal clear: this is Kia’s take on the electric hot hatch, and it’s coming for the Volkswagen Golf R’s crown.

A Compact Shockwave

At first glance, the EV4 GT sits lower, wider, and more planted than the standard EV4. Kia calls it a hatchback, but its proportions read more like a performance coupe with extra doors — think Golf R meets Ioniq 5 N. Beneath the matte foil disguise are wider arches and a subtle bodykit that hints at muscle without screaming for attention.

New 20-inch alloys wrapped in 245/45 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber fill the wells, backed by upgraded brakes with neon green calipers — a color that reappears throughout the car as Kia’s new GT signature. The prototype even carries a dash of menace, with that stealthy “GT Wrap” doing little to hide the taut stance of something built for real-world fun rather than Nürburgring lap times.

Power to Both Ends

Underneath, things get serious. The EV4 GT swaps the base car’s single-motor setup for a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration, bringing combined output to roughly 400 horsepower. Early data from onboard loggers points to a 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) time around five seconds flat, putting it right in the crosshairs of the Golf R and Audi S3.

Power is nothing without control, and here’s where Manfred Harrer, Kia’s head of vehicle development — and former Porsche chassis wizard — comes in. Harrer has promised a new level of steering feel and driver involvement for the brand, and sources suggest the EV4 GT’s steering system has undergone a significant overhaul. Expect precision and feedback where most EVs deliver numb isolation.

Everyday Speed, Not Track Masochism

Despite its credentials, the EV4 GT isn’t chasing lap records. Harrer’s philosophy is clear: Kia’s GT models should deliver everyday sportiness — excitement that works on real roads, not just racetracks. The EV4 GT’s chassis tuning reportedly strikes a balance between comfort and control, with revised suspension components and geometry that favor agility without punishing ride quality.

This makes sense. Few Golf R owners ever see a pit lane; what they want is confidence on a twisty backroad and composure on the commute. Kia seems to be hitting that same target.

Inside the Green Glow

The cabin is still technically prototype-spec, but it already feels special. Deeply bolstered sport seats wrapped in Alcantara-like materials hold you low and tight, creating the illusion of a lowered driving position even if the mounting points haven’t changed. The neon green accents from the exterior continue inside — from the seatbelts and stitching to the door cards, driver display graphics, and that unmistakable GT Mode button on the steering wheel.

Hit that button, and expect the EV4 GT to sharpen throttle response, firm up damping, and unlock the car’s most focused powertrain setting — the full-fat, road-ready version of Kia’s newfound performance identity.

The Verdict So Far

We’re still a year out from seeing the production-ready EV4 GT, but based on this early look, Kia isn’t just dipping its toes into the hot hatch pool — it’s cannonballing in. The company’s performance ambitions are no longer just about power numbers; they’re about character, feedback, and the kind of driving engagement that used to be reserved for Europe’s finest.

If the EV4 GT delivers on its promise, it could mark another pivotal moment for Kia — one where “fun to drive” becomes a defining trait, not an exception.

Source: Kia

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Kia Telluride: The SUV That Broke the Aging Curve

For most cars, hitting middle age means one thing: the slow, inevitable slide into obscurity. The paint fades, the shine dulls, and the sales charts begin to sag like a cheap suspension under too much luggage.

But not the Kia Telluride.

This big, square-jawed family bus from Korea has been defying the laws of showroom physics. It’s been around since 2019, which, in SUV years, is roughly two monarchs and three iPhones ago — yet it’s selling better than ever. Last year, Kia shifted an eyebrow-raising 115,504 Tellurides in the U.S., and 2025 is shaping up to be another record-breaker. Through September, it’s already up 13 percent. In other words: while other SUVs are losing steam, the Telluride is out here doing CrossFit.

Still, even immortals need a replacement eventually. And come November 20th, at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia will pull the covers off the second-generation Telluride. Don’t rush to your dealer just yet, though — the new one won’t actually arrive until the 2027 model year, likely in the back half of next year. The current model soldiers on for one more lap as the 2025MY, proving you can be both old and desirable if you’ve got the right proportions.

Now, Kia’s teasing us — literally — with a pair of moody teaser shots. The SUV lurks in the shadows like a heavyweight boxer waiting for the bell. What we can see looks… promising. Still boxy, still bold, but now wearing Kia’s sharper, more futuristic design language. There are vertical lights at both ends, and the face has a whiff of EV9 about it — though, unlike its electric cousin, the Telluride keeps a proper grille because, well, this one still burns dinosaur juice.

Speaking of which, under the bonnet things are expected to mirror its corporate cousin, the new Hyundai Palisade. Translation: you’ll have two main options. A good old-fashioned 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 with 287 horsepower for the traditionalists, or a hybrid setup pairing a 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder with twin electric motors, good for 329 horses and 339 lb-ft. Both setups will come in two- or four-wheel drive — and neither sounds like it’ll have any trouble dragging a family, a trailer, or an ego uphill.

Size-wise, brace yourself for more of everything. Hyundai has stretched the Palisade by around 2.5 inches overall, with a 2.7-inch longer wheelbase, meaning your third-row passengers might actually feel like humans rather than luggage. Expect the Telluride to follow suit — bigger, broader, taller — a subtle evolution from “handsome” to “don’t-mess-with-me” territory.

Price? The outgoing Telluride starts at $37,885, while the latest Palisade kicks off at $41,035. Expect Kia’s new flagship SUV to move a little upmarket — not by much, but enough to let you know it’s serious about the premium family hauler game.

So there you have it. The Telluride story isn’t ending — it’s just leveling up. The old one still sells like hotcakes, and the new one looks ready to keep the momentum rolling. In an age of electric revolution and crossover clones, Kia’s big gas-burning bruiser is proof that sometimes, old-school still sells — especially when it looks this good doing it.

Source: KIA

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Kia EV5: The Electric SUV That Thinks It’s a Living Room

There was a time when “family SUV” meant something sensible, soft, and about as exciting as a beige cardigan. Then came the electric revolution — and suddenly, even the practical stuff had swagger. Enter the Kia EV5, the latest addition to Kia’s all-electric onslaught. It’s boxy, bold, and built to turn the weekly shop into a minor adventure.

But the EV5 isn’t just a battery on wheels with a shiny badge. It’s a statement — a clean, confident “we’ve arrived” from a brand that’s quietly become one of the sharpest players in the EV game.

The Electric Family All-Rounder

Built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP platform (the same one underpinning the EV6 and EV9), the EV5 slots neatly into the middle of the lineup — think compact SUV practicality with a futuristic twist. Underneath, there’s an 81.4 kWh battery feeding a 160 kW motor, good for a WLTP range of up to 530 km. Translation? You can go from Sarajevo to Split and back on a single charge — and still have enough juice to grab coffee on the way home.

Charging from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes, the EV5 isn’t interested in hanging around. Add Kia’s heat pump system, regenerative braking, and i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal driving, and you’ve got an EV that feels thoughtfully engineered, not rushed to market.

Design: Where Opposites Meet

Kia calls its design philosophy Opposites United — and the EV5 nails that brief. It’s simultaneously tough and minimal, futuristic yet friendly.

At 4.6 meters long, it’s properly proportioned — squat stance, muscular bonnet, and that digital tiger face front end framed by Star Map LED running lights. There’s a whiff of concept car here: vertical fenders, geometric surfaces, and a shoulder line that means business.

From some angles, it’s all cyberpunk SUV; from others, a tidy Scandinavian living room on wheels. Even the 19-inch alloys look like they’ve been carved by an origami master.

Inside: Home Sweet (Mobile) Home

Step inside and the “home away from home” tagline starts to make sense. The interior feels more IKEA lounge than crossover cabin — airy, modular, and unmistakably modern.

A Panoramic Wide Display stretches across the dash, combining a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and a 5-inch climate display. It’s intuitive, logical, and refreshingly uncluttered — a rarity in the age of touchscreen overload.

The three-zone climate system even includes an odor-reducing after-blow function (yes, that’s a thing) to keep everything fresh, while the rear seats fold flat enough to make camping genuinely plausible. In a moment of pure modernity, there’s even a Pet Mode to keep your furry friends comfy while you’re away.

And then there’s the Disney-themed display pack — Mickey and Minnie popping up on your dash like a friendly reminder that this is a family car with a sense of humor. Next up: Marvel and Star Wars themes. Because who doesn’t want Iron Man as their satnav guide?

Tech and Tranquility

Kia’s latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) system keeps everything slick and snappy, while Over-The-Air updates ensure your EV5 won’t age like an old smartphone. Kia Sound 2.0 (yes, that’s the name) creates a “Bold Motion Symphony” inside — essentially the brand’s way of saying your EV hums like a zen spaceship.

Safety? Tick, tick, tick. Highway Driving Assist 2.0 keeps you centered and calm, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2.0 parks for you, and a fortress of ADAS systems stands guard whether you’re cruising or reversing out of the driveway.

The Drive: Calm, Collected, Confident

Drop into the driver’s seat, and the EV5’s low-slung battery gives it surprising poise. It feels solid, planted, and refined — more premium SUV than affordable family car. The i-Pedal 3.0 system makes one-pedal driving smooth and predictable, perfect for city life.

No, it won’t rip your face off like a Tesla, but that’s not the point. The EV5 is tuned for serenity — the kind of calm that makes traffic jams and rainy school runs feel… tolerable.

Part of a Bigger Plan

The EV5 isn’t an isolated experiment. It’s the next chapter in Kia’s EV revolution, joining the award-winning EV6, the luxurious EV9, and the compact EV3 in an all-electric family that’s rewriting what mainstream carmakers can do.

And it’s not just about style or speed — Kia’s aiming for sustainability at scale, with bio plastics, recycled carpets, and plant-based paints baked into every model.

Rollout begins this year in Korea and Europe, with Canada following in early 2026. Expect it to slot below the EV9 in price, but don’t expect it to feel any less ambitious.

The SUV for the New Era

The Kia EV5 is proof that practical doesn’t have to mean plain, and electric doesn’t have to mean sterile. It’s a car that blends comfort, design, and technology into something distinctly human — a reminder that the future can have personality as well as purpose.

In a world full of electric sameness, Kia’s latest family mover dares to be… interesting.

And that’s something worth plugging in for.

Source: Kia