Kia’s electric hatch drove almost 250 miles and recharged in 33 minutes in the frigid cold

The EV4, Kia’s electric hatchback, proved its prowess in the El Prix Winter Test, driving almost 250 miles (390 km) in temperatures as low as –31°C (-23.8 °F). It also recharged from 10% to 80% in just over 30 minutes.

Kia EV4 maintains range and charging speed in the cold

Out of 24 electric vehicles that took part in this year’s El Prix Winter Test, Kia’s electric hatch outlasted all but three.

The El Prix, held by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and Motor Magazine, is the largest and widely regarded as the most brutal EV test. It’s designed to push electric vehicles to the limit in freezing temperatures to assess how official WLTP range figures and charging speeds perform.

With temperatures reaching as low as –31°C (-23.8 °F), 2026 was the coldest winter test yet. All vehicles start with a fully charged battery in Oslo, Norway, and travel as far as possible without recharging, crossing mountains, highways, ice-covered roads, cities, and other terrain.

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Kia’s electric hatch drove 242 miles (390 km), which the company said was the best in its segment and price range. It also recharged from 10% to 80% in 33 minutes, just two minutes more than its official rating.

The tested vehicle was a European-spec Kia EV4 Earth model with an 81.4 kWh battery and 19″ wheels. With an official WLTP range of 594 km (369 miles), the EV4 achieved over 65% of its rating, placing it in “the upper performance range” of participants, Kia said.

The EV4 is Kia’s first EV, produced in Europe. It’s built at the Zilina plant in Slovakia. Kia also sells the EV4 Fastback, the sedan version in Europe, the UK, South Korea, and other global markets.

While Kia’s electric hatch took fourth place in the El Prix, the Lucid Air Grand Touring ranked first, covering 520 km (323 miles), followed by the Mercedes-Benz CLA (421 km) and Audi A6 (402 km).

For those in the US, Kia has already indefinitely delayed the EV4 sedan, and the hatchback was never expected to go on sale in the US due to the Trump administration’s auto tariffs.