Kia will offer all-wheel drive and performance-focused GT versions of its new EV4, a spokesperson confirmed in Seoul on Thursday during the global launch of the car. Expected to go on sale in the first quarter of 2026, the electric sedan should receive these new variants later in the year.
“Production for North America and Australia will begin later this year, in the last quarter,” a spokesperson told reporters during a briefing about the Kia EV4. “All-wheel drive and GT models will be introduced in the future.”
The EV4 went on sale in its home country earlier this year. Up until now, it was only available in a single motor, front-wheel drive configuration, with a choice between 58.3-kWh or 81.4-kWh battery packs. A “GT-Line” trim is offered, though it’s mostly cosmetic, with changes to bumpers, wheels, and interior appointments. No matter which battery you choose, the EV4’s e-motor is currently rated at 201 horsepower.
Gallery: 2026 Kia EV4 New York Auto Show
Adding all-wheel drive would mean at least one additional motor for the rear wheels, and likely more power. Representatives for the brand declined to share specifics on specifications or timing on the AWD EV4, saying only that it will arrive “in the future.”
Similarly, Kia officials did not share any additional info on the EV4 GT, aside from confirming its existence. Considering current GT-branded Kia products, however, we have a good idea of what to expect. The EV6 GT, for instance, uses dual motors and a 77.4-kWh battery pack to produce 576 horsepower.
The EV4 GT might offer slightly less power than the EV6, if only to keep the hierarchy in check. Its closest competitor, the Tesla Model 3 Performance, makes 510 horsepower from its dual-motor setup in U.S.-spec. (It remains unclear how an EV4 GT might stack up against the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, which uses the same platform on a more advanced 800-volt electric architecture; in theory, it will be more expensive and more powerful than the Kia.)
Kia gave the EV6 GT a “Virtual Gear Shift” feature for 2025, allowing drivers to simulate a paddle-shifted eight-speed transmission, complete with torque curves and faux redlines for each gear. The technology, itself borrowed from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, will also likely make its way to the EV4 GT.
Gallery: 2026 Kia EV4 (U.S. Spec)
Kia says it’s targeting an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles for the larger battery pack, or 235 miles of range for the smaller pack on the EV4. Adding all-wheel drive will likely decrease that range, as an extra motor will add weight and require more energy to run. A GT trim would sap range even further. The EV6 GT, for example, is rated at just 218 miles of range by the EPA—the worst of any trim in the EV6 lineup.
It’ll be a while until we get more info on AWD and GT trims for the EV4. One thing that remains unclear for the U.S. market is where Kia will even build the car. While its parent company, the Hyundai Motor Group, has moved production of several EVs to its new Metaplant and other U.S. factories, information about the EV4 and its EV3 sibling have remained MIA. If the cars are built overseas, or even in Mexico, they could face tariffs that will make their affordable price tags harder to attain.
Even as we're all enticed by a Kia EV4 GT, the automaker likely has its hands full getting the standard trims to market.
Contact the author: brian.silvestro@motor1.com
