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Last Updated on: 19th April 2025, 01:43 am
Two new EVs will debut in the US at the New York Auto Show this year, one from Kia and one from Subaru. Of all the automakers not located in China, the one that has the most number of battery electric models is Hyundai Motor Group, which markets its cars under the Hyundai and Kia brands. Typically, they share platforms and major components but differ significantly in appearance. This week, Kia announced it will bring the Kia EV4 to America starting next year.
That car is expected to start at around $37,000 before incentives, which just happens to be about $5000 less that the best selling electric sedan in the US, the Tesla Model 3. The Kia EV4 is built on the E-GMP 400 volt platform and will offer two battery options. A 58.3 kWh battery is standard on the entry level Light model, while the upmarket Wind and GT-Line versions will be fitted with an 81.4 kWh battery.
No matter which model you choose, the vehicle comes with a front-mounted 150 kW motor and Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance features, according to Engadget. The size of the batteries is very similar to what Tesla offers customers in its Model 3. EPA range is estimated at 235 miles for the smaller battery and 330 with the larger one, although no official EPA figures have been released yet. By the time the car arrives, there may be no EPA anyway.
Firm prices have not yet been set, but since the EV4 will be manufactured in South Korea, it is likely that US tariffs may affect the bottom line. Then again, Tesla is also likely to be impacted by the tariff insanity that is now normal for the current administration. At this moment, the EV4 would be eligible for the $7500 federal tax incentive, but no one — including the so-called president — has any idea whether that will still be available by the time the EV4 arrives.
Kia EV4 Sedan
The first thing readers will notice is that the car is a sedan, although the styling from the roof on back sort of resembles a hatchback. Reportedly, the car has been shown in Europe as a hatchback, but the US version will be a sedan only. Neither Ford, GM, nor Stellantis currently build sedans for the mass market, claiming there is no money in it. Does Kia know something those companies don’t? Perhaps.
According to The Verge, the EV4 will have a Tesla Supercharger–compatible NACS charging port for the US and can charge up from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes at a DC fast charging station. It also has vehicle-to-load capability that provides AC power for devices like computers. On the inside, the EV4 features an array of touchscreens that stretch a full 30 inches across the dashboard of the car. Kia’s latest “connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC)” software with apps like YouTube will be featured on those digital devices. For further information about damper dynamics, chassis rigidity, upholstery details, and the like, please see the Kia press release.
The most polarizing aspect of the car is the styling. Some will love it and some with loathe it, but no one can deny that it does get your attention. There is also some speculation about whether the smaller battery pack will be available in the US, where any car that can’t drive 500 miles nonstop is considered deficient. When we know more, you will know more.
Subaru Trailseeker Offers Off Road Mystique
Also at the New York Auto Show this year is the second battery electric car from Subaru. This one is dubbed the Trailseeker and it is clearly intended to appeal to drivers who are seeking off-road adventures. Like the Kia EV4, the Trailseeker EV is scheduled to go on sale in the US starting in 2026. The new model is a slightly larger version of Subaru’s first electric vehicle, the Solterra, and is likely based on the same platform, which also is used by Toyota for its BZ4X electric SUV.
“The name Trailseeker was developed to highlight the SUV’s go-anywhere attitude with 8.3 inches of ground clearance, exceptional capability, and usable passenger and cargo space,” Subaru of America said in a press release. Although the vehicle’s body style has led some to describe it as an electric station wagon with raised suspension, á la the Audi Allroad, Subaru refers to its second battery electric vehicle as an SUV. In classic Subaru fashion, the Trailseeker EV will feature a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system with a 50/50 power distribution between the front and rear axles, the way many of the brand’s combustion models do.
However, in the case of the Trailseeker, this does not involve a mechanical center differential but rather two equally powered electric motors — one on each axle. The maximum power output is 276 kW (370 hp). The all-wheel-drive system also includes an “X-Mode” feature that allows drivers to select from various driving profiles, such as Snow/Dirt, Deep Snow/Mud, Grip Control, and Downhill Assist Control.
The battery has a total capacity of 74.7 kWh, but Subaru has not specified whether this figure refers to gross or usable capacity, says Electrive. Range is expected to reach 260 miles according to the US EPA test cycle, or approximately 418 kilometers, which Engadget describes as barely adequate.
Charging is limited to 150 kW, so drivers will spend more time at Level 3 chargers than some of their peers. However, the Trailseeker will be able to handle fast charging in cold or warm conditions thanks to a battery pre-conditioning system, and will come to the US with a NACS charging port built in so that owners can take advantage of Tesla Superchargers while traveling. Pricing and detailed specifications will be announced closer to the model’s launch in early 2026.
The Trailseeker EV is positioned as a more practical alternative to Subaru’s first electric SUV, the Solterra. It is around 15 cm longer and 2.5 cm taller than the Solterra, which is expected to benefit the car’s cargo carrying capacity. The Trailseeker comes with roof rails as standard and can be ordered with a tow hitch. The towing capacity is said to be 3,500 pounds.
It has driver assist technology powered by Subaru’s EyeSight system that includes pre-collision braking, front cross traffic alert, blind spot monitors, lane departure alert, a panoramic view monitor, emergency stop assist, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, and adaptive cruise control. Pricing will be announced in “early 2026,” according to Subaru. However, it is likely to be more expensive than the Subaru Solterra, which currently starts at $38,495 before incentives. The tariff wars currently raging in the US could have a significant impact on the final price, as the Trailseeker is manufactured in Japan.
The interior features a 14 inch touchscreen, the largest in any Subaru to date. A wide center console “provides a centralized hub for devices and personal items for easy storage,” the company says, and includes two 15W chargers, two fast USB-C chargers for rear passengers, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
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