Kia Put the EV4 Through 6,200 Miles at Nurburgring, but Speed Wasn’t the Objective | Carscoops

      The 6,200-mile assessment at the 'Ring was part of a comprehensive 68,000-mile test on European roads designed to validate the EV4's durability.

      Kia asserts that the EV4 will maintain at least 70% of its battery capacity after 100,000 miles.

      During the 6,200 miles (10,000 km) on the Nurburgring, Kia engineers tested the EV4 to its maximum limits.

      In the United States, entry-level EV4 models feature a comparatively smaller 58.3 kWh battery pack.

      Earlier this year, Kia introduced the fully electric EV4 in both sedan and hatchback forms. Fast forward to late July, and Kia has revealed details regarding one of the EV4’s toughest tests during its development—a rigorous 6,200 miles (10,000 km) undertaking at the renowned Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.

      Kia has published several photos of the EV4 undergoing tests on European roads in hatchback form, still intriguingly covered in camouflage, despite the vehicle's public unveiling months ago. Unfortunately, there are no images of it on the ‘Ring. What is known is that the extensive 6,200-mile (10,000 km) testing at the circuit was part of a larger 68,000-mile (110,000 km) European road durability assessment.

      According to reports, the Nurburgring test aimed to replicate 90-95 percent of the vehicle's peak performance capabilities, including several hypercharging sessions between laps. After the track evaluation and on-road tests, the EV4 showed a battery state-of-health reading of 95 percent. Cars sold to consumers are guaranteed to retain at least 70 percent of their initial capacity after 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or eight years of standard usage.

      “To ensure a dependable, everyday EV for our customers, it was essential to validate the EV4’s durability in both real-world and extreme settings,” stated Stephan Hoferer, the manager of durability development at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center. “With our thorough testing—from icy roads to racetracks—we are confident that the EV4 will offer reliable performance that exceeds everyday requirements.”

      All EV4 models utilize a 400-volt architecture and come equipped with a front-mounted electric motor producing 201 hp across all trims. In the U.S., the base model comes with a standard 58.3 kWh battery, while the top variant features an 81.4 kWh battery.

      Clearly, the EV4 is not designed for track use. However, if the South Korean manufacturer, which has been gaining momentum in recent years, decides to create a high-performance, GT-branded version, it certainly possesses the expertise to do so.