ANCAP has officially tested the 2026 Kia EV4 and awarded it a five-star safety rating. The assessment was conducted under the 2023–2025 testing criteria, which remains the valid protocol for vehicles tested before the new 2026–2028 ANCAP rules take effect.
The five-star rating applies to all variants of the Kia EV4 (Sedan and Fastback) and is valid till December 2031. Other than the EV4, other BEVs by the South Korean brand, such as the Kia Niro EV, EV6, EV9, EV5, and EV3, hold the five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Breaking down the safety scores of the Kia EV4
| Assessment | Car Safety Score |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 84% (33.92/40) |
| Child occupant protection | 86% (42.53/49) |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 77% (49.13/63) |
| Safety assist | 81% (14.64/18) |
Adult occupant protection – 84%
The Kia EV4 scored 5.27 out of 8 points in the frontal offset (MPDB) test. The driver’s head protection was rated adequate, and its rating was penalised, as the driver’s airbag did not inflate sufficiently.
For the front passenger, dummy readings indicated adequate protection to the lower legs and good protection for all other critical body regions. A 2.29-point penalty out of an 8.00 points was applied due to the moderate risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle in the MPDB test.
The Kia EV4 scored a maximum 8 points and offered good protection for all critical body regions for both the driver and rear passenger in the full-width frontal test. Side impact performance was equally strong with a maximum of 6 points and was rated good.
The contact between occupants occurred during the oblique pole test, and a penalty was applied. Far-side impact protection showed mixed results with 2.67 out of 4 points. For post-crash safety, the Kia EV4 scored 2.67 out of 4 points in the rescue and extrication testing.
Child occupant protection – 86%
Kia EV4 scored 15.72 out of 16 points for the front dynamic test. The neck of the 10-year-old dummy was rated adequate in the frontal offset test. The EV scored a maximum of 8 points for the side dynamic test.
The Kia EV4 is equipped with lower ISOFix anchorages on the rear outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions. The car scored well on restraint installation, earning 11.81 points out of 12.
The on-board safety features received 7 out of 13 points. A direct Child Presence Detection (CPD) system was fitted, but it did not meet ANCAP’s performance requirements.
Vulnerable road user protection – 77%
Pedestrian impact testing showed mixed structural performance. Pedestrian head protection was rated only 9.57 out of 18. Protection for the femurs and lower legs was rated well with 4.45/4.5 for the pelvis protection, a maximum of 4.5 for the femur and a 9 for the knee and tibia protection.
The Kia EV4 is also equipped with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system capable of detecting pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The car’s AEB works well for forward pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Safety assist – 81%
The Kia EV4 comes standard with a comprehensive safety assist package. The EV scored well (3.5/4) in car-to-car collision testing. The AEB of this car also scored well with 2.37 out of 4 points in junction and crossing collision, and 0.88 out of 1 in head-on collision tests.
The Speed Assistance System (SAS) is rated 2.73 out of 3 points, and a direct Driver Monitoring System (DMS) scored 1.5 out of 2 points. The lane support systems (LSS) scored a maximum of 3 points.
More: ANCAP rating expired for these cars in 2026
Standard safety equipment of the Kia EV4
The standard Kia EV4 model in Australia comes with a comprehensive suite of safety equipment, including seven airbags and a wide array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
Occupant protection
- 7 airbags
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Hill-start Assist Control
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
- Lead Vehicle Departure Alert
- High Beam Assist
- Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
Parking and Visibility Aids
- Reversing Camera
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- Rear Occupant Alert
What does ANCAP say about the Kia EV4?
The new Kia EV4 is part of a new group of vehicles entering the Australian and New Zealand market with high-level safety performance. Although ANCAP has already announced the new testing criteria starting from 2026, it mentioned that the Kia EV4 safety ratings are assessed under ANCAP’s 2023-2025 criteria.
Carla Hoorweg, CEO, ANCAP, said, “As more new models and emerging brands arrive on our roads, independent safety assessment remains critical. ANCAP testing provides consumers with clear, comparable information, and ensures vehicles meet the highest standards for protection, regardless of badge or price point.”
More: Kia confirms keeping physical buttons inside its cars
Final word about the Kia EV4
The five-star ANCAP rating places the Kia EV4 electric sedan firmly in the top tier of safety for the Australian electric sedan market, though its specific pillar scores reveal a mixed performance compared to its closest rivals.
For instance, the Kia EV4 shows highly competitive child protection and is praised for its comprehensive standard ADAS suite, but the ‘bottomed out’ driver airbag puts a penalty in its Adult safety score.
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