Kia just revealed its latest electric offering, the EV4. It comes in both sedan and hatchback body styles, has EV9-inspired looks, and will immediately be one of the coolest-looking EVs on the market. With its sharp, funky lines, and futuristic vibes, the Kia EV4 is sure to become a hit with younger buyers. But to make it even more interesting, Kia is borrowing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s simulated gear shifts.
In the Ioniq 5 N, you can use paddle shifters to “shift gears” but it’s all software trickery. When you pull a paddle, the car’s brain adjusts the torque delivery and produces the right simulated noises to make it seem like it’s shifting gears. The tech has since been added to the updated Kia EV6 GT. I haven’t driven the Ioniq 5 N but I’ve heard some people praise it for its silly fun but others call it unnecessary. Perhaps it’s both.
[Update 2/26/2025 @ 9:40 a.m. ET: An earlier version of this story cited a report that suggested simulated step shifts would be available on all trims of the Kia EV4. A day after publication, Kia confirmed to The Drive that while some trims will get the feature, not all will.]
Many EVs use different audible tricks to simulate combustion performance but Hyundai is the only one to add a technical component to it—so far. Honda confirmed that it’s tested a manual transmission for EVs and has demoed simulated engine sounds recreating some of its greatest gas-powered hits.
It might all be unnecessary but, in the Ioniq 5 N, it does seem like a lot of fun and gives owners that extra layer of playfulness, control, and familiarity. In any case, you can switch it all off if you don’t like it. Adding that fun to a more pedestrian, more affordable electric car like the Kia EV4 could go a long way in attracting younger buyers (or old ones willing to suspend their disbelief).
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