Buyers in Finland Can Get a Gas-Scented Air Freshener With Their New Kia EV
There are many reasons why drivers are hesitant or simply unwilling to make the switch to electric vehicles. Some say they’ll miss the sounds and feel of combustion engines and transmissions.
As a result, EV makers have developed fake engine sounds and even systems that simulate gear shifts. Some are using humour to sell EVs, too.
- Also: 2026 Kia EV4 Lands in North America as Tesla Model 3 Rival
- Also: Kia Unveils EV2 Concept, Provides EV4 and PV5 Specs
That’s the case of a Kia distributer in Finland, which has just launched a strange advertising campaign through social media. In order to convince people who might be nostalgic of combustion engines, and perhaps even gas stations, the company is announcing a new car air freshener in the form of a gas can and with a gasoline-like fragrance.
And customers had better hurry, because it’s a limited-time offer.
We seriously doubt this little trick will work, of course, even more so after the freshener’s creator described it as smelling “reminiscent of a car repair shop.” The idea is simply to attract the attention of consumers who aren't necessarily thinking about buying an electric vehicle by promoting the all-new EV4 sedan (pictured above) in a fun and unique way.
In Canada, this future rival to the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai IONIQ 6 will launch early in 2026 and offer five trim levels. The lineup includes a choice of FWD and AWD configurations plus two batteries: the 58.3kWh pack provides 201 horsepower and a Kia-estimated range of 378 km, while the 81.4kWh pack (output to be confirmed) allows for a range of 482-531 km.
Although the EV4 is based on the same e-GMP platform as the EV5, EV6 and EV9, its electrical system is limited to 400V instead of 800V, which will mean slightly slower charging times at DC stations. It takes about 29 minutes to go from 10-80% with the small battery and 31 minutes with the large battery, according to Kia. That said, V2L technology will still be included to power compatible electric devices.
Keep following The Car Guide for more information on the 2026 Kia EV4 including Canadian pricing.