KIA EV4: Technical insights from the Petrol Scent campaign.

KIA in Finland launched the Petrol Scent campaign with the thought-provoking question: "Do you miss the smell of gasoline in the age of electric cars?". Included are mini scented air fresheners shaped like gasoline cans, with a fragrance blend of jasmine, birch resin, engine oil, and metal. This is a limited-edition gift exclusively for customers purchasing the KIA EV4, a C-segment electric car expected to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.3.

The campaign, launched by Asara Auto Finland – the official importer and distributor of KIA in Finland – in collaboration with fragrance expert Max Perttula, focuses not only on technology but also on tapping into the memories of gasoline car users, thereby softening the transition to electric vehicles.

Context and technological highlights: UX through scent

In the era of electrification, user experience is not just about driving range, charging time, or software. Petrol Scent places scent – ​​a sense often overlooked in the automotive industry – at the heart of its story. The slogan "Driving smoke-free in just minutes" evokes nostalgia while reaffirming KIA's green commitment.

The core message: technology changes, but the feeling behind the wheel remains. With the EV4, KIA connects the "familiar" experience (the smell of gasoline) to lead to a "new" experience (electric operation).

Emotional design and positioning ahead of competitors.

The Petrol Scent is designed like a gasoline can hanging from the rearview mirror – an easily recognizable symbol for gasoline car users. In terms of positioning, the EV4 is introduced in the C-segment electric vehicle market, where the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.3 are prominent names. Offering a limited-edition gift to EV4 owners gives the new product a unique selling point in a highly competitive environment.

While many brands often emphasize technical specifications, KIA chooses to tell stories through the language of emotions. From a product perspective, this is an extended layer of experiential design – using scent to anchor emotions.

Cabin and user experience: nostalgia "hanging" right before your eyes.

Scented air fresheners can be attached to rearview mirrors, creating an olfactory effect in the cabin. The combination of jasmine, birch sap, engine oil, and metallic scents mimics the feeling of a "repair shop"—a place many car enthusiasts consider the "smell of passion." This effect is sensory and emotional; it does not interfere with the car's structure or systems.

As a limited-edition gift for EV4 customers, Petrol Scent enhances personalization, transforming the vehicle handover journey into a ceremonial transition: saying goodbye to the smell of gasoline, welcoming electric operation, while still preserving memories.

Performance and operation: scope of information in the source

Current information sources do not provide technical specifications or driving experience details for the KIA EV4. Therefore, this article does not offer any assessment of power, torque, 0–100 km/h acceleration time, charging capabilities, or fuel consumption. Any conclusions regarding driving feel would need to be based on test data or official publications.

Safety and Technology: Published Messages and Facts

The source doesn't mention the EV4's driver assistance systems or safety ratings, nor does it specify ADAS configurations. The confirmed point is that the accompanying TV commercials leverage the "smoke-free driving" narrative to encourage the transition to electric vehicles. Information regarding the level of automation or NCAP ratings, if needed, will have to wait for official information.

Price and positioning: EV4 in the C-segment electric vehicle market.

The KIA EV4 is positioned to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.3 in the C-segment. In Finland, Asara Auto Finland is responsible for campaign implementation and distribution. Petrol Scent is not sold commercially, but is given away as a free gift to EV4 customers – a move that demonstrates a differentiated positioning based on emotional value, rather than a typical promotional offer.

With this approach, KIA creates a memorable brand story: the EV4 is not just an electric product, but also a bridge connecting the internal combustion engine past with a sustainable mobility future.

Conclusion: Advantages and disadvantages summarized

• Advantages: Creative concept that taps into the nostalgic sentiment of switching to electric vehicles; limited-edition gifts enhance the sense of exclusivity for EV4 owners; collaboration with Max Perttula experts ensures meticulous fragrance selection; clear and memorable brand storytelling.
• Disadvantages: Only applicable in Finland and for EV4 customers; product not widely available; the "gasoline-workshop" smell may not be suitable for all users; source does not provide EV4 technical specifications for a comprehensive assessment.

Overall, Petrol Scent shows that KIA is using emotional experience design to support the EV4 during its technological transition. Once the EV4's technical data is fully released, the comparison with the Model 3 and ID.3 will become clearer; for now, KIA has already created a distinctive "moment" in the electrification race.