Hatchback

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

Hatchback (2025 - )

Fourth time around isn’t just a song by Bob Dylan – it also acts as a nice introduction to the new award-winning Kia EV4. You see, having impressed us with its recent electric SUVs, the Kia EV3, EV6 and EV9, the Korean brand is hoping to showcase its talents in more traditional classes.

Two versions of the EV4 are offered: a conventional hatchback to rival the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>, and a sleeker Fastback version with an elongated rear-end and saloon boot. The latter is expected to be less popular in the UK and is a rival to executive cars, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Kia EV4 video review:</h3>

<h3><iframe height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nwxfyBhfsf4?autoplay=1" width="1280"></iframe></h3>

The EV4 features Kia's now familiar Tiger Face front-end styling and it’s built on the same underpinnings as the EV3. It isn’t as tall as that car, but it is longer thanks to a stretched wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) so it should be roomier inside.&nbsp;

And with better aerodynamics, the Kia EV4 also has a longer range than the EV3 – in fact, it can officially travel farther on a charge than any electric Kia to date.

<hr />
What’s New?

September 2025: First EV4 deliveries take place 
July 2025: EV4 hatchback orders open. EV4 Air available with 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh batteries, GT-Line and GT-Line S come with 81.4kWh pack only. All models have 201bhp electric motor, front-wheel drive. Also, EV4 Fastback (four-door saloon) revealed and on sale. Choice of GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, both with 81.4kWh battery and 201bhp motor 
February 2025: EV4 hatchback first shown

Impresses for range and rear leg room. Shame it can’t charge faster

Kia EV4

This is for all cars that are hatchbacks

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but what if that statement was reversed and posed as a question: can you teach a new dog old tricks? The Kia K4 could give us the answer.&nbsp;

You see, it’s a brand new, striking-looking car and one with a model name you’re likely unfamiliar with. However, if you look a bit closer, you’ll see Kia has some remarkably simple, traditional goals – or tricks – in mind here. The K4 is actually really easy to define: it’s a petrol-powered family car, meaning it rivals the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>. It also takes on our reigning <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-family-car-of-the-year/n25357">What Car? Family Car of the Year</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>.&nbsp;

There’s no need to follow that up by saying the K4 also takes design elements from SUVs or coupés, or that it straddles a couple of car classes. It is what it is, and it effectively picks up where the old <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a> left off.&nbsp;

Let’s dive into the details and see exactly how well this new dog and its old tricks stack up…

<hr />
What’s New?

- November 2025: First UK deliveries

- October 2025: Orders open. Pure, GT-Line, GT-Line S trims. All UK 1.0-litre cars have mild hybrid tech

- September 2025: K4 debuts with 113bhp 1.0 T-GDi petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox or optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Also 147bhp/177bhp 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine, only in seven-speed dual-clutch auto form

The K4 is a new family car that rivals the ever-popular Volkswagen Golf

Kia K4

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, joined by its fellow British-built relatives in the Juke small SUV and Leaf electric car.

Indeed, the original Leaf was the world’s best-selling EV, so Nissan knows a thing or two about electric cars.

The trio is joined by two more SUVs: the all-electric Ariya and the seven-seat X-Trail. But it’s not all about SUVs, though, because there’s also the Micra – a small electric car based on the brilliant Renault 5.

Nissan

Micra

If the latest Nissan Micra were a person, it would be the performer who had to go on after rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis had just set fire to his piano.

Yes, to say it has a tough act to follow is a massive understatement. It’s the second <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> to emerge from a joint project between Nissan and Renault, with it sharing its underpinnings, batteries and motors with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/5/hatchback/review/n27187">Renault 5</a> – a car that's received a lot of plaudits, including being named <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">What Car? Car of the Year</a> in 2025.

<h2 dir="ltr">Nissan Micra vs Renault 5</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kp1XGq1tQ9M?si=twdNPGu3Y9X_SlTN" width="560"></iframe>

Other rivals include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin-surf/hatchback/review/n27770">BYD Dolphin Surf</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n26581">Mini Cooper Electric</a>. And like those models – and indeed the Renault 5 – the Micra looks to the past for its design inspiration; its elliptical headlights and round taillights are a nod to the third-generation (K12) Micra from 2002.

This might help it pull at the heart strings of all those people who either had a Micra as their first car or were driven around by their granny in one when they were a child. But is the style backed up with enough substance for us to recommend the Micra over the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>?

<hr />
<h3>What’s new?</h3>

- January 2026: First UK deliveries take place 
- August 2025: Micra prices and specifications released 
- May 2025: all-new Nissan Micra EV revealed, which is based on the Renault 5. All models will have Google connectivity built in, including smart route planning to take into account recharging stops

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

The Nissan Micra has returned&nbsp;as an electric hatchback based on our 2025 Car of the Year

Nissan Micra

Hatchback (2021 - )

Peugeot has a large line-up, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Models range from the 208 small family car, through the 2008 small SUV to the 308 and 3008 — a&nbsp;family car and family SUV respectively. There’s also the sleek 408 fastback and 5008 seven-seat SUV, plus the van-derived Rifter and Traveller MPVs.

Peugeot even offers an electric version of each of these, denoted by an ‘E’ ahead of the model number. Other highlights include a warranty that extends by 12 months/15,000 each time the car is serviced by Peugeot, up to eight years/100,000 miles.

Peugeot

While good looks can help you stand out in a crowd, sometimes beauty is only skin deep. In the case of the Peugeot 308 hatchback, a striking appearance could help it get your attention – but for lasting success it must be as good or better than rival family cars.

That won't be easy because there are plenty of other models to consider. So buyers will also be looking at the sharp-handling <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Seat Leon</a>, the remarkably efficient <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a> and the popular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> (to name a few).

It's a good thing then that the 308 has plenty of power options, with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/mild-hybrid-cars/n27536">mild hybrid</a> (MHEV) petrol, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-diesel-cars/n20028">diesel</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) versions available, as well as a fully electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/estate/review/n26197">Peugeot e-308</a>. The latter two make it worthy of your consideration if you're looking for your next <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>.

So is that enough to propel the Peugeot 308 into the ranks of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">best family cars</a> available or is it a case of style and a bit of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">hybrid tech</a> over substance? Read on to find out how we rate it against rivals, including the closely related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a>.&nbsp;

<hr />
<h3 dir="ltr">What’s new?</h3>

- November 2025 – We drive the 308 facelift, where mid-life updates include refreshed styling inside and out, revised engines, a bigger battery for the PHEV, and more

- December 2021 –The 308 goes on sale in the UK, with first deliveries scheduled for May 2022

- September 2021 – We test the car for the first time in Cannes, France

- March 2021 – The third-generation 308 is revealed

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

The 308 has an attractive interior and plenty of engine options, but there are cheaper family cars that arguably offer more

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