New Kia K4: petrol-powered family hatchback to start at £26k

On sale Winter 2025 Price from £25,995

While the car industry talks a lot about an all-electric future, combustion power is still alive and kicking – and the new Kia K4 is a prime example of that.

Acting as an indirect replacement to the recently-discontinued Kia Ceed family hatchback, the new K4 will sit alongside its electric equivalent, the new EV4, in Kia’s lineup. It’ll be available exclusively in hatchback form – the UK won’t receive the saloon version available in the US market.

At launch, two power options will be available with the new K4. The range kicks off with a 1.0-litre petrol engine offering 113bhp, partnered with a six-speed manual gearbox. That’s as punchy as entry-level versions of the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf.

This engine will be assisted by mild hybrid power, which should make it kinder on your fuel bills. It comes matched to either a manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

There’s also a more powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine pumping out either 147bhp or 177bhp, matched with the seven-speed automatic gearbox. 

Kia has confirmed a full hybrid option will be introduced later next year, which should give the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla hybrids a run for their money. No plug-in hybrid variant is on the radar at the moment, though.

Outside, the K4 gets styling in line with its EV4 sibling, with angular vertical headlights and a rakish roofline.

It’s a similar story inside, with the K4 getting the same 30in combined widescreen panoramic display comprising a 12.3in digital instrument cluster, a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen and a 5.3in climate display as in the EV4. The system will be capable of receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates and you’ll be able to stream music and use it as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard, as well as the same ChatGPT-based voice assistant as in the EV3. Top-spec models get a wireless phone charger.

Entry-level models get a two-spoke steering wheel, while higher trims get a three-spoke version.

With 438 litres of boot space, the K4 promises to be more practical than a Civic and Golf, but it’s nowhere near the huge 600 litres offered by the Octavia. For reference, the Civic has 415 litres, and we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases in its boot.

As in Kia's other models, the K4 will be available with the same trim line-up of Pure, GT-Line and GT-Line S. Entry-level Pure trim will come with 16in alloy wheels, LED headlights and rear lights, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers, automatic air-conditioning and a six-speaker audio system. It's available exclusively with the entry-grade 113bhp engine.

Stepping up to GT-Line trim gets you larger 17in alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, faux leather upholstery, electric driver's seat adjustment and lumbar support, heated front seats and some extra safety functions. You can specify this trim with either the entry-level 113bhp engine or the mid-range 147bhp engine.

Range-topping GT-Line S trim adds 18in alloys, a sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It's available with either the entry-level 113bhp engine or range-topping 177bhp engine.

The Kia K4 will arrive in showrooms this winter. Prices start at £25,995, which undercuts the Octavia and Golf. Indeed, the K4 is only a couple hundred pounds more than what you'd pay for a Seat Leon.

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