Kia unveils K4 executive hatchback to challenge VW Golf
Kia's new five-door K4 blends premium small-car styling with an EV-inspired interior, offers petrol and hybrid powertrains, and will be built in Mexico for European markets.
Kia unveiled its new K4 executive hatchback on Monday, a five-door model aimed at premium small cars such as Volkswagen’s Golf. The K4 is designed to fill the gap left by the Ceed hatchback in Europe, which was discontinued this summer. Kia says the K4 is not a direct Ceed replacement but a more upscale model intended to meet the needs of modern drivers.
At 4,440 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,435 mm tall, the K4 sits between a traditional hatchback and a compact executive car in size. In practice, its dimensions give it a size profile more akin to a D-segment executive car rather than a conventional hatch.
Powertrains in Europe include a 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine delivering 113 bhp with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic, and a 1.0-litre mild-hybrid option with similar outputs. A 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol offers 148 bhp or 178 bhp with a seven-speed automatic. A full-hybrid variant will arrive next year. Of the five powertrains on offer in Europe, two are electrified.
Inside, the K4 borrows heavily from Kia's EV4 hatchback, with two 12.3-inch touchscreens forming a single panel on the dash. The cabin features Kia's Connected Car Navigation Cockpit, a 'Hey Kia' voice assistant, a Wi‑Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon audio system. Physical buttons for climate, audio and hazard lights sit in the center stack.
Advanced driver-assistance systems include Blind-Spot View Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance, Surround View Monitoring and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist.
Kia says the interior prioritizes practicality, with generous legroom—1,074 millimeters in the first row and 964 mm in the second—and headroom of 991 mm in the front and 973 mm in the rear. Cargo space measures 438 litres in the ICE variant and 328 litres in the mild-hybrid version.
Production: The K4 will be built in Mexico, while the EV4 hatchback continues to be produced in Slovakia, replacing the Ceed. The Ceed's European run ended earlier this year.
Pricing has not been confirmed. By comparison, the Ceed started at just over £25,000 and the Golf starts at just over £28,000, suggesting Kia may position the K4 between them. An extended or estate version has been spotted testing in Germany, though Kia has not confirmed it.
K4 is slated to reach showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2025.