K4 hatch launches in Europe this winter with a choice of 1.0 and 1.6-liter petrol engines
by Chris Chilton
6 minutes ago
- Kia confirms its Golf-rivaling K4 hatch will go on sale in Europe later this year.
- Ceed replacement starts with 114 hp, turbo’d 1.0-liter, goes up to 178 hp 1.6.
- UK won’t get the sedan version offered alongside the hatch in the US.
Kia put the VW Golf on notice this week with the announcement that its edgy-looking K4 hatch hits European showrooms before the end of the year. The successor to the Ceed is built in Mexico, where US-bound K4s are also produced, but while America gets the choice of sedan and hatch body styles, only the hatch crosses the Atlantic.
Related: Kia’s K4 GT-Line Is No GT, But It’s Winning Where It Counts
There are also some major differences between K4 hatchbacks built for the US and those destined for Europe. Entry-level US cars get an old-school naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter inline four, while the Euro lineup’s base engine is an entire liter smaller.
Different Starting Points
The US-market 2.0 K4 makes 147 hp (150 PS) while the blown 1.0-liter unit on the other side of the pond generates just 113 hp (115 PS) regardless of whether or not you go for the mild-hybrid version. And although the US engine comes exclusively with a CVT, the Euro motor is bolted to a six-speed manual, with a seven-speed DCT being optional on the MHEV.
Further up the lineup, there’s a little more international harmony. European buyers get the option of the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine as their US cousins, though in 148 hp (150 PS) and 178 hp (180 PS) tunes, and not the 190 hp (193 PS) guise that’s the only version available in America. Unfortunately for three-pedal fans, both are available only with a DCT. A full hybrid option joins the range in 2026.
Space Matters
The sharp-looking K4’s 2,720 mm (107.1 inches) wheelbase is 100 mm (3.9 inches) longer than the Mk8.5 VW Golf’s, so it’s no great surprise to hear Kia claim the hatch’s rear legroom is class-leading. It outpoints the VW for trunk space, too, unless you go for the mild-hybrid. The non-assisted K4 offers 438 liters (15.5 cu-ft) to the Golf’s 381 liters (13.5 cu-ft), but the MHEV hardware has a massive impact on cargo space, dropping the volume to 328 liters (11.6 cu-ft).
Behind the wheel, drivers get to view and play with Kia’s now familiar panoramic display that consists of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 5.3-inch climate display, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an AI voice assistant are standard on every model, a wireless phone charger is provided on posher trims, and audiophiles can opt for a Harman Kardon audio system.
Price Positioning
Kia hasn’t released K4 prices for the UK or Europe yet, but we expect it to either match or slightly undercut the Golf, whose range opens at £28,150 for a 1.5-liter Life making the same power as the 1.0-liter K4. We like the VW, but the Kia looks far more exciting inside and out, and we can imagine Golf sales taking a noticeable hit when it goes on sale. Which would you buy?
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