Kia K4 Reviews

I know, I know, the small passenger car segment is on its last legs in Australia. Dying, if not already dead. The eulogy is written. The hole has been dug. All that's left is to lower the few remaining stragglers into the ground.The problem is, nobody seems to have told Kia. The Korean brand is doubling (or even tripling, if you consider the Picanto) down on its passenger car offering in Australia with the launch of the K4 hatch.You're no doubt already familiar with the K4 sedan – the brand's Cerato-replacing small car that arrived in Australia at the beginning of this year. But this slower-to-arrive hatch version is the one they've been waiting for."Australians are hatchback people," the brand tells us, and so this wagon-esque body shape will be the model's best-seller. And considering the sedan managed 5942 sales to the end of November (in a segment that shrank by 23.6 per cent over the same period) that would be good news for Kia.It's worth remembering here that this is supposed to be one of Kia's entry-level vehicles, but it really doesn't look like it, does it? I love the new design language on both K4 examples, but I like this one even better, mostly because it blends Kia's future-friendly front-end design with a sportier-feeling silhouette.It also doesn't look like a hatchback, at least in the traditional sense. It might be shorter than the sedan (4440mm versus 4710mm), but the way the design seems to stretch back from the b-pillar gives the K4 hatch a kind of wagon-ish profile.Like the sedan, the K4 hatch is available in five grades, and pricing and equipment is identical across the body styles. That means no matter the shape you choose, you can have a K4 S for $32,090, an S with Safety Pack for $34,190, a Sport for $36,690, a Sport+ for $39,090 or a GT-Line for $43,790.I won't detail the full spec here, but we have a detailed article that covers all the inclusions at each price point.In hatch guise, I've only really tested the GT-Line trim, and yes, nearly $44k before on-roads is a sizeable ask, but I've got to say it does also feel quite plush in the cabin. All the materials kind of melt under the touch, and you get leather-ish seats trimmed – in my test car at least – in sharp-looking white and black.The twin-screen setup (one 12.3-inch screen for multimedia and another for driving info, with a climate control panel sandwiched between) is probably my favourite iteration of Kia's cabin layout, because not only do you get the tech, you also get a whole bunch of shortcut buttons so you don't have to go digging through screens every time you want to do something.But the big news for most of the K4 range is a new and more efficient 2.0-litre engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drops power slightly, and fuel use more significantly.The new engine and gearbox combination makes 110kW and 180Nm, compared to 112kW and 192Nm, with fuel use falling from 7.4L/100km to a more frugal six litres flat.The K4 hatch is slightly shorter and slightly lower than the Cerato that it effectively replaces, but there is some clever interior packaging, so much so in fact that Kia says you get more legroom and headroom in both the front row and the second row than you did in the old Cerato, but marginally less shoulder room in the back seat.What does that mean in real terms? It means that I think you'd actually get away with this as a family car, at least in terms of passenger space.Sitting behind my own 175cm driving position, I had tonnes of knee room and enough headroom to get comfortable. Yes, it would be tight with three adults across the back, but you could have two kids back there, or a child seat or two, easily. But it is at the boot where the first chink in that family-friendly armour does appear. The boot is 438 litres VDA, which is very solid, but not good enough to swallow a massive pram comfortably. There is, however, a space-saver spare under the boot floor, which is a tick.I'm going to have to limit my drive impressions to the GT-Line, which is possibly no bad thing. A turbocharged engine and an actual gearbox is a rarity in the world of cars these days, plus the 1.6-litre turbo and eight-speed automatic reserved for the GT-Line makes 142kW and 265Nm – both big jumps over the rest of the range.I've driven a lot of newcomer brands to the country recently, and I've got to say, really none of them shine on Australian roads the way that cars have been tuned and tested here shine on Australian roads, and the K4 hatch is no exception. It rides firmly but comfortably, the steering is nicely weighted, and there's a level of engagement to the experience sometimes lacking from the competition.Now, that's not to say it isn't without some quirks. It can feel a little bit loud and ragged in the cabin when you put your foot down. And the steering, which has a really nice weight to it, doesn't feel overly linear all the time either. When you turn into a corner, sometimes it feels like you have to have another bite at it, or less of a bite of it. It's like it turns on some lock and then a lot of lock all at once.But in terms of cruising around the city or the suburbs, this thing is comfortable, mostly quiet, and easy to live with, and it'll do pretty much what you need it to do without too much drama.But one final caveat. Before I set out to film this car for the video review above, I had to studiously make sure that all the safety systems were either turned off or turned to silent, because you just know they're going to interrupt filming with bings and bongs and chimes.That is a curse of the modern car. I really do hope they find a way to iron it out sooner rather than later, because believe me, you will get familiar with turning off the safety systems in this one, too.

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Aussies SUV shoppers will be spoiled for choice in 2026.Kia is the latest carmaker to confirm a new version of one its most popular models, with the new-generation Seltos breaking cover ahead of its Australian arrival late next year.The new Seltos ushers in a lot of changes to beef up its arsenal to battle newcomers such as the MG ZS, Chery Tiggo 4 and old favourites including the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Kona from sister brand Hyundai.Kia’s compact SUV will come with hybrid power for the first time. The brand hasn’t revealed any details of the hybrid set-up, but it is believed to mirror the one found in the Kona.That likely means a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched with an electric motor and small battery. This set-up produces a combined 104kW and 265Nm in the Kona and is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch auto that drives the front wheels. Fuel use should be sub-4.0L/100km, too.This will be joined by two petrol engines.The first is a familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder non-turbo motor found in the current Seltos (minus 1kW), which now makes 110kW and 179Nm. It will likely be matched to a CVT auto.Next up is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. This is available in two tunes making either 132kW/265Nm or 142kW/265Nm. It is likely Australia will use the second option paired with an eight-speed auto, which is currently used in the Seltos albeit with 4kW more.Kia Australia hasn’t confirmed the Seltos line-up for Down Under yet, but it is likely to offer the two petrol options and hybrid from its Q4 launch.It will be available in front- or all-wheel drive layouts, with the AWD versions swapping out a rear torsion beam set-up for a more refined multi-link suspension at the back.Currently Kia fits the turbo motor to AWD versions and the non-turbo engine to FWD examples, this strategy is expected to carry-over to the new generation. No word yet on if the hybrid will be available in FWD or AWD layouts, but Hyundai only sells the Kona Hybrid in FWD.The Seltos will also benefit from a local ride and handling tune, which it said will take place at the start of next year.The company also claimed to have improved sound deadening to improve the driving experience.Kia has stretched the Seltos. It is now 45mm longer than before and with a 60mm longer wheelbase. The longer wheelbase — or distance between front and rear axles — typically determines how much interior space a car has. The spacious cabin has also been enhanced with a column-mounted shift-by-wire gear selector, which leaves the centre console free for other uses.The Seltos is also claimed to have class-leading boot space, with 536L of storage, according to Kia.A new design maintains the Seltos’ boxy physique but new lighting signatures front and back add some modern touches to its appeal. There is the option of 16-, 17-, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.Kia has also confirmed a new X-Line trim, which will feature more rugged styling compared to the more glitzy GT-Line.High-end models will benefit from plenty of large screens inside and a head-up display that projects vital information, such as travelling speed and safety warnings, onto the windscreen in front of the driver.Kia has fitted plenty of advanced safety tech to the new Seltos, with all bases covered.Kia will produce the Seltos in China, India and South Korea, with Australian-delivered vehicles built in Korea.

We just got a closer look at a revamped compact SUV. Kia has released an official teaser video for its new-generation Seltos. The video runs for 27 seconds, so we do not get a comprehensive look at the new Seltos, but do get some key details. In the absence of full body shots of the car, the video focuses on specific elements of the exterior design. The car in the photos is an all-wheel drive version of the Seltos, bearing the ‘4X’ badging on the back. It gets a boxy overall design, and it is similar to what is found on the brand’s all-electric EV3 small SUV, and in keeping with the just-unveiled Telluride three-row SUV. It features a curious light design, with a light strip that runs along the length of the boot. Other elements include a rear spoiler, alluding to a sleek design, and hidden door handles.It is anticipated the new-generation Seltos will get a hybrid power set-up for the first time ever. This hybrid is likely to have the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor found in its sister car, the Hyundai Kona, producing a combined 104kW and 265Nm. It has not been confirmed where the new Australian Seltos will be built, with Kia capable of producing the car in either India or South Korea.It is likely that the Aussie version will continue to be built in South Korea to share the K3 platform also found on the Kona. The Seltos is currently available in Australia exclusively with a petrol engine. A hybrid set-up would bring it into line with much of Kia’s range, which has undergone a sustained hybrid shift. The brand recently unveiled a more comprehensive range of HEVs and PHEVs for its larger Sorento, with a now 20-strong variant lineup for the SUV. The Seltos is still battling to recapture its status as a strong seller in the Aussie market’s busy small SUV category. It sits behind many of its rivals, selling less than 9000 units so far in 2025. It trails its sister car the Kona, with MG’s ZS and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro among other better sellers. Its rumoured starting price in its native South Korean market is roughly 20 million won, which is around $21,000, but it will endure a bit of a tax-related price hike when it hits Australia. The new-generation Seltos will be officially unveiled tomorrow, with an Australian launch date in the second half of 2026.

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