Skoda Scala vs Kia K4

What's the difference?

The new Skoda Scala Select proves base models can be well-equipped and have a great price tag, which is not always the case at this grade level.

Its driving experience might not be as exciting as some rivals but it’s a great urban dweller nonetheless and it offers really good value overall.

The new Kia K4 GT-Line has a lot to offer - an interesting design, lots of features and a pleasant driving experience. It’s not without its quirks and there are times when a more powerful engine may have improved it for me as a long-term prospect as I do some big kays every year but it ticks the boxes as a friendly urban dweller.

The new Scala has had a minor facelift that sees a redesigned black grille with slim LED headlights, refreshed 17-inch alloy wheels and an extended rear windscreen.

The new Scala more than holds its own against its European rivals when it comes to looks and while it's more unassuming at the kerb side than its peers, there will be those who appreciate that it's not too cutesy-looking.

Head inside and there are similarities between its corporate cousin, the VW Polo with the sharply-designed dashboard and air vents but it’s softened by lovely grey fabric-accent panels and soft touchpoints that have been liberally scattered across the cabin.

The technology screens look premium, if small, and the black and grey cloth seats look a lot nicer than the standard black fabric you usually get in base models.

There's also a certain charm to seeing the traditional elements, like the gearshift and new physical buttons for the climate control. There's enough in the cabin to satisfy most.

Have to admit I wasn’t convinced on the design of this new sedan at first as it can look a little out of sorts from certain angles. But the more time I spend with it, the more I appreciate its sharp lines and sporty rear shaping.

The small sedan market doesn't have a lot of options now because SUVs are so popular but it's nice to see a design that stands out and the fang-like LED light design at the front and rear, as well as the 18-inch alloy wheels make the K4 look very cool.

The rear doors look sleek because the handle has been hidden in the C-pillar and the K4 is particularly striking in our test model's 'Wave Blue' ($600 RRP) paint colour.

Head inside and you'll find a cabin that looks slick with a two-tone synthetic leather upholstery that feels supple underhand and a plethora of soft touchpoints under all the bits that touch.

The black headliner creates a posh space but the sunroof helps the cabin to feel airy when you need it to.

The dashboard isn't too wide, preferring a sharply linear shape and is headlined by a massive display panel that houses dual 12.3-inch screens and a 5.0-inch climate panel.

There is still a strong presence of plastics inside but you don’t tend to focus on them.

Unlike some other new cars hitting our market, the K4 hasn’t done away with its buttons and dials - and there’s enough to satisfy those who don’t like to rely on a screen for everything. The extra traditional element of the physical gear selector adds to its charm as well. 

Ooh, the cabin of the new Scala offers fantastic practicality because it's class leading when it comes to space. There is no 'sardines in a tin' experience here, front and rear passengers get stacks of head- and legroom.

The only stumble on this front is the elbow room up front as you can at times jostle a co-pilot on the annoyingly sloping armrest.

Access is easy enough and you surprisingly don't 'fall in' or grunt when getting out, despite the low 149mm ground clearance.

The storage is good for a hatchback with the front getting a glove box that can fit more than just a manual, small middle console, two cupholders and a drink bottle holder in each door. As well as a sunglasses holder (always handy) and a medium-ish storage cubby in front of the gearshift that can accommodate a phone and wallet.

The rear enjoys two map pockets, two device pockets and a drink bottle holder in each door but misses out on a centre armrest and cupholders.

The boot is massive with its 467L of available capacity and we managed to fit luggage and golf clubs on a roadie this week without trouble.

There’s a temporary space saver tyre underneath the floor and while there’s no powered tailgate, it's not a difficult lid to operate. It even has a neat little toggle to help pull it down.

Other amenities feel well-rounded with two USB-C ports in each row, directional air vents, a 12-volt socket and reading lights.

The touchscreen multimedia system is responsive but looks tiny as it's almost the same size as my iPhone 15 Pro Max. This translates to smaller text and icon sizes as well as a smaller screen for the reversing camera.

There’s also not much in the way of customisation or extra features, like satellite navigation but the new wireless functionality for the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes it feel modern. Although the wireless function for the CarPlay drops in and out a lot.

The K4 feels big for the class, especially compared to its nearest rivals and that translates to a cabin that feels adult-friendly in both rows. An impressive feat for a small sedan.

Access is the only time you will have moments of 'I should have opted for an SUV'. That's because you will get in your daily squats sliding in and out of the K4 due to its 140mm ground clearance.

The rear doors also feature a wide wing that juts out from the door handle and it catches your hip almost every time you go to close the door.

The wide front seats offer lots of comfort with thick padding and long under-thigh-support. The driver's side is powered with adjustable lumbar support but the passenger seat only offers manual adjustments, which is surprising for a top-grade model. However, both front seats enjoy heat and ventilation functions.

The back bench seat offers similar comfort to the front with seat padding and length but it's not terribly wide and two adults (or child car seats) will fit best.

Amenities and storage is decent for the class with each row enjoying four drink holders and two USB-C ports. Front rowers also get a wireless charging pad and 12-volt socket.

In the front there is a large glove box that fits more than just an owner's manual, a mid-size middle console and a centre console that features retractable cupholders to open up the space if you need to. A dedicated phone cradle with small spaces on each side rounds up individual storage for the front.

In the rear there are two map pockets, a small item cubby next to the USB-C ports and a pair of directional air vents, reading lights and a fold-down armrest.

The boot space is massive for the class at 508L (that's nearing mid-size SUV territory) but the aperture is narrow and I couldn't fit my big booster seat through the opening.

The boot is quite deep as well and you may find yourself climbing into it to retrieve items that roll into the back.

The rear bench seat has a 60/40 split which can help with storage and there is a temporary spare tyre underneath the floor.

While you don't get a powered tailgate in this model, the lid isn't heavy to operate and has a proximity opening function that keeps it practical when you have your hands full.

This just means when you approach and stay near the boot with the key fob on your person the boot lid will pop open for you.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system looks great with crisp graphics and a responsive touchscreen. The menus are in an easy-to-understand layout which you'll get accustomed to in no time. The 5.0-inch climate display sits to the right of this system and it's nice to have it on display all the time.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster isn't all that customisable but it's easy to read with large text and a small menu screen that shows nav directions, trip info or a compass.

The built-in satellite navigation system is easy to get going and to cancel a route guidance, it's a one button affair which is great for when you're on the go.

The system features wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The CarPlay is simple to connect to and retained a steady connection this week with feedback from my callers that my voice was clear on calls.

The new K4 sedan is offered in four grades - the base-model S which has an optional 'Safety Pack' available, the mid-spec Sport and Sport+ grades and the flagship GT-Line, which is the model on test for this review.

The GT-Line is sharply priced at $42,990, before on road costs. This positions it in the middle of its small sedan rivals, the Hyundai i30 N Line Premium ($41,500 MSRP) and the Mazda3 Astina ($43,310 MSRP).

What the K4 GT-Line has going for it over its peers is a standard specification list that features some heavy-hitting technology.

This includes dual 12.3-inch displays, a 5.0-inch climate display, built-in satellite navigation with 10-years' of map updates, wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual-zone climate control.

Charging is taken care of by two USB-C ports for each row but the front row also enjoys a 12-volt socket and fast wireless charging pad in the dedicated phone cradle.

There's also an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, over-the-air updates, digital radio, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 'Sounds of Nature' soundscape for added ambience.

The Kia Connect app is also included and this allows user access to the emergency call functionality (e-Call), remote control functions for the vehicle, as well as vehicle status monitoring.

Premium equipment includes a tilt and slide sunroof with electric sunshade, two-tone synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, an electric drivers seat (with two-position memory function and adjustable lumbar support) and a heated steering wheel.

For a small sedan, it comes packed with features!

The Scala Select is a front-wheel drive with a seven-speed auto transmission. It has a 1.0L three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque.

At first glance you might think those outputs sound low and while most of its rivals have better outputs, there's plenty of oomph here to move the little Scala around. 

The flagship grade is front-wheel drive and has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 142kW of power and 265Nm of torque giving this a more powerful presence than its non-turbo siblings (which only produce up to 112kW/192Nm).

However, while the power is adequate for the GT-Line there are times when the engine sounds like it's working a bit too hard.

The eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission can also become flustered as it moves through the lower gears, especially when you’re accelerating quickly.

On the whole, the power delivery and outputs are more than enough for a city environment and the odd road trip.

The new Select has almost hybrid fuel efficiency with its official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel figure of 5.4L/100km. In comparison, its hybrid rival, the Toyota Corolla isn’t too far away with its 4.0L usage.

Based on its 50L fuel tank, you should see a theoretical driving range of up to 925km, which is excellent for an urban dweller.

After doing a road trip combined with a fair amount of city-driving, my real world usage has popped out at 5.7L/100km. Which is a great result overall.

With an official combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle fuel usage figure of 6.7L/100km and a fuel tank size of 47L, this model has a theoretical driving range of 701km. That does sit around 80 kays less than some of its rivals but it’s still sufficient for those wanting to do the odd road trip!

My on-test fuel usage has popped out at 9.2L/100km, which is based on figures achieved at the pump (32.05L) and my km travelled (348km).

I’ve done mostly urban trips this week with one longer open-road drive and overall I’m not too surprised by that figure because I’ve been pushing it hard but it could be better.

The K4 is a simple gal because Kia recommends a minimum 91 RON unleaded petrol to be used for all models.

Hatchbacks are always a bit of fun to drive because of the dodgem car-esque handling and when the Scala is in Sport mode, it has enough pep to earn it a fun badge.

Out of Sport mode, the power delivery is still responsive enough for it to be a pleasant open-roader but you won't whoop with joy when you accelerate.

The steering is light without feeling loose and the Scala is nimble when cornering or in tight turns.

The ride comfort is very good and despite hitting some bad weather the Select didn’t miss a beat. It's a confident on-road experience because of its surefootedness.

There's a bit of road noise although its pretty quiet in the cabin, which also makes it a refined open-roader.

The visibility is decent and it’s easy to feel the dimensions of the car when you're in a skinny city laneway.

The Select gets a reversing camera with dynamic reversing guidelines and a clear quality feed but its tiny in the little screen.

The additional front sensors round out the parking experience considerably. You shouldn’t have any issue in parking this one!

As mentioned earlier, the power is adequate to move this car around on the open-road but you have to be a little aggressive on hills to keep your speed consistent.

It’s not always quick off the mark, though, and you’ll notice that when you have to cross traffic or enter a roundabout - so allow for extra car lengths. Once you get going, it’s responsive in the city.

The steering is sports-stiff and so is the suspension. This makes the handling feel nimble in turns and sure-footed when doing quick lane changes but you hear and feel every bump in the road. 

On-road comfort is okay around the city but the road noise is very loud inside the cabin and is particularly noticeable at higher speeds. You’ll have to raise your voice to chat to passengers in the back when you're on the highway.

The K4 has a small turning circle of just 10.7m and you can easily do a U-turn in spaces that others might have to do a three-pointer. This made the K4 feel friendly in small car parks and on ramps.

The direct steering makes it easy-enough to park, as does the reversing camera and front/rear parking sensors but I’m pretty disappointed that at the top grade-level, you miss out on a 360-degree camera system (tsk, tsk, Kia).

The Kia K4 has just been launched and hasn’t been tested by ANCAP yet, so is unrated but Kia is hustling to get it tested so it can join in on their strong five-star performance record. The K4 has seven airbags, including a front centre airbag.

The K4 GT-Line has all of the bells and whistles when it comes to safety equipment and includes the big-ticket items like blind-spot monitoring and collision avoidance, intelligent seatbelt warning (all seats), rear cross-traffic alert, front cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aid, lane departure alert, leading vehicle alert, emergency call functionality, side exit warning, rear occupant alert, traffic sign recognition, driver monitoring and alert, LED DRLs, dusk-sensing LED headlights, front/rear parking sensors and a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines.

The K4 GT-Line has AEB with forward collision warning, car, pedestrian, cyclist, and junction crossing detection.

The rear seat has two ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard positions and three top tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.

Kia has become well-known for having annoying sound alerts in their cars and while the K4 has them too - you can easily disable the most annoying one, the traffic sign recognition, by holding the steering wheel volume button in for a few seconds.

The Scala is offered with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, which is good for the class and you can pre-purchase a seven-year/105,000km servicing program for a flat $3650, which is competitive.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12-months or 15,000km. You also get roadside assistance as a part of your servicing pack if you service on schedule. 

The Scala likes to drink the good stuff, though, and Skoda recommends a minimum 95 RON premium unleaded petrol be used.

The K4 GT-Line is offered with Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. That’s a pretty good term for the class and there is a seven-year capped price servicing program for a flat $3877 (averaging $554 per service), which is slightly more expensive than others in the class.

Servicing intervals could get annoying if you do big kays every year as they're spaced at every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.