Final yr, Kia pleasantly shocked us by confirming the brand new K4 Hatchback was US sure. Now, it is right here. Kia pulled the wraps off the manufacturing 2026 K4 Hatchback on the New York Worldwide Auto Present on Wednesday, and confirmed US gross sales will start later this yr. Who mentioned the hatchback was useless?
That is Kia’s reply to hatch variants of the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, and maybe to a lesser extent, the Acura Integra. Consumers could also be shifting in the direction of crossovers, however Kia sees sufficient of a market to roll the cube on a K4 Hatchback right here within the states.
It is a very distinctive hatch, with a floating-roof design and rear door handles built-in into the C-Pillar, disappearing from view. The gently tapering roof permits for what Kia claims is best-in-class rear headroom, and the K4 Hatchback additionally has extra rear legroom than any of its rivals. That mentioned, its 22.2 cubic-feet of rear cargo room, whereas good, cannot match the 24.8 cubic-feet of the Honda Civic Hatchback. Remarkably, although, the K4 Hatchback is 11 inches shorter total than the sedan.
Picture by: Kia
Picture by: Kia
Just like the sedan, the K4 Hatchback might be obtainable with two engines, a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a 190-hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder within the GT-Line Turbo. The previous pairs with a repeatedly variable transmission, whereas the latter mates with an eight-speed computerized. Each the GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo get a singular sporty suspension tune, too, and 18-inch wheels together with different racier styling components.
Apart from the rear cargo space, the inside is mainly similar to that of the K4 sedan, with twin 12.3-inch screens for gauge cluster and infotainment. There is a ton of driver-assist programs commonplace, like adaptive cruise management and lane-keep help, whereas elective on the GT-Line Turbo is Kia’s nice Freeway Driving Help.
Kia hasn’t confirmed particulars on trim and pricing but, so we do not know if the K4 Hatchback will observe the identical actual scheme because the sedan. However like for like, anticipate the Hatchback to value a bit greater than the sedan, which at the moment begins at $23,165, and climbs to $31,860 for a totally optioned GT-Line Turbo.
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