Kia’s replacement for the popular Cerato, Australia’s second favourite small car in 2024 after the Toyota Corolla, is arriving in local showrooms now, but for the next little while it will only be available as a four-door sedan – so what about the hatchback?
The 2025 Kia K4 will spend around nine months on sale as a sedan-only proposition, despite Australian tastes trending towards hatchbacks in the smaller car sales segments.
Kia Australia says the K4 Hatch – revealed globally as the K4 5-Door – is due to arrive Down Under during the fourth quarter of 2025 (October-December), with a similar range of variants as the K4 Sedan that has just gone on sale.
The K4 Sedan arrives in Australia with four distinct trim levels and two drivetrains available, but there’s no official word of an electrified variant so far – a K4 Hybrid or HEV hasn’t been revealed, but it’s expected to debut later this year.
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For now, two petrol-only powertrains are offered, largely carrying over from the previous Cerato range. The base 2.0-litre naturally aspirated ‘MPI’ four-cylinder powers S, Sport and Sport+ versions, while a 1.6-litre ‘T-GDI’ turbo four exclusively powers the flagship GT-Line – though the latter scores an eight-speed auto in place of the old seven-cog dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
The K4 is based on the same Hyundai-Kia ‘K3’ platform that underpins the latest Hyundai Kona and i30 Sedan (Avante/Elantra), as well as the Kia Niro crossover. This platform allows for petrol-electric hybrid and battery-electric drivetrains.
While the Niro and Kona are available as EVs, it’s expected the K4 will be joined by the all-electric EV4 electric SUV in the coming 12 months, previewed by the distinctively-designed Concept EV4 in 2023.
So, expect the as-yet-unrevealed Kia K4 HEV to be powered by Hyundai-Kia’s 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid system offering 104kW and 265Nm, driving the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. It’s the same drivetrain offered in the Niro HEV, Kona Hybrid and i30 Sedan Hybrid in Australia.
As you can see from the pictures above, the K4 Hatch and Sedan look largely identical forward of the C-pillar. From there, the hatchback abruptly chops off the rear overhang, which should make it significantly shorter in length.
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K4 Hatch -
K4 Sedan
When questioned about the K4 Sedan’s VFACTS classification – given its 4710mm length and 1850mm width are approaching the mid-size Toyota Camry in terms of footprint – Kia Australia representatives said the slightly smaller dimensions of the hatchback were enough to convince the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) to keep the K4 in the small passenger segment.
Kia Australia expects the K4 Hatch to be the sales favourite, much like the Cerato before it. Company representatives projected a 60:40 sales split between the hatchback and sedan, once both body variants go on sale.
The Kia K4 is the first Australian-delivered model from the Korean brand to be sourced from the company’s Monterrey factory in Mexico. While the Cerato/Forte/K3 was produced in multiple factories, the K4 will be sourced from the Mexican facility for all markets globally – including the upcoming European version that will replace the Ceed family.
Given the Monterrey plant will supply Europe and the UK, it could give Australia a better chance of receiving Kia small-car model derivatives and powertrains previously reserved for Slovakian production of the Ceed. For example, should the Ceed Sportswagon and Proceed wagons be replaced by a wagon-bodied K4, it could be made available Down Under if produced in right-hand drive.
Further, the European model’s yet-to-be-revealed engine lineup could replace the Australian-market’s ageing powertrain range in an effort to meet the Australian Government’s incoming NVES emissions regulations – the 2.0 MPI and 1.6 T-GDI engines available at launch both eclipse the 141g/km CO2 fleet-average cap for passenger vehicles.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for our Australian launch review of the 2025 Kia K4 at 9:00am next Friday (January 31)
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