The Kia K4 Sedan will soon be joined by a hatchback body style and a more efficient petrol engine in Australia, and the wagon variant is also on Kia Australia’s wishlist – but the business case may not stack up here.
Speaking with CarExpert at the Australian launch of the updated Kia Sportage mid-size SUV, general manager for product at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, said that while a K4 Wagon will likely be offered in right-hand drive for the UK, demand for wagons continues to shrink in Australia.
“The ultimate question is the appetite. The [Australian] market has evolved, and I think it’s very SUV-biased. I’d love a wagon, but I think the business case for our market is not as much as Europe’s,” Mr Rivero said.
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Above: 2026 Kia K4 Wagon prototype
When asked if the wagon-bodied K4 could be reserved for a GT warm performance hero, Mr Rivero remained reluctant.
“It would be pretty expensive. We’d have to convince the Mexican plant for that additional variant, which isn’t that hard because the UK will have it in right-hand drive – but it’s still another derivative that the factory has to churn out.”
A camouflaged Kia K4 Wagon prototype was recently spotted testing in Europe, ahead of its anticipated reveal later this year. The K4 will replace the popular European-market Kia Ceed, in the same way it replaced the Cerato in Australia.
While heavily disguised under sheets and cladding, the K4 Wagon appears to have the extended rear overhang of the K4 Sedan, but with the high roof and tailgate of the incoming K4 Hatch.
In the same interview, Mr Rivero confirmed the new K4 Hatch will introduce a more efficient petrol engine and transmission combination when it arrives in the latter stages of 2025.
“We’ve got [the] hatchback first. That does adopt a new powertrain which you’re familiar with from the Seltos [small SUV]… which helps us out from a CO2 perspective – that will be our first adjustment in light of NVES [the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard],” Mr Rivero said.
The powertrain in question is an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with what Hyundai and Kia call an ‘IVT’ or Intelligent Variable Transmission. Effectively, it’s Hyundai/Kia-speak for a CVT.
“The CO2 on that is better than even the 1.6 turbo – I think it’s about a 30g/km improvement [over the 2.0L MPI]. Whether we spec it with [idle stop/start] is TBC,” Mr Rivero added.
Above: Kia K4 Sedan (left) and K4 Hatch (right)
The current 2.0L MPI engine with a six-speed automatic in the K4 Sedan quotes combined fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km and CO2 emissions of 167g/km, while the more powerful 1.6 T-GDI engine in the GT-Line with its eight-speed auto quotes 6.7L/100km and 158g/km.
Mr Rivero said the new drivetrain will be applied to both the upcoming K4 Hatch as well as the existing K4 Sedan during the fourth quarter of 2025, likely coinciding with model year 2026 (MY26) production.
For reference, the related Hyundai i30 Sedan with the Smartstream-branded Atkinson-cycle engine and CVT quotes a much thriftier 6.1L/100km and 139g/km on the combined cycle.
As yet there’s still no word on a K4 Hybrid or HEV variant, which has been all but confirmed for future introduction. It will almost certainly draw upon the 1.6-litre petrol-electric system used in the i30 Sedan and Kona hybrids, in which it makes 104kW and 265Nm.
Let us know in the comments if you want Kia Australia to bring the K4 Wagon!
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