2026 Kia K4 S Hatch With Safety pack makes me eat my words 5 Min Review

Last year I reviewed the K4 Sedan Sport HERE. I spent much of the time pursing my lips, tsk-tsking the ADAS, and becoming more curmudgeonly inclined the further the review progressed.

The K4 S Hatch is considerably better proportioned than the ugly step sister sedan, and there is still plenty of space inside. So, there is a win on looks alone and without the constant bongs, my mood was considerably more affable. That then placed me and a meditative place to contemplate my surroundings with a mood less tilted by tedium.

Kia said K4 S Hatch was more handsome, and it is. Their execs assured me that the fixes for the wayward auto lane change had been applied to the K4 sedan and hatch. It was with an amusing sense of irony that I noted the K4 S Hatch safetypack doesn’t include HDA II with auto lane change, so we’ll keep that evaluation for another time.

I requested a base model for this test because if allows a sense of scope, and is a good place to see if the extra cash is worth the extra gear.

Download the specifications HERE:

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ABOVE: 2026 Kia K4 S Hatch

Ahead of the full review and video, here are a few quick fire-side comments:

The twin zone climate control is standard in almost everything I test, and for 35 grand, I’d expect it in the K4 S Hatch too, even without the safety pack.

First, let’s look at the elephant on the bonnet:

Kia K4 Cost Adjustments

Variant	Launch MSRP	Current MSRP	Movement
S	$30,590	$32,090	Up $1,500
S with Safety Pack	$32,690	$34,190	Up $1,500
Sport	$35,190	$36,690	Up $1,500
Sport+	$37,590	$39,090	Up $1,500
GT-Line	$42,990	$43,790	Up $800

There has been a decent bump in price for a car that was already not stacking up against opposition. Our K4 S hatch compares to 9 other models below:

Under-$35k Small Car Landscape

Model & Trim	List Price (MSRP)	Driveline / Transmission	Power & Torque	Length & Wheelbase
MG 4 Excite 64	$34,990	RWD Single Electric Motor	150kW / 250Nm	4287mm / 2705mm
GWM Ora Standard Range	$33,990	FWD Single Electric Motor	126kW / 250Nm	4235mm / 2650mm
Volkswagen Polo Style	$32,500	1.0L 3cyl Turbo / 7-speed DSG	85kW / 200Nm	4074mm / 2552mm
Mazda 2 GT Hatch	$29,220	1.5L 4cyl NA / 6-speed Auto	82kW / 144Nm	4065mm / 2570mm
Subaru Impreza 2.0L	$31,590	AWD 2.0L 4cyl NA / CVT Auto	115kW / 196Nm	4480mm / 2670mm
Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid	$32,110	FWD 1.8L Hybrid / e-CVT Auto	103kW (Combined)	4375mm / 2640mm
Mazda 3 G20 Evolve Vision	$32,410	FWD 2.0L 4cyl NA / 6-speed Auto	114kW / 200Nm	4460mm / 2725mm
Hyundai i30 Base Sedan	$30,000	FWD 2.0L 4cyl NA / CVT Auto	110kW / 180Nm	4710mm / 2720mm
Chery Omoda 5 GT	$32,990	FWD 1.6L Turbo / 7-speed DCT	137kW / 275Nm	4400mm / 2630mm
Kia K4 S (Safety Pack)	$34,190	FWD 2.0L 4cyl NA / IVT Auto	110kW / 180Nm	4710mm / 2720mm

This list has a few electric and hybrid options, some cars with a real automatic, and a mix of brand new and slightly aging models. I’ll let those figures speak for themselves.

Then, there is the gear comparison:

The $34k landscape splits very sharply: you either get premium cabin tech with entry-level seating, or retro cabins with nicer materials. Here is how the gear inside stacks up.

The Screens & Infotainment

The K4 S with the Safety Pack completely dominates the tech layout at this price point. By upgrading to the Integrated Panoramic Display, you get 75cm of continuous digital glass across the dashboard.

• The Match: Only the Hyundai i30 Sedan mirrors this dual-screen layout. The electric MG 4 and GWM Ora offer smaller, freestanding digital tiles that look far less premium.
• The Basic Ends: The Mazda 2, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla at this price tier still use smaller screens with thick bezels, retaining analogue gauges or basic 4-inch driver menus that look a generation behind.
• Connectivity: Kia includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with over-the-air update capability, whereas the Corolla and Subaru Impreza still require plugging a cord into the dash for full smartphone mirroring.

Cabin Comfort & Climate Control

Ticking the Safety Pack box upgrades the K4 to dual-zone automatic climate control with an automatic defogger and a dedicated 5-inch screen just for HVAC functions.

• The Equals: The Volkswagen Polo Style and Chery Omoda 5 GT match the dual-zone climate system, while the Mazda 2 GT throws in single-zone automatic climate control.
• The Budget Air: The Subaru Impreza base and Mazda 3 G20 Evolve stick to manual air-con dials at this sub-$35k mark.

Seating & Trim Materials

This is where the entry-level roots of the K4 S bite back. Despite the flagship screen setup, you are still sitting on basic cloth trim with fully manual seat adjustment.

• The Premium Interiors: The Chery Omoda 5 GT, GWM Ora, and Mazda 2 GT completely outclass the Kia here by offering synthetic leather seating, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front buckets as standard for the same money.
• The Touchpoints: While the K4 gives you a leather-appointed steering wheel, the rest of the cabin features harder plastic door cards compared to the plush, soft-touch dashboard layouts found in the Mazda 3 or VW Polo.

Despite stretching the wheelbase and blowing out the exterior dimensions to 4710mm, Kia completely skimped on the steering column hardware. The telescoping function has barely any travel, meaning you cannot pull the wheel out anywhere near far enough toward your chest.

If you have longer legs and have to slide the manual seat track back, you are forced into an awkward, straight-armed reach just to keep your hands on the wheel. It completely compromises the ergonomics, especially when you compare it to a Mazda 3 or VW Polo, which let you pull the wheel right into your lap for a proper driving position.

2.0L Powertrain Tech Shift

Specification	Launch Powertrain (2025)	Updated Powertrain (Current)	Net Change
Engine Type	2.0L Multi-Point Injection (MPI)	2.0L Atkinson-Cycle (Smartstream)	New architecture
Transmission	6-speed torque-converter automatic	Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)	Slush-box to CVT
Peak Power	112kW @ 6200rpm	110kW @ 6200rpm	Down 2kW
Peak Torque	192Nm @ 4000rpm	180Nm @ 4500rpm	Down 12Nm (delivered higher)
Fuel Consumption	7.4L/100km (Combined)	6.0L/100km (Sedan) / 6.1L/100km (Hatch)	Slashed by ~1.4L/100km
CO2 Emissions	167g/km	139g/km (Sedan) / 143g/km (Hatch)	Reduced by up to 28g/km

We’ll get back to you with the full review, but, when you can get an EV, even if a little smaller, it gives buyers reason to pause. The K4’s lack of steering wheel reach makes it slightly less comfy, and the seat fabric, though functional, has the faint whiff of 70’s nylon safari suit about it.

The CVT, one of my least favourite automatics, robs what little the 110 Atkinson might have had to improve the drive. While all the good stuff is saved for the much more expensive GT-Line, including its fabulous 8-speed auto, the base K4 with safety pack is adequate but only if viewed in isolation.

However, we didn’t show the promised fuel savings, the CarPlay would drop out, and the sensors were overly protective. One one occasion the K4 refused to allow us to depart the parking space. It slammed on the anchors after detecting an errant Toyota Corolla waiting to grab our spot after we vacated. After 3 stabs at the go pedal, the K4 eventually got the idea.

Again, the ccNc and its associated Android Open Source Project underlay, have proved tetchy and rather naughty.

On balance, the K4 has was a decent drive despite its dreary CVT. the ride is great, the handling is tight, and the cabin is quite-ish. Surprisingly I enjoyed beetling around town doing my city chores.

TOP TIP: if you want the steps in the CVT shifts, select sport mode.

Stay tuned for our quickie video.

More Kia K4 Stories

• 2025 Kia K4 – Good Car Spoilt by its Looks
• Kia K4 2026: Better-Looking Hatch, Same Drivetrain Concerns
• Kia K4 Splits ANCAP Ratings: Five Stars for Most, Four for Base

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