Kia K4 2026: Better-Looking Hatch, Same Drivetrain Concerns

Kia K4 Sedan and New Hatch: Stunning Cabin, Strange Styling, and a Drivetrain Still Finding Itself

We said this about the K4 sedan when it first arrived, and it still stands: it wasn’t love at first sight. Or second. The proportions were all out of whack – a big face, a big bum, and a stack of square boxes sandwiched in the middle like someone designing a car entirely with right-angles. The fastback roofline begged for a hatch, yet Kia doubled down on a regular boot. Like the Tasman ute, the K4 sedan’s styling was more “bless its heart” than “take my money.”

But step inside and it’s a whole different opera. The cabin is fabulous, even in the cheaper trims. The triple-screen sweep across the dash looks expensive, the materials feel properly grown-up, and the layout is sensible and spacious. Tech is generous: wireless CarPlay, OTA updates, safety systems galore, proper built-in navigation with ten years of free maps, and storage everywhere you poke a hand. In a GayCarBoys first; We discovered none of the K4 sedan’s highwasy assist auto-lane-change worked, period. Kia promised an OTA so lets hope they OTA’d. Sure, the speed-sign-recognition bong could drive a saint to gin, and the base seat fabric is drabber than a Lutheran church hall, but otherwise the interior is a triumph..

Now, Kia has finally delivered what the shape always promised: the K4 Hatch. And hallelujah, she looks so much better. The hatch’s proportions tidy up the K4’s awkwardness, smoothing out the rear, fixing the visual stance, and giving the design the balance it always needed. It immediately feels more modern, more cohesive, and frankly more Kia, given how good they usually are at styling.

The hatch mirrors the sedan lineup: S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line, with the S also available with a Safety Pack. It lands as part of the MY26 update and finally gives buyers a version of the K4 that looks worthy of the cabin it wraps around.t

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ABOVE: 2026 Kia K4 Hatch plus K4 Sedan from previous review

But here’s the spicy bit: powertrains.

The original sedan (which we did drive) came with the old 112kW 2.0-litre paired to a 6-speed auto that was about as enthusiastic as a retiree at a techno rave. It was thirsty, wheezy, and had fewer cogs than a Fisher-Price toy. Only the GT-Line got the excellent 1.6-litre turbo and 8-speed automatic, and it transformed the car — the combo that should have been standard.

For MY26, Kia has updated the drivetrain… somewhat. The S, Sport and Sport+ in both sedan and hatch now get a new 2.0L Atkinson-cycle MPI matched with a CVT. Yes, a CVT. Kia promises better fuel economy and reduced emissions, but it’s an interesting move when the brand already has superb hybrids and an excellent 8-speed auto sitting right there in other models. The GT-Line, blessedly, keeps the 1.6T and 8-speed.

Running costs are worth a glance, especially with Chinese rivals now landing in Australia. EVs like the BYD Atto 3 or Geely EX5 compete in the same A$40–45k bracket, offering far lower “fuel” costs thanks to electricity, but face higher insurance and faster depreciation. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and MG’s ZS EV also flirt with this segment, giving buyers alternative powertrains if petrol reliability isn’t the priority.

So where does that leave us?

The K4 still has one of the best cabins in the class, the hatch finally delivers the styling the sedan should have had, and the features list is generous. But the drivetrain story feels unfinished. Until Kia gives the lower grades the grunt and gearbox they deserve — hybrid, turbo, or at least a proper auto — the K4 will remain a brilliant idea with an engine lineup that needs a makeover. And with Chinese EVs creeping into the same price bracket, buyers have plenty of tempting alternatives if fuel economy or emissions are front of mind.

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