Kia K4 review: Can the new family hatchback take on the VW Golf?

Kia's new K4 combines generous space, strong value and hybrid efficiency to revive the appeal of the traditional family hatchback

Kia's new K4 proves the family hatchback still has plenty to offer in an SUV-dominated market

KIA K4
Rating	★★★★☆
Price	from €31,500 - €38,500 as tested
Engine	1.6-litre mild-hybrid with 115bhp
The Spec	in GT-Line spec it comes with many bells and quite a few whistles
Verdict	breathing new life into the hatchback segment

TIME was when the medium-sized family hatchback was king. It dominated garage forecourts and suburban driveways alike.

Until recently, it was as doomed as a Stegosaurus. Quite why the industry and the buying public nearly killed it off is not really a mystery. The advent of mid-sized SUVs and Crossovers was itself responsible for much of the damage and gave the segment a drop-kick that nearly killed it.

Until recently, the mid-sized hatch was quite de rigueur and the VW Golf possibly the most successful example ever seen; the unfortunately now moribund Ford Focus another excellent example of the genre.

But now Kia, for some reason best known to itself, appears to have decided to breathe new life into this particular segment and, to this end, recently introduced the new K4 to replace its own unexciting if workmanlike Ceed model.

The thing is that Kia has actually moved well away from the traditional world of ICE motors and done an exceptional job of making really good EVs, starting off with the EV6, which is now into its second generation and still close to best-in-class.

Stuff such as the EV9, EV2, EV3, and EV4 have all followed, and each has a lot to recommend it. Hell, even the PV5 van in passenger guise is damn good.

So why are they looking over their shoulder with an old-school family hatchback with a petrol engine?

Well, obviously they’ve looked closely at the markets and found there to be a strong loyalty to the hatch and even to petrol-engined versions.

What they have come up with is something of a variation on the theme, as the K4 is actually an MHEV. In lay terms, that makes it a mild hybrid EV but it still has a one-litre petrol engine so, technically, it’s not an EV at all — just dolled up like one.

But let’s not quibble about semantics here because our main point is that the hatch is far from being moribund — and Kia has just rubber-stamped the fact.

Now, to be fair, there are still notable contenders in the segment as well. Peugeot has the excellent 308, Mazda’s under-rated 3 is in there, Honda’s wonderful Civic is still on the go and, of course, Toyota’s perennial Corolla is as popular as it ever was.

The Golf is also still in the frame and so too, somewhat curiously, is the Skoda Octavia which, although seen by many as a bigger car, is based on the Golf platform.

The Kia K4 has a spacious interior, good spec, a decent enough boot and very good ride and handling traits.

But it’s the Kia we’re concentrating on this week, and it’s got a lot going for it: Spacious interior, good spec, a decent-enough boot, and very good ride and handling traits. It’s not exactly going to break the bank either, cost-wise.

On top of that, in GT-Line trim as tested, the car has a strong visual appeal, with a couple of exterior design touches which stand it apart, a large glass sunroof, Kia’s ‘Cube Projection’ fancy-dan lights, and attractive 17in alloys which go against the modern trend of over-large wheels. The ‘Snow White Pearl’ colour scheme of the tester is only available on this version.

ON THE inside, this version is also made unique with a more tactile bespoke steering wheel, which has changer paddles and is also heated.

The front seats are ventilated and upholstered with a tri-colour faux leather which matches the covering of the chunky steering wheel.

The dash layout is neat and functional, with twin 12.3in digital instrumentation and infotainment screens, with a smaller screen between them for climate functions. It might sound over-fussy but it works well.

There’s also a wireless charging pad for two phones in the front and two USB-C ports (with two more in the rear) and, on this version, there’s also a Digital Key 2.0 as standard, allowing you to use your phone instead of a traditional key.

Kia's new K4 proves the family hatchback still has plenty to offer in an SUV-dominated market

As a relatively wide car — it’s much broader than a Golf, for example — it makes for a spacious cabin and very accommodating seats front and rear, as well as a huge centre console and very commodious door pockets too.

The seating position for the driver is very low, which will be a no-no for SUV addicts, but two of the rear seats are heated, which will be a plus.

Some might be surprised that the primary power source is only a one-litre petrol engine, with all the hybrid stuff sited under the boot floor (which explains why space there is not vast). Power is not eye-opening at just 115bhp — but there’s a 1.6-litre MHEV planned for later this year — and the tardy 12.3-second 0-100km/h time shouldn’t shock anyone.

There are three driving modes to choose from — this is a seven-speed automatic, after all — but, to be honest, anything other than the ‘Normal’ setting is a bit of a waste of time. ‘Eco’ dulls performance to a sedentary level and ‘Sport’, frankly, is anything but.

Nevertheless, the capability of the car to consume as little as 5.6 l/100km should keep most punters happy, even with petrol prices being Hormuz-straitened.

Even with the GT-Line designation, this car might have a sporty demeanour but nothing could be further from reality. In a way, that actually helps the overall product because you’re never going to stretch the handling capabilities beyond breaking point, nor overestimate cornering abilities.

Kia's new K4 proves the family hatchback still has plenty to offer in an SUV-dominated market

This is not a car that particularly likes to be hustled — if you do, you’ll find the front end washing out thanks to terminal understeer — but that possibly makes it all the more appealing as potentially a firm family favourite.

Kia is to be commended for breathing a small bit of new life into a fairly moribund segment, and this is a car that will definitely find favour for those floundering around for a replacement for their beloved Focus. That it’s bigger and cheaper than a Golf will also appeal.

Kia’s seven-year warranty has always been a selling point for the brand, and the fact the K4 is a safe, well-equipped, and spacious offering will stand to it too.

It’s not the most exciting drive you’ll ever have but it ticks most other boxes on the family car requirement list. It might not match the on-road abilities of the Golf or even the late Focus but it does most things demanded of it very well.

A worthwhile addition to the hatchback canon.