The Kia K4 arrived in Australia in early 2025 to replace the Cerato, but was only available as a sedan. Now it gets a hatchback model and a new base engine for the 2026 model year (MY26).
The 2026 Kia K4 lineup arrives in dealers this month with prices increasing by $800 to $1,500.
As reported by Daily Sparkz In June, the K4 swapped its 2.0-litre MPI four-cylinder petrol engine for a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle mill engine. The old six-speed automatic transmission will also be replaced by Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission, the Korean brand’s name for a continuously variable transmission.
The result is significantly improved fuel consumption – 6.0L/100km in the 2026 sedan on the combined cycle versus 7.4L/100km in the pre-update model – and lower emissions (139g/km versus 167g/km).
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The trade-off is slightly less power and torque, down 2kW and 12Nm to 110kW and 180Nm respectively. Peak torque is also delivered at a higher 4,500 rpm (instead of 4,000 rpm).
The flagship GT-Line’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and eight-speed automatic transmission remain unchanged.
Both engines meet the Euro 5 emissions standard.
The hatchback body style will be available in all existing variants and you’ll pay the same price as the old Cerato, regardless of which body style you choose.
It has the same 2720mm wheelbase as the sedan, but is 270mm shorter from nose to tail.
A hatchback body is almost mandatory in the mainstream small car segment. The only small cars in Australia that don’t offer a hatchback body style are the MG 5 and the Subaru WRX, although the latter is also available as a wagon.
There is no information yet on the K4 Hybrid for Australia, with its future launch confirmed in Europe. It will almost certainly rely on the 1.6-litre hybrid system used in the Hyundai i30 Sedan and Kona hybrids, producing 104kW and 265Nm.
Prices
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Kia K4 S | $32,090 (+$1,500) |
| 2026 Kia K4 S with Safety Package | $34,190 (+$1,500) |
| 2026 Kia K4 Sport | $36,690 (+$1,500) |
| 2026 Kia K4 Sport+ | $39,090 (+$1,500) |
| 2026 Kia K4 GT Line | $43,790 (+$800) |
Drives and efficiency
All K4s feature a torsion beam rear axle, except the GT-Line, which is upgraded to an independent multi-link rear.
| Specifications | Kia K4 2.0 | Kia K4 1.6T |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | 2.0L 4-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine | 1.6 liter turbo petrol engine with 4 cyl |
| Performance | 110 kW at 6200 rpm | 142 kW at 6000 rpm |
| Torque | 180 Nm at 4500 rpm | 265 Nm at 1700-4500 rpm |
| transmission | CVT | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive type | Front wheel drive | Front wheel drive |
| Tare weight | 1374 kg (saloon) 1388 kg (hatch) |
1433 kg (saloon) 1453 kg (hatch) |
| Fuel consumption (claimed) | 6.0 l/100 km (saloon) 6.1 l/100 km (hatch) |
6.7 l/100 km (saloon) 7.4 l/100 km (hatch) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 47L | 47L |
| Fuel requirements | Regular unleaded gasoline with 91 octane | Regular unleaded gasoline with 91 octane |
| CO2 emissions | 139g/km (saloon) 143 g/km (hatch) |
158g/km (saloon) 169 g/km (hatch) |
| Emissions standard | 5 euros | 5 euros |
| Braked towing capacity | 1100kg | 1100kg |
| Unbraked towing capacity | 610kg | 610kg |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | K4 hatch | K4 sedan |
|---|---|---|
| length | 4710mm | 4440mm |
| Width | 1850mm | 1850mm |
| Height | 1435mm | 1425mm |
| wheelbase | 2720mm | 2720mm |
| Loading capacity (VDA) | 438L | 508L |
Maintenance and warranty
The Kia K4 comes with a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
Kia Australia has not yet announced peak price service details for the 2026 model year.
Security
The Kia K4 Sedan has two ANCAP safety ratings based on tests conducted in 2025.
The K4 Hatch has yet to be evaluated.
The K4 S without the optional safety pack received four stars, all other K4 sedans received five stars.
| category | Kia K4 Sedan S (without safety package) | Kia K4 Sedan (all others) |
|---|---|---|
| Protection for adults | 83 percent | 83 percent |
| Passenger protection for children | 80 percent | 80 percent |
| Protection of vulnerable road users | 73 percent | 77 percent |
| Security assistant | 64 percent | 77 percent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) “FCA 1.5”.
- Detection of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists
- Turn assistant at the intersection
- Blind Spot Assist
- Intelligent speed limit assistant
- Lane keeping assistant
- Lane Follow Assist (lane centering)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Multi-collision braking
- Warning of rear passengers
- Safe exit warning
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Parking sensors front and rear
- Rear view camera
- Front, front side, front center and head airbags
The K4 S with Safety Pack and above features the improved FCA 2 AEB system, which also provides support for intersection crossing and lane change detection in oncoming lanes.
Sport variants and above get Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 with Lane Change Assist, a Level 2 autonomous driving system that combines adaptive cruise control and lane centering functions.
Standard equipment
The S is equipped with the following equipment as standard:
- 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55R16 tires
- Space-saving spare part
- Automatic reflector LED headlights
- Automatic high beam
- Proximity access with push button start
- Electronic parking brake with automatic holding function
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless, wired)
- Over-the-air software updates
- 6 speaker sound system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Fabric upholstery
- 6-way manually adjustable front seats
- 60:40 split folding rear seats
- Rear center armrest
- Manual air conditioning
- Rear vents
- Tilt and telescopic adjustment of the steering column
- Electric windows with automatic up/down for the driver
- 4 x USB-C ports
- 1 x 12V Socket
- LED interior lighting
- Kia Connect telematics (including remote locking control, vehicle status monitoring via app)
The S with Safety Pack also offers:
- Dual zone climate control
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 5.0-inch climate control display
The Sport adds:
- 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45R17 tires
- Satellite navigation (including 10 years of map updates)
Sport+ adds:
- Windshield wipers with rain sensors
- Heated front seats
- Faux leather upholstery
- Electrochromic rearview mirror
- Illuminated cosmetic mirrors
- Additional soft touch door panel
The GT-Line adds:
- 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/40R18 tires
- Radiator grille and mirrors in glossy black
- sunroof
- Projector LED headlights
- LED fog lights
- Wireless phone charger
- Heated steering wheel
- Harman/Kardon sound system with 8 speakers
- 3-spoke steering wheel in two colors
- Shift paddles
- Alloy pedals
- Ventilated front seats
- 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat
- 2 person storage
- 2-way lumbar support
- Ambient lighting
Colors
A medium gray interior is standard on the S, Sport and Sport+, while the GT-Line cabin is finished in onyx black with white accents.
Clear White is the standard exterior paint finish. The following colors are available for an additional $600:
- Snow-white pearl
- Steel gray
- Aurora Black
- Interstellar gray
- Honeydew
- Wave blue
- Fiery red
Honeycomb is offered exclusively for the K4 Hatch and only in the Sport+ and GT-Line trim levels.
MORE: Explore the Kia K4 showroom
