Go to Australia says it has “strongly requested” that the upcoming K4 hybrid from its global parent company, although local executives say the electrified small car will be a priority for Europe first.
In conversation with Daily Sparkz At the launch of the new K4 Hatch and updated Stonic light SUV, Kia Australia general manager of products Roland Rivero couldn’t say when we might see the K4 Hybrid in Australian showrooms.
“Look, we have raised our hand for this. As far as timing is concerned, it is still being considered. From a global perspective, Europe is the first priority,” Mr Rivero said.
“We have made an urgent request to bring it to the Australian market.”
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In September, Kia Europe confirmed that a full-hybrid K4 would join its lineup in 2026, alongside mild-hybrid and gasoline-only launch variants.
Details are few, but the K4 Hybrid (or HEV) will likely use a version of the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline-electric hybrid system found in other Hyundai Motor Group products such as the i30 Sedan HEV, the Kona HEV and the Niro HEV.
In these models, the 1.6 HEV delivers a total output of 104 kW and a torque of 265 Nm and, depending on the variant, achieves an efficiency of less than 4.0 l/100 km.
While Australia now gets an updated 2.0-litre petrol engine running on the more efficient Atkinson cycle with a CVT automatic transmission as the base K4 powertrain, Europe and the UK get a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid technology, similar to that newly introduced in the Stonic.
Regardless, the K4 will be manufactured in Mexico for the European and American markets as well as Australia, potentially giving our market access to the more fuel-efficient European powertrain range as pressure mounts from our government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations.
Kia still doesn’t have an electrified small passenger car to compete with the best-selling Toyota Corolla Hybrid and its own Hyundai i30 Sedan HEV counterpart, although a fully electric option will launch in January in the form of the similarly sized EV4 Fastback.
Unlike the K4, which is now offered in both Sedan and Hatch body styles, the EV4 will be offered here exclusively as a fastback liftback sedan from launch, as the EV4 Hatch available abroad will only be produced in Europe at the brand’s Slovakian factory.
Mr Rivero said the EV4 Hatch as well as the upcoming dual-engine GT performance version are currently being studied, although the business case is challenging given higher manufacturing and freight costs as well as weak foreign exchange rates.
Available now in Australia only with a petrol engine, the 2026 Kia K4 range is now available in both Hatch and Sedan body styles from $32,090 plus on-road costs – read our full pricing and specification breakdown Here.
MORE: Explore the Kia K4 showroom
