2026 Kia K4 Hatchback Adds an Extra Dose of Funkiness to the Quirkiest Modern Compact

      Kia

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      The Kia K4 is an excellent sedan offered at a reasonable price, featuring a distinctive and thoughtful design both inside and out. However, if the four-door K4 isn't quirky enough for you, Kia has plans to enhance its lineup with the forthcoming hatchback model. This long-roof K4 is making its debut in the U.S. at this week’s New York Auto Show.

      The K4 Hatchback is essentially what you would anticipate: the same pointed sedan that has been on our roads for nearly a year, but with a different rear end. Mechanically, there are no changes. Buyers can opt for a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque paired with a CVT, or a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivering 190 hp and 195 lb-ft connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Similar to the sedan, Kia offers the GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo variants, which replace the standard torsion-beam rear axle with an enhanced multi-link rear suspension.

      The main highlight is that fifth door; however, the designers didn’t simply fill in the gap between the C-pillar and the bumper. Interestingly, the K4 Hatchback is about 11 inches shorter than the sedan. This difference might be hard to discern in the images provided, as Kia did not include a direct side profile shot. Yet, with a close look at the space between the fuel door and the outer edge of the rear taillight, as well as the area of the rear bumper behind where the wheel arch ends, you can notice the distinction. The hatchback indeed appears more compact.

      For comparison, here’s the Kia K4 sedan. Adam Ismail

      Kia claims that even with its shorter length, this K4 maintains the sedan's "class-leading" rear legroom. Although second-row passengers may have slightly less than the sedan's 38 inches—specific figures were not shared—it likely won't be far off. The extended roof design has allowed Kia to provide an extra inch of rear headroom, which, based on my experience, would have been a welcome addition in the sedan. The cargo capacity is substantial as well, measuring 22.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 59.3 with them folded down.

      Kia

      The Sparkling Yellow color shown will exclusively be available on the hatch. In photographs, it slightly resembles Austin Yellow from the F80-generation BMW M3 and M4. It appears vibrant, especially highlighting the K4’s pronounced rear fender flares. While the triangular C-pillar and various right angles might not appeal to everyone, the same could be said for the regular K4, and hatchbacks inherently have an unconventional flair, considering their rarity in the current market.

      Initially, there were concerns among enthusiasts that this long-roof version of the K4 might not be available in our market. However, Kia U.S. quickly reassured everyone, and we’re glad it did. This K4 Hatchback in GT-Line Turbo trim seems like it would make for a fun daily driver. Now, just imagine if Kia offered a genuine K4 GT Hatch featuring the powertrain from the Hyundai Elantra N. No—let's not get ahead of ourselves.

      Kia

      Kia has announced that the 2026 K4 Hatchback will arrive in U.S. showrooms in late 2025. Pricing details will be revealed closer to the launch, but for context, the base K4 sedan starts at $23,165, while the Turbo version is priced at $29,265.

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