Kia K4 hatch revealed, petrol engine details announced

The new Kia K4 hatchback was revealed on the big screen at the 2024 New York motor show, but unfortunately only the sedan is on display in the Big Apple.

Seen on briefly during the brand’s presentation of the new K4 sedan, unveiled earlier this week, the hatch seems to share the sedan’s wheelbase, front end, and doors.

As present is the sedan’s controversial side window design, which terminates by kicking up at 90 degrees. It’s still polarising in the flesh — at least to this writer’s eyes — but the same design seems better resolved in the hatch at it continues on to a horizontal plastic bar that links it visually with the rear windscreen.

Kia didn’t go into any details about the hatch, but thanks its shorter rear overhang is more compact than the sedan. It will likely replace the Cerato hatchback in global markets, including Australia, and possibly the Ceed in Europe.

In the US, the new K4 will be available with two drivetrain options.

The base engine is a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine making 110kW and 179Nm. It drives the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission that aims to mimic a traditional automatic transmission.

In the GT-Line there’s the option of a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged four-pot cranking out 142kW and 264Nm. This also drives the front wheels, but with an eight-speed automatic instead.

No word yet on other drivetrains and what will be available elsewhere in the world, but Kia in the US is “considering” a hybrid variant.

The Kia K4 will go into North American showrooms at the “back end of 2024”, and will replace the Forte — known as the Cerato in Australia.