New Kia K4 starts at £25,995

This is Kia's all-new petrol powered family hatchback – the K4.

Designed to sit alongside the forthcoming new electric EV4, Kia K4 is a family car for those not yet ready to make the switch to battery power. With a choice of two petrol engines and available with either a manual or automatic gearbox, the K4 has three generously-specced trim options and comes with Kia's very attractive seven-year warranty.

Distinctive styling and the promise of a roomy interior should be tempting to buyers, and Kia says mild-hybrid and full-hybrid versions will follow soon.

On sale now, the K4 replaces the Kia Ceed in the Korean brand's line-up, and represents a rival to other combustion-engined hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and Ford Focus.

New 2026 Kia K4: price and release date

Order books for the new Kia K4 are open now, with the first deliveries due later in the year. Prices start at £25,995 for the entry-level Pure trim with a 1.0-litre engine and six-speed manual gearbox, rising to £27,495 if you want the DCT automatic version.

All other versions are automatic-only, with a choice betweem the 1.0-litre engine or the more powerful 1.6. The GT-Line model costs £29,995 for the 1.0 and £31,295 for the 1.6, while the top-spec GT-Line S model costs from £33,995 for the 1.0 and £36,195 for the 1.6, which on this trim comes with extra power over the others.

New 2026 Kia K4: exterior and interior

Kia’s been known for sdome extravagant design lately, and the new K4 keeps that streak alive. It’s long, low, and sleek, with a floating roofline that blends neatly into the tailgate. The rear door handles are tucked into the C-pillars for a coupe-style vibe, and the light signatures clearly echo Kia’s latest electric cars.

There’s a new paint option called Sparkling Yellow, while GT-Line versions get a sportier edge thanks to gloss black mirror caps, wheel arch trims, and a choice of 17- or 18-inch alloys.

Inside, a wide digital panel houses twin 12.3-inch screens for the instruments and infotainment, with a 5.3-inch display in between to display climate control information. Kia’s also kept some physical shortcuts for Home, Map, Search, Media and Setup, along with handy toggles for temperature and fan speed.

Every K4 gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims add premium kit such as a Harman Kardon audio system, heated and ventilated seats trimmed in bio-based artificial leather, a digital key that lets you unlock the car with your phone, and a voice assistant for hands-free control.

Kia says that rear legroom will be considerable – a claimed space of 964mm would beat even the roomy Skoda Octavia. However, the boot space is smaller, with 438 litres on the petrol models and less (328 litres) on the forthcoming hybrid versions due to battery packaging. Fold down the back seats and the space expands to 1217 litres (1107 litres on the hybrids).

New 2026 Kia Ceed: engines and gearboxes

Two petrol engines will be available in the K4 to start with, but Kia says mild-hybrid and full-hybrid options will follow.

For now, you can choose from a 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine with 115PS, available with either a six-speed manual on the entry-level Pure trim, or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic across the range.

If you want more power, there’s a 1.6-litre TGDi petrol engine, which comes with 150PS apart from on the top-spec GT-Line S, when it's tuned up to 180PS. All 1.6s come with the seven-speed auto transmission. 

New 2026 Kia K4: trim levels

There are three trim levels available on the new Kia K4 at launch – Pure, GT-Line and GT-Line S. All come with lots of standard equipment.

The Kia K4 Pure is only available with the 1.0-litre engine, and features LED headlights all round, three digital displays, automatic air conditioning, rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It rides on 16-inch alloys, with body-coloured mirrors and bumpers, silver window surrounds, and Onyx Black cloth seats.

Upgrade to the mid-spec GT-Line and you'll get a sportier look, with 17-inch alloys, GT-Line styling inside and out, gloss black mirrors, privacy glass, and black-and-grey artificial leather trim. The driver’s seat gains electric adjustment and lumbar support, while front heated seats, alloy pedals and a black headlining lift the cabin’s feel. Extra safety tech includes Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and there are two exclusive colours – Sparkling Yellow and Moonlight Mint.

The top-spec model is the GT-Line S. It comes with 18-inch alloys (on 1.6-litre models but not on the 1.0 version), a sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Tech upgrades include keyless entry and start, Digital Key 2.0 which lets you control elements of the car with your phone, a Harman Kardon sound system, wireless phone charging, and black artificial leather upholstery with white accents.