Kia K4 succeeds Ceed as brand’s family hatchback

• Striking design unveiled at New York International Auto Show
• Replaces the Kia Ceed
• Powered by petrol and possibly hybrid engines

With all the fuss over EVs and SUVs these days, you’d be forgiven for having forgotten that the Kia Ceed ever existed. With that family hatchback having faded into the background, Kia has now revealed its replacement, the K4, at the New York International Auto Show.

Kia will be hoping the K4 can stand out in the crowd of family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra and Hyundai i30, and the most apparent weapon in its arsenal is its standout striking design.

The Kia K4 adopts the brand’s ‘Opposites United’ design language, characterised by long, wide T-shaped headlights that give it a distinctive look. At the rear, the tail-lights are joined by a piece of trim and span the entire width of the car, with the ends dropping down and flanking the tailgate, giving it a wide look. The overall silhouette is rather angular and boxy, but while beauty is subjective, we think it looks quite fresh against its competition.

As well as the K4 hatchback, there will also be a saloon option in the US and Korea, though this won’t make it to Europe, where hatchbacks generally tend to hold more appeal. The Kia EV4 is also a slightly shorter, but similar-looking electric car that will sit in the same segment.

What engines will be offered on the Kia K4?

The Kia K4 is set to be offered with petrol power, but specific engine specs for the UK market are yet to be revealed. US-market cars will get two engine options, both of which are four-cylinder units. The first of the two will be a 2.0-litre option with 145bhp, while a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 185bhp will sit above this. The entry-level 2.0-litre engine is paired with a CVT automatic transmission, while the turbocharged 1.6-litre car will get an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

It’s unclear which, if any, of these will be offered for the UK-market car, but we expect hybrid and plug-in hybrid models to be offered on our shores. Although the last Kia Ceed was briefly offered with diesel engine options, it’s highly unlikely this will happen for the K4, given the market’s shift away from diesel.

How much will the Kia K4 cost and when can I buy one?

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It’s still early days, and it’s unclear when the K4 will arrive in Europe or even how much it will cost. If it’s to win over buyers it will have to stay competitively priced against cars like the popular Volkswagen Golf, which starts from around £28,000.

Can’t wait? Check out the latest deals on the Kia K4’s predecessor, the Kia Ceed on our sister-site AutoExpress’ Find a Car service.