Kia has surprised many at the Brussels motor show, not by revealing the new EV2 small electric SUV, but by pulling covers off a new wagon version of the K4.
Called the K4 Sportswagon, it’s the long-roof version of the car which replaced the Cerato globally, joining the existing sedan and hatchback versions available in some markets.
Kia Australia told Torquecafe there are no plans to bring the K4 Sportwagon here. Though it’s built in Mexico with the rest of the K4 range, Australia’s appetite for traditional passenger cars, especially wagons of this size, is relatively small.
Instead, the K4 Sportswagon will join Kia’s UK and European fleets, where buyers will be offered a choice of two engines and even the option of a manual transmission.
Entry-level Kia K4 Sportswagons are powered by a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 84kW and 200Nm, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers can opt to add mild-hybrid assistance, which also brings the choice of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
While the K4 Sportswagon misses out on the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder found under the bonnet of Australian K4s (making 110kW and 180Nm), it does get a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder which is available in 110kW and 132kW tunes, only with the seven-speed dual-clutch.
Kia Europe says the K4 Sportswagon will also get a full-hybrid system later this year.
The big difference between the K4 Sportswagon and the hatch and wagon is its extra interior space, with a 604-litre cargo capacity for petrol-only variants representing a 96-litre increase on the K4 sedan, and a 166-litre bump over the hatch.
It’s worth noting the capacity drops to 482 litres for those with the mild-hybrid system, due to the location of the battery.
With a total length of 4695mm, it’s significantly longer than the 4440mm figure of the hatch, but 15mm shorter than the sedan – however interior space for occupants is unchanged.
A powered tailgate with a hands-free function is standard on the K4 Sportswagon, something the sedan and hatch miss out on.
Otherwise the K4 Sportswagon is largely unchanged from its more popular bodystyled siblings, though prices for the markets where it’ll be sold are yet to be announced.
In Australia, the K4 Sportwagon would represent a big point of difference to its competitors, all of which are only sold in sedan, hatch and liftback styles – with the exception of more premium and expensive options such as the Cupra Leon and Subaru WRX.
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