► Kia K4 is new low cost Golf rival
► Replaces Ceed in the UK
► Promise space and tech galore
Kia has been on a roll recently with its electric vehicle (EV) line-up – but proof that it hasn’t forgotten its more… traditional customers comes with the arrival of this, the new Kia K4. And with a starting price of just £25,995, the K4 undercuts all its major rivals.
Replacing the now defunct Kia Ceed in the UK and arriving in quarter four of 2025, the K4 looks sharp and is packed with tech – which is pretty standard for modern Kia. However, under the bonnet there’s something called a petrol engine, rather than a bundle of wires and an electric motor.
It does, doesn’t it – a little like a conventional family hatchback on the first pass through a pasta maker. This is a proportions thing to some extent; at 4,440mm long and 1,435mm high it’s nearly 16cm longer but also 5cm lower than a Volkswagen Golf.
Even so, this does translate into apparent spaciousness, with Kia claiming more rear legroom than anything else in class and an impressive 438-litre boot – and if you’re shopping for a family car, that kind of stat does quickly come to be the kind of thing that impresses you. However, it is worth noting that mild-hybrid K4s see luggage room shrink to 328 litres, which is less stimulating. The Golf’s boot is 381 litres.
At 1,850mm wide, the K4 is also over 6cm wider than the Golf (not including the door mirrors), so will likely have a decent amount of road presence. If also be more of a pain in tighter car parks.
K4 GT-Line variants will feature gloss-black exterior accents, 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, and a sportier three-spoke steering wheel. However, all versions of the Kia come with fully independent suspension on every corner – which is more than you can say of some the cheaper variants of some rivals.
The UK line-up is now confirmed with a choice of three internal combustion engines, starting with a 113bhp 1.0-litre T-GDI triple with 48v mild-hybrid tech. A six-speed manual is standard on the entry-level Pure version, but otherwise this comes equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission automatic.
Beyond the 1.0 is a pair of 1.6-litre T-GDI engines, only available on the GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels. The lesser version has 147bhp, the other with 177bhp. Both of these get the seven-speed dual-clutch auto as standard. A full self-charging hybrid has been mooted as an addition to the range in 2026.
There are a couple of punchy strands to this. The interior, for instance, gets twin 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and instrumentation, plus a 5.3-inch screen for the climate control. All three are joined adjacently to create a single panoramic experience across the top of the dashboard.
The infotainment is run by Kia’s latest connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) software, which is reasonably intuitive in our experience but not unmissable. Every model also gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Alloys start at 16 inches on the Pure, and gain an inch with every step to GT-Line and then GT-Line S.
Further internal highlights include a Harman Kardon hi-fi system, heated and ventilated front seats, and Digital Key 2.0 technology – though you only get these on the top spec GT-Line S. The cabin doesn’t exactly look a thrill a minute visually, but the ‘bio-based’ artificial leather appears smart enough in a conservative fashion.
The other major tech strand is a high level of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) – albeit the with the maximum kit again limited to the GT-Line S.
Still, in addition to latest-generation anti-collision gear – that works going forwards, backwards and while changing lanes – the K4 offers ‘Smart Cruise Control 2’ that can safely halt the car entirely should the drive become ‘unresponsive’ and ‘Highway Driving Assist 2.0’ that can help with lane changing as well as centring and distance control.
Blind spot monitoring includes a camera view of the blind spots when indicating (likely only on top spec variants), and there’s a 360-degree surround view monitoring system available, too.
While Kia’s are no longer cheap, they still represent great value – and this is a keen example. That £25,995 starting price undercuts the cheapest Golf by £2,900. The VW does have a bigger and more powerful engine, but can’t compete with Kia’s seven-year warranty.
Top of the K4 range is the 177bhp GT-Line S at £36,195, with a regular GT-Line available from £29,995 with the 1.0-litre or £31,295 with the 147bhp 1.6. A 147bhp GT-Line S costs £33,995, and is potentially the pick of the bunch.
CJ is a former Associate Editor of CAR, and now runs parent company Bauer Media’s Digital Automotive Hub – the in-house team that provides much of the online content for CAR and sister site Parkers.co.uk as well as helping out with CAR magazine. He’s been writing about cars professionally (if that's the right word) for nearly two decades, though attempts to hide this fact with an extensive moisturising routine.
By CJ Hubbard
Head of the Bauer Digital Automotive Hub and former Associate Editor of CAR. Road tester, organiser, reporter and professional enthusiast, putting the driver first