- It is powered by three and four cylinder gas engines.
- The base engine is available with a manual gearbox.
- A full hybrid arrives later this year.
Kia is leaving no stone unturned to woo buyers who don’t want an SUV. After debuting as a sedan and hatchback a few years ago, the K4 now makes a more practical wagon version. It’s predictably still limited to the European market, as the continent is widely considered the last bastion for estate/combi vehicles.
It shares styling with other body styles but extends to 184.8 inches (4,695 mm) in length. This makes it 10 inches (265 mm) longer than the hatchback, with additional length at the rear, as the 107.1-inch (2,720 mm) wheelbase remains unchanged.
Disappointingly, there’s still no rear wiper. Also, Kia’s bad habit of putting fake exhaust indicators on GT Line gas models ends. The overall styling won’t be to everyone’s taste, but at least European buyers have another wagon option. Inside, it looks instantly familiar, carrying everything, including dual 12.3-inch screens that flank a 5.3-inch display for climate control.
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Extremely practical
The K4 Sport sedan can swallow 21.3 cubic feet (604 liters) behind the rear seats, an increase of 5.8 cubic feet (166 liters) above the hatchback. Fold the bench, and cargo capacity jumps to 50.8 cubic feet (1,439 liters). If the car is ordered with mild hybrid tech, however, the extra hardware compromises practicality: cargo space drops to 17 cubic feet (482 liters) and 46.5 cubic feet (1,317 liters) with the rear seats up.
Although the K4 Sport offers generous luggage space, it still trails the Volkswagen Golf Estate and the segment-leading Skoda Octavia Combi. Even the model it replaced, the CED Sports Sugan, had a slightly larger boot, though the slight difference is unlikely to be noticeable in daily use. The Kia includes a standard electric tailgate, a feature not available on the hatchback.
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Two gas engines with a hybrid on the way
The base model sticks with a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 113 horsepower, sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. A mild hybrid version of the same three-cylinder engine can be optionally paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. This transmission is standard with the larger four-cylinder engine, a turbocharged 1.6-liter unit offered with either 148 HP or 177 HP.
With dieselgate fallout and increasingly stringent emissions regulations pushing diesel toward obsolescence, it’s no wonder the oil burner isn’t delivering. If maximum performance is a priority, a full hybrid version will arrive in Europe later this year. Regardless of the powertrain, all 4 sports wagon versions will be built at the company’s factory in Mexico.
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Take Motor 1: The KIA 4 Sport Wagon is a welcome surprise for Europe, where demand remains strong enough for automakers to justify investing in the segment. It’s an interesting alternative to an SUV and could appeal to buyers looking for something different from the wagons offered by the Volkswagen Group and Stellar.
America could certainly use more affordable estate cars, such as models like the M5 Touring, AMG E63 wagon, and RS6 Avant command hefty price tags. Whether the new Subaru Outback still qualifies as a wagon, and Americans recently had to say goodbye to Volvo’s last wagon on the market, the V60 Cross Country.
