Kia aims to scale the small car mountain with K4

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Kia has launched its replacement for the popular Cerato small car, renaming the all-new model K4 and debuting a bold new look along with a raft of technical upgrades.

Kia K4 GT Line front view.
Kia K4 GT-Line.

The Kia Cerato is no more and in its place comes the new K4, a bigger and more sophisticated model designed to go head-to-head with Toyota’s category-leading Corolla.

The Cerato has been a mainstay of the Australian small car scene since 2004. Still, the arrival of the K4 signals the end of the road for the long-running nameplate, with Kia Australia saying the new alpha-numeric naming strategy aligns with the global naming convention.

Available in four trimlines (S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line) and with two petrol engines, the K4 will launch initially in sedan-only form with a hatchback scheduled to join the range in late 2025.

Recommended retail pricing starts at $30,590 for the entry-level K4 S, rising to $32,690 for the same model fitted with an optional safety pack, on to $35,190 for the K4 Sport, $37,590 for the Sport+, and tops out at $42,990 for the K4 GT-Line.

Kia K4 GT Line side view.

Longer, wider and lower than the outgoing Cerato, the K4 looks more like a medium than a small car in the metal. Still, Kia says it fits within the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ (FCAI) established small car category definition.

The new model certainly won’t be mistaken for a Cerato, with its sleek, fastback-style silhouette delivering a sportier look with lower roofline and beltline than its predecessor.

Elsewhere, the exterior façade showcases Kia’s latest design elements, including vertical front headlamps and daytime running light (DRL) elements at the outer edges to accentuate the car’s wide stance.

Other notable design elements include flush second-row door handles integrated into the C-pillar, black wheel-arch cladding, and a choice of wheel sizes ranging between 16-inch (S), 17-inc Sport and Sport+) and 18-inch (GT-Line).

Kia K4 GT Line rear view.

Kia says the longer wheelbase and expanded dimensions equate to better rear-seat legroom than the outgoing model and a larger boot, with the Korean car maker claiming 508 litres (VDA) boot volume versus 502 for the outgoing model and 470 litres for the Toyota Corolla.

Surprisingly, given Toyota’s move last year to an all-hybrid powered passenger car range, except for its performance models, there’s no hybrid powertrain available in the K4 line-up.

Instead, consumers get the choice of a 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder in S, Sport and Sport+ grades or a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder in the top-grade GT-Line.

Standard fitment on S, Sport and Sport+ grades is Kia’s proven 2.0L MPI engine, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol that sends 112kW/192Nm to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, returning combined fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km.

Kia K4 GT Line dashboard.

Exclusive to the flagship GT-Line is the feistier 1.6L T-GDI, a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder that sends a more robust 142kW/264Nm to the front wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic, returning combined cycle consumption of 6.7L/100km.

In addition to improved performance and more generous fitout – including artificial leather seats and a sunroof – the GT-Line also benefits from an independent multilink rear suspension where all other variants use a less-sophisticated torsion beam setup. The front suspension on all K4 variants feature is independent via McPherson struts.

There’s a strong focus on driver safety across the range, with all K4 variants featuring seven airbags plus Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go functionality, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Multi-Collision Braking (MCB), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Rear-View Monitor (RVM) and High Beam Assist (HBA).

Buyers of the entry-level S trim can upgrade the car’s safety to the same level as higher grades with the addition of an optional Safety Pack, which costs $2,100 but adds a second 12.3-inch instrument display and dedicated 5.0-inch HVAC interface, dual-zone climate control and an expanded AEB suite offering Junction Turning & Crossing and Direct/Oncoming Lane Change Detection functionality.

Kia K4 GT Line front seats.

Sport, Sport+, and GT-Line versions also incorporate Kia’s latest Highway Driving Assist (HDA 2), which functions when driving on a freeway or motorway.

HDA builds on Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go capability, combining with Lane Following Assist (LFA) to keep the K4 centred in its lane even when driving through a curve. At the same time, HDA 2 adds Lane Change Assist (LCA), allowing the K4 to autonomously change lanes when the required conditions are met.

Inside, the K4 looks fashionably hi-tech, with all models bar the entry-level S variant boasting a trio of screens comprising a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a dedicated five-inch HVAC segment display and a separate 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard fare across the line-up, with the GT-Line adding a Qi wireless charging pad and ambient mood lighting, plus

Elsewhere, the K4 incorporates Kia Connect, a connected car service that uses telematics to transfer real-time data, such as weather and traffic information, providing safety, security, convenience, and connectivity benefits.

Over The Air (OTA) software updates are also available, bringing the latest maps, interfaces and software enhancements without visiting a service centre.

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