Kia K4 Hybrid: Euro-focused Corolla rival under study for Australia

Kia Australia says it has “strongly requested” the upcoming K4 Hybrid from its global parent, though local executives say the electrified small car will be prioritised for Europe first.

Speaking with CarExpert at the launch of the new K4 Hatch and updated Stonic light SUV, Kia Australia general manager for product Roland Rivero couldn’t say when we might see the K4 Hybrid in Aussie showrooms.

“Look, we’ve got our hand up for it. Timing-wise, it’s still being studied. Europe is the priority from a global perspective, first and foremost,” Mr Rivero said.

“We’ve strongly requested to bring it to the Australian market.”

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In September, Kia Europe confirmed a full-hybrid K4 would join its lineup in 2026 alongside mild-hybrid and petrol-only launch variants.

Details are few and far between, but the K4 Hybrid (or HEV) will likely use a version of the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid system seen in other Hyundai Motor Group products like the i30 Sedan HEV, Kona HEV, and Niro HEV.

In those models, the 1.6 HEV makes total outputs of 104kW of power and 265Nm of torque, and is capable of sub-4.0L/100km efficiency depending on the variant.

While Australia now gets an updated 2.0L petrol engine running the more efficient Atkinson cycle with a CVT automatic as the base K4 powertrain, Europe and the UK get a 1.0L three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid tech similar to that newly introduced in the Stonic.

Regardless, the K4 is made in Mexico for the European and American regions as well as Australia, potentially giving our market access to the thriftier European powertrain range as pressure mounts from our government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations.

Kia remains without an electrified small passenger vehicle to compete with the top-selling Toyota Corolla Hybrid as well as its own Hyundai i30 Sedan HEV stablemate, though an all-electric option will land in January in the form of the similarly-sized EV4 Fastback.

Unlike the K4, which is now offered in both Sedan and Hatch body styles, the EV4 will be exclusively offered as a Fastback liftback sedan here from launch, as the EV4 Hatch available overseas is only produced at the brand’s Slovakian factory in Europe.

Mr Rivero said the EV4 Hatch, as well as the upcoming dual-motor GT performance version, are currently under study, though the business case is challenging given the higher cost of manufacturing and freight, in addition to weak exchange rates.

The 2026 Kia K4 range, which for now remains petrol-only in Australia, is on sale now from $32,090 plus on-road costs in both Hatch and Sedan body styles – read our full price and specs breakdown here.

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