Kia News: Kia Previews the Kia K4 Ahead of the New York Auto Show

[Drew Dowdell]

Ahead of the 2024 New York Auto Show, Kia has released preview images of its new Kia K4 compact sedan, destined to take the place of the Kia Forte in the lineup. 

The all-new Kia K4 represents Kia's "Opposites United" design philosophy to bring conflicting design elements into harmony in unexpected ways. A new take on Kia's Tiger Grille moves the brand forward with a wide stance, capped with vertical headlamps to finish the edges. The silhouette sweeps back in a fastback design with an assertive look.

Inside, Kia eschews the current common practice of a driver-oriented cockpit, instead offering access to both front occupants to infotainment controls, but offering a distinct visual split to define the spaces of driver and passenger. Rather than only the typical gray or black in this class, Kia is also offering Slate Green and Canyon Brown, allowing customers more choice in interior appointments.

The Kia K4 will have a full unveiling on Wednesday, March 27th at the Javits Center in New York City.

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[G. David Felt]

I really like the style inside and out. Love the color options.

Glad to see some physical buttons along with the touch screen.

[Drew Dowdell]

I gotta say, the headlight treatment looks very Cadillac.

[G. David Felt]

Cool a Compact Station Wagon has been confirmed to Motor1 along with pictures of the K4 Wagon. They can call it a hatchback or 5 door, but this is a compact station wagon.

The Kia K4 Hatchback Is Coming to the US (motor1.com)

Not sure where their pictures came from but are much sharper than Motor1 website.

The 2025 Kia K4 Wagon Is Coming to the US | The Drive

[Drew Dowdell]

FWIW, a wagon is the same length as a sedan, while a hatchback is shorter. The K4 5-door is a hatchback.

[surreal1272]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

FWIW, a wagon is the same length as a sedan, while a hatchback is shorter. The K4 5-door is a hatchback.

That's not always the case though. The Dodge Charger was almost 4 inches longer than the Magnum while the Cadillac CTS Wagon is about an inch longer than the sedan. 

[Drew Dowdell]

1 minute ago, surreal1272 said:

That's not always the case though. The Dodge Charger was almost 4 inches longer than the Magnum while the Cadillac CTS Wagon is about an inch longer than the sedan. 

True, it’s rarely exact. But in the case of the Magnum, it was there first and the charger came later. The 300 the Magnum shares with at the time was within an inch.

[Robert Hall]

Yeah, then there are cases where the hatchbacks that are the same size as the sedan, like the Mondeo where w/ the last generation the sedan and liftback were virtually indistinguishable in profile.   The wagon version may have been longer.  

[surreal1272]

17 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

True, it’s rarely exact. But in the case of the Magnum, it was there first and the charger came later. The 300 the Magnum shares with at the time was within an inch.

You're missing my point though which is there is no set standard between sedans and wagons where dimensions are concerned.

 

Other examples: The Buick Regal Tour X is almost 4 inches longer than its sedan counterpart. The last Acura TSX Wagon was almost 4 inches longer than its sedan counterpart as well.

Edited April 2 by surreal1272

[Robert Hall]

19 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

 

 

Another example: The Buick Regal Tour X is almost 4 inches longer than its sedan counterpart. 

That was also another example  where the sedan and non-wagon 5dr hatchback are the same length.  I don't recall if the US got the sedan version or only the hatchback...traditionally US market wagons had more rear overhang than sedans and thus were longer...but it's been a long time since there have been many examples of traditional sedan and wagon body styles in one model range in the US (since the 80s-90s when GM had the A-body and B-body still around, or Ford w/ the Taurus/Sable for several generations, etc...)

Edited April 2 by Robert Hall

[surreal1272]

44 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

That was also another example  where the sedan and non-wagon 5dr hatchback are the same length.  I don't recall if the US got the sedan version or only the hatchback...traditionally US market wagons had more rear overhang than sedans and thus were longer...but it's been a long time since there have been many examples of traditional sedan and wagon body styles in one model range in the US (since the 80s-90s when GM had the A-body and B-body still around, or Ford w/ the Taurus/Sable for several generations, etc...)

Thanks for reminding me. I should have noted that the 5 door hatch is what we got here but my original point still stands regarding no set length standard between wagons and their sedan counterparts.

[Drew Dowdell]

2 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

You're missing my point though which is there is no set standard between sedans and wagons where dimensions are concerned.

 

Other examples: The Buick Regal Tour X is almost 4 inches longer than its sedan counterpart. The last Acura TSX Wagon was almost 4 inches longer than its sedan counterpart as well.

What Regal sedan counterpart? ?

That generation of Regal was only offered in hatchback and wagon.

I concede that the manufacturers have fudged the definition of body styles over the last decade (See Polestar 4 being a 4 door SUV coupe when it’s effectively a Volvo S40 sedan), but my statement was based on the traditional definitions.

[Robert Hall]

9 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

What Regal sedan counterpart? ?

That generation of Regal was only offered in hatchback and wagon.

 

The sedan was China only apparently.