Kia Adds a Wagon Version of the 2026 K4 in Europe, Called K4 Sportswagon

• This body style joins the hatchback on the European market.

• A longer roof allows for up to 604 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 166 L more than in the hatchback.

• The wagon is unlikely to be offered in North America.

European drivers who need more interior space but don’t want an SUV will soon have an additional option to choose from thanks to Kia, which unveiled a new wagon body style for the K4 this morning.

Indeed, the Korean automaker has lengthened its K4 hatchback to make it a wagon, which is set to replace the Ceed wagon, which was based on the subcompact we called the Forte.

Compared to the K4 hatchback, which is currently the only body style sold in Europe, the new Sportswagon is 265 mm (10 in) longer despite keeping the same wheelbase, which suggests this entire added length can be found in the cargo compartment.

This is certainly supported by the capacity of said cargo area, which jumps 166 litres to a rating of 604 litres behind the rear seats and up to 1,439 litres with all seats folded.

Unsurprisingly, interior space is the main difference between the Sportswagon and the standard hatchback, with styling and equipment remaining mostly unchanged.

Indeed, the design of the K4 Sportswagon is instantly recognizable to anyone who is familiar with the current model, including the sedan which is currently offered in North America.

This includes the front end, which features the same Star Map LED headlamps and slim grille, but also at the rear, where the almost full-width taillamps are almost identical to that of the other K4 models.

Of course, the roofline and rear quarter panels are unique to the wagon, but they adopt the model’s family look.

The same goes for the interior, which is unchanged apart from the additional space at the rear, and the powertrains.

This means that under the hood of the Kia K4 Sportswagon, you can expect to find a 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder engine that is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. With the available mild-hybrid system, which same engine can also team up with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This powertrain generates 113 horsepower.

If that is not enough, buyers can opt for the 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which delivers 148 or 178 horsepower depending on the trim level. This engine can only be paired with the dual-clutch transmission and doesn’t feature electrification.

A full-hybrid version of the K4 is expected in the coming months, and this one could make its way to North America at a later date.

Speaking of North America, we are unlikely to see the K4 Sportswagon on our roads due to low interest for this type of vehicle in our market.

In contrast, we have a sedan version of the K4 which is not currently available in Europe.

Other differences are found under the hood, where our K4 doesn’t currently feature any kind of electrification either on its standard 2.0L four-cylinder engine (147 hp) or its available turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder (190 hp).

No manual transmission is offered on the K4 in Canada and the United States, where the standard engine pairs exclusively with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the turbocharged one can only be had with a conventional 8-speed torque converter automatic.

Fortunately, the hatchback variant will be available on our market; its arrival is expected in a matter of weeks.