2026 Kia K4 Expert Review
Reviewed by Zach Gale
The Kia K4 burst onto the scene with a bold design and enough goodness that the compact sedan earned Finalist status at our 2025 Car of the Year competition. That's not easy. And in a segment full of competitive options like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, Kia has revealed the next phase of the K4 rollout: the 5-Door.
The new 2026 Kia K4 5-Door is a practical hatchback that, along with the sedan entering its second model year, is a right-place, right-time type of car. As the average price for a new car hovers just below $50,000, we need more affordable cars like the 2026 K4.
What's New
The hatchback! For 2026, the K4 5-Door joins the sedan in Kia's compact lineup, for buyers who don't want its SUV-like options that include the Soul and Seltos. Although the K4 sedan starts its trim levels at LX, the 5-Door hatch offers more standard features in the standard appearance and GT-Line trims.
The biggest competition for the 2026 Kia K4 5-Door won't just be the Soul and Seltos in the same dealership, but the hatchback versions of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Elsewhere in the 2026 K4 lineup, we could see Kia introducing a new color to keep things interesting, but the compact sedan is still quite fresh after its 2025 launch, and offers lots of standard equipment.
What We Think
As the 2026 Kia K4 doubles in size thanks to the new hatchback model, the compact still delights with a combination of unique design and generous standard equipment. Where else can you find a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus keyless access, all for under $25,000? Yet that's exactly what the spacious K4 sedan offers on its base LX trim.
The biggest drawback with the K4 isn't the sedan's awkward C-pillar or how incredible the more expensive Honda Civic is, but the turbo lag on the available 1.6-liter engine. This is the type of unrefined experience that could hamper smooth stops and starts around town; we aren't just talking about beautiful winding-road drives.
The K4 also shows its lower-cost roots in the way it pounds over bigger bumps and the noise levels inside. Even so, for some, the design and features-per-dollar value will shine through. Whether you pick the 2026 K4 sedan or 5-Door, this Kia is full of both.
