The humble estate may have been overshadowed by the unrelenting rise of the SUV in recent years, but the all-new Kia K4 Sportswagon not only proves the traditional load-lugger is alive and kicking, it’s also never looked better.
The K4 Sportswagon will be offered in the UK alongside the all-new Kia K4 hatchback – now on sale - and represents the Korean firm’s commitment to breadth of choice in its range.
Indeed, while Kia has been busily bolstering its multi award-winning electric vehicle range with models like the EV3, EV6 and EV9, the Kia K4 hatchback and Sportswagon fulfil a more conventional petrol-fuelled brief.
Regardless, while estates are rarely lauded for their aesthetic appeal, the Kia K4 Sportswagon is another bold representation of the marque’s ‘Opposites United’ design policy.
As such, the K4 Sportswagon complements its sharply styled front-end design with a similarly angular treatment to the rear-end, which not only makes it stand out from the crowd but bolsters its practicality.
The exterior is also brimming with smart design touches, from the hidden rear-door handles to the brushed aluminium, to the wide-angled head/taillights.
Targeted at the likes of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports and SEAT Leon SW, the K4 Sportswagon offers a capacious 604-litres of boot space – 166-litres more than the K4 hatchback – which swells to 1439-litres with the rear seats folded.
Inside, drivers will be treated to a triple-screen dashboard arrangement comprising two 12.3-inch displays – one for dials, the other for infotainment - separated by a smaller 5.4-inch unit, while Kia has taken care to ensure key controls, such as heating and ventilation, are devoted to ergonomic physical buttons.
Under the bonnet will be the choice of three petrol engines, starting with a 1.0-litre turbocharged unit generating 113bhp and coming with the choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. The latter of these allows for mild-hybrid technology too.
A larger 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will also be available with the choice of either 148bhp or 176bhp, with a full-hybrid model set to follow later down the line.
The Kia K4 and Kia K4 Sportswagon are replacements for the now discontinued Kia Ceed and Kia Proceed in the range and will line-up as petrol-powered family car alternatives to the all-electric Kia EV4 and Kia EV5.
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