Kia K3

Kia K3 generations: what actually changed when you pick a year

Treat restyling as part of its generation, not as a third and fourth generation.

Treat restyling as part of its generation, not as a third and fourth generation.

1 generation (2012–2017), including restyling. Body: Sedan. Production: 1 generation 2012-01-01 to 2015-12-31 (4 versions) and 1 generation, restyling 2015-01-01 to 2017-12-31 (3 versions). Shared chassis numbers: Front, transverse 4 Inline, FWD, Independent spring front, Semi-independent torsion rear, Ventilated disc front, Disc rear, wheels 215/45 R17 and 195/65 R15. The buying choice here is engine and gearbox, not body or drive. Restyling dropped the 140 hp / 204 hp gasoline pair and the 128 hp Diesel Automatic, and added a 7-speed Robotic Diesel.

2 generation (2018–present), including restyling 1. Body still Sedan, still FWD. 2 generation: 2018-01-01 to 2021-03-31, 6 versions. 2 generation, restyling 1: from 2021-04-01, stop not measured, 2 versions. Rear suspension changes from Semi-independent torsion to Independent spring. Diesel leaves the list. A Plug-in and Variable gearboxes appear. Restyling 1 keeps only two gasoline lines and records Euro 6 plus kerb weights of 1240 kg and 1400 kg.

Kia K3 engine specs table (every named version)

Gasoline versions with Direct injection (direct) and 95 fuel: both restyle 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT, both 1 generation 140 hp cars, the 204 hp 1.6 MT, and all 2 generation gasoline/Plug-in versions listed above. Diesel 1.6 AT 128 hp and restyle 1.6 DSG: fuel system not measured. Bore × stroke 77 × 85.4 is measured on the 1591 cc gasoline 1 generation engines; not measured on Diesel and on 2 generation.

Horsepower, torque, and power per litre: what the extra output buys

Peak power is 204 hp on four versions, not one: 1 generation 1.6 MT 204 hp (270 Nm), 2 generation 1.6 T-GDI MT (265 Nm), 2 generation 1.6 T-GDI DCT (265 Nm), and 2 generation, restyling 1 1.6 T-GDI DCT (265 Nm). Same 204 hp / 150 kW @ 6000 and 1591 cc. The 1 generation car has 5 Nm more (270 vs 265). Specific output: 204 / 1.591 = 128.2 hp per litre.

If you want torque rather than peak hp, buy Diesel or the small Turbo, not the 204 hp car. Restyle 1.6 DSG is 306 Nm — 36 Nm above the 204 hp 1.6 MT (270 Nm) and 41 Nm above the later 204 hp T-GDI cars (265 Nm). 1 generation Diesel 1.6 AT 128 hp is 285 Nm. 2 generation 1.4 T-GDI DCT is 211 Nm from 1353 cc (130 / 1.353 = 96.1 hp per litre) — more torque than any non-turbo gasoline K3, including the 140 hp cars (167 Nm).

The 140 hp vs 132 hp cut at restyling is 8 hp and 3 Nm. 1 generation 1.6 AT 140 hp and 1.6 MT 140 hp: 140 hp, 167 Nm, 1591 cc. Restyle 1.6 AT 132 hp and 1.6 MT 132 hp: 132 hp, 164 Nm, same 1591 cc. That is 8 hp and 3 Nm less, not a new displacement.

Diesel restyle vs Diesel original: 1.6 DSG 136 hp and 306 Nm vs 1.6 AT 128 hp and 285 Nm is +8 hp and +21 Nm, with Robotic 7 instead of Automatic 6. Displacement stays 1582 cc. Specific output: 136 / 1.582 = 86.0 hp per litre vs 128 / 1.582 = 80.9 hp per litre.

The weakest 2 generation car is not the 1.4 Turbo. 1.5 IVT is 115 hp and 144 Nm from 1497 cc (76.8 hp per litre). 1.4 T-GDI DCT is 130 hp and 211 Nm from 1353 cc. The 1.4 is 15 hp and 67 Nm above the 1.5, from 144 cc less. 1.6 Smartstream IVT and restyle 1.6 T-GDI IVT match each other at 123 hp and 154 Nm from 1598 cc (76.97 hp per litre) — 8 hp and 10 Nm above 1.5 IVT, 7 hp below restyle 1.6 AT 132 hp.

1.6 PHEV DCT is 143 hp and 147 Nm, 1580 cc, Plug-in, Robotic 7. Versus 1.6 Smartstream IVT that is +20 hp and −7 Nm. Versus 204 hp T-GDI it is −61 hp and −118 Nm. rpm for power and torque on the PHEV is not measured.

Kia K3 mpg and performance: only three versions have fuel figures

0–100 km/h: not measured on all 15 version lines. Top speed: not measured on all 15. CO2: not measured on all 15.

Measured consumption exists only on 1 generation gasoline 1.6 AT 140 hp and both 1.6 MT cars (140 hp and 204 hp):

• 1.6 AT 140 hp: city 7.9, highway 6.2, mixed 7.2 L/100 km.
• 1.6 MT 140 hp: city 7.6, highway 6, mixed 6.9 L/100 km.
• 1.6 MT 204 hp: city 7.6, highway 6, mixed 6.9 L/100 km — the same three numbers as the 140 hp Manual, despite +64 hp and +103 Nm.

Manual vs Automatic at 140 hp: Automatic uses 0.3 L/100 km more in the city (7.9 vs 7.6), 0.2 more on the highway (6.2 vs 6), 0.3 more mixed (7.2 vs 6.9). Diesel 1.6 AT 128 hp, restyle 1.6 DSG, restyle gasoline 132 hp cars, and every 2 generation version: city / highway / mixed not measured. Engine oil capacity and oil type are not measured in this catalogue.

Kia K3 weight, tank, wheels, dimensions

Ground clearance: not measured on all versions. Gross weight: not measured on all versions. Length/width/height in mm: not measured in this dataset.

Kerb weight, where measured:

• 1159 kg: 1 generation Diesel 1.6 AT 128 hp; both 1.6 MT (140 and 204 hp); restyle 1.6 DSG, 1.6 MT 132 hp, 1.6 AT 132 hp.
• 1191 kg: 1 generation 1.6 AT 140 hp — 32 kg above the 140 hp 1.6 MT.
• 1240 kg: restyle 1 1.6 T-GDI IVT.
• 1400 kg: restyle 1 1.6 T-GDI DCT.
• 1545 kg: 2 generation 1.6 PHEV DCT.

2 generation 1.6 T-GDI MT, 1.6 Smartstream IVT, 1.5 IVT, 1.4 T-GDI DCT, 1.6 T-GDI DCT: kerb weight not measured.

kg per hp (only where both numbers exist): 1 generation 1.6 MT 204 hp = 1159 / 204 = 5.68 kg/hp (lightest per hp). Restyle 1 1.6 T-GDI DCT = 1400 / 204 = 6.86 kg/hp — same 204 hp, 241 kg more than the 1 generation 204 hp Manual. 1.6 AT 140 hp = 1191 / 140 = 8.51 kg/hp. Restyle 1.6 DSG = 1159 / 136 = 8.52 kg/hp. 1.6 T-GDI IVT = 1240 / 123 = 10.08 kg/hp. 1.6 PHEV DCT = 1545 / 143 = 10.80 kg/hp (heaviest per hp).

Fuel tank 50 L is measured on all four 1 generation versions. Restyle 1 generation and all 2 generation versions: tank not measured.

Wheels 215/45 R17 and 195/65 R15 on every 1 generation and restyle 1 generation version. 2 generation and restyling 1: wheels not measured.

Which Kia K3 version to choose

Buy 204 hp if the number that matters is peak horsepower. Four versions share 204 hp: 1 generation 1.6 MT 204 hp (Manual 6, 270 Nm, 1159 kg, mixed 6.9 L/100 km), 2 generation 1.6 T-GDI MT (Manual 6, 265 Nm, weight not measured), 2 generation 1.6 T-GDI DCT (Robotic 7, 265 Nm, weight not measured), and 2 generation, restyling 1 1.6 T-GDI DCT (Robotic 7, 265 Nm, 1400 kg, Euro 6). The 1 generation Manual is the only 204 hp car with measured consumption and the lowest measured kg/hp (5.68). The restyle 1 DCT is the only 204 hp car with a measured 1400 kg kerb and Euro 6. Gearbox is the real split among the later three: Manual 6 vs Robotic 7. All four are Gasoline, Turbo, 4 Inline, Front transverse, FWD, 95 fuel, Direct injection (direct).

Buy Diesel if the number that matters is Newton-metres. 1 generation 1.6 AT 128 hp (285 Nm, Automatic 6, 50 L tank, 1159 kg) or restyle 1.6 DSG (136 hp, 306 Nm — the catalogue maximum — Robotic 7, tank not measured, 1159 kg). There is no Diesel in 2 generation. Consumption, 0–100, and top speed on both Diesels: not measured.

Buy 2 generation 1.4 T-GDI DCT if you want Turbo torque without 204 hp. 130 hp, 211 Nm, 1353 cc, Robotic 7, Turbo, Gasoline. 67 Nm above 1.5 IVT and 44 Nm above 1.6 Smartstream IVT, at 15 hp above the 1.5 and 7 hp above the 1.6 IVT. Weight, tank, wheels, mpg: not measured.

Buy 1.5 IVT or 1.6 Smartstream IVT / restyle 1.6 T-GDI IVT for the smallest peak outputs and a Variable gearbox. 1.5 IVT: 115 hp, 144 Nm, 1497 cc — lowest hp and Nm in the model. 1.6 Smartstream IVT and 1.6 T-GDI IVT: both 123 hp, 154 Nm, 1598 cc; the restyle car adds measured 1240 kg, Euro 6, and boost labelled No. Gear ratios on Variable: not measured.

Buy 1.6 PHEV DCT only if the Plug-in fuel type is the point. 143 hp, 147 Nm, 1580 cc, Robotic 7, 1545 kg. It is 386 kg heavier than a 1159 kg 1 generation car and 145 kg heavier than restyle 1 1.6 T-GDI DCT (1400 kg). kg/hp 10.80 is the worst measured. Electric range, battery size, and mpg: not measured.

Everyday 1 generation gasoline without Turbo: prefer 1.6 MT 140 hp over 1.6 AT 140 hp on the measured numbers — same 140 hp and 167 Nm, 32 kg less (1159 vs 1191), 0.3 L/100 km less mixed (6.9 vs 7.2). After restyling those 140 hp cars are gone; the replacements are 1.6 MT 132 hp and 1.6 AT 132 hp, both 1159 kg, consumption not measured, 8 hp and 3 Nm down.

Do not pick a generation for AWD, a second body, or a measured 0–100 figure. Every version is FWD Sedan. Hatchback, Cross, and those acceleration times are not in this catalogue. Reliability and problems are not measured here; the comparison above is only the hp, Nm, kg, L/100 km, and gearbox counts that the data actually records.