Kia K4: which version to buy, and why the numbers differ
The Kia K4 is a Sedan with 2 generations in this catalogue (first generation 2014-02-01–2018-05-31, restyling of that generation from 2018-06-01 with no end date in the data, second generation from 2024-03-01 with no end date). There are 8 named versions.
The Kia K4 is a Sedan with 2 generations in this catalogue (first generation 2014-02-01–2018-05-31, restyling of that generation from 2018-06-01 with no end date in the data, second generation from 2024-03-01 with no end date). There are 8 named versions. This page is a buying comparison: power per litre, torque, mixed fuel use, ground clearance, gearbox type, and what each generation actually changed. Prices are not in the data, so “extra money” here means extra horsepower, extra torque, or extra litres of fuel — not a quote.
Searches for Kia K4 hatchback, Kia K4 GT-Line, Kia K4 GT, Kia K4 LXS, Kia K4 vs K5, Kia K4 2025 / 2026, and regional specs (Australia, UK, Egypt, Canada) describe trims and markets this dataset does not list. What is listed is engine, gearbox, drive, and the measured figures below. 0–60, mpg in US gallons, and dimensions in inches are not measured.
Generations: what changed when you pick a year
First generation (2014-02-01 to 2018-05-31), Sedan, 4 versions. All use Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct), 95 fuel, FWD, 62 L tank, Euro 5, 131 mm ground clearance, Independent, spring front and rear, Ventilated disc front, Disc rear. Mixed consumption is measured; 0–100, top speed, kerb weight, and wheels are not measured.
- 2.0 i AT — 155 hp (114 kW) at 6200 rpm, 192 Nm at 4000 rpm, 1999 cm³, no boost in the data, Automatic 6. Mixed: 7.5. Power per litre: 155 / 1.999 ≈ 77.5 hp/L. Torque per litre: 192 / 1.999 ≈ 96.0 Nm/L.
- 1.8 i AT — 143 hp (105 kW) at 6200, 176 Nm at 4500, 1797 cm³, Automatic 6. Mixed: 7.3. Power per litre: 143 / 1.797 ≈ 79.6 hp/L.
- 1.8 i MT — same 143 hp / 176 Nm / 1797 cm³ as 1.8 i AT, Manual 6, mixed 7.3. Arithmetic: AT vs MT on this engine adds 0 hp, 0 Nm, 0.0 L/100 km. The difference is gearbox only.
- 1.6 i T DCT — 175 hp (128 kW) at 5500, 265 Nm at 4500, 1597 cm³, Turbo, Robotic 7. Mixed: 6.9. Power per litre: 175 / 1.597 ≈ 109.6 hp/L. Torque per litre: 265 / 1.597 ≈ 165.9 Nm/L.
Versus 2.0 i AT, 1.6 i T DCT has +20 hp (175 − 155), +73 Nm (265 − 192), −402 cm³, −0.6 mixed (7.5 − 6.9), and peak power 700 rpm earlier (5500 vs 6200). Versus 1.8 i AT / 1.8 i MT, the turbo has +32 hp, +89 Nm, −0.4 mixed.
Restyling 1 of the first generation (from 2018-06-01, stop not measured), Sedan, 2 versions. Same FWD / 62 L tank / Independent, spring / Ventilated disc / Disc pattern. Ground clearance falls from 131 mm to 117 mm (−14 mm). Euro class is not measured. Mixed use is lower.
- 1.8 i AT — still 143 hp / 176 Nm / 1797 cm³ / Automatic 6 / 95. Mixed: 6.5 (was 7.3: −0.8). Power per litre unchanged at ≈ 79.6 hp/L.
- 1.6 i T DCT — still 175 hp / 265 Nm / Turbo / Robotic 7 / 95, but displacement is 1591 cm³ (was 1597: −6 cm³) and peak torque is at 1500 rpm (was 4500: −3000 rpm). Mixed: 6.3 (was 6.9: −0.6). Power per litre: 175 / 1.591 ≈ 110.0 hp/L.
If the question is first-generation 1.8 i AT pre-facelift vs restyle: same 143 hp, 0.8 L/100 km less mixed, 14 mm less clearance. If the question is 1.6 i T DCT pre-facelift vs restyle: same 175 hp and 265 Nm, torque arrives 3000 rpm earlier, 0.6 L/100 km less mixed, 14 mm less clearance.
Second generation (from 2024-03-01, stop not measured), Sedan, 2 versions. Fuel is 92. Boost on both is Turbo. Tank, mixed use, Euro class, clearance, weights, wheels, 0–100, and top speed are not measured.
- 1.6 T-GDI AT — 193 hp (141 kW), 265 Nm, 1600 cm³, Automatic 8, FWD. rpm for power and torque: not measured. Power per litre: 193 / 1.600 = 120.6 hp/L. Torque per litre: 265 / 1.600 = 165.6 Nm/L.
- 2.0 i AT — 149 hp (109 kW), 179 Nm, 2000 cm³, Turbo, Variable (ratio count not measured), FWD. Power per litre: 149 / 2.000 = 74.5 hp/L. Torque per litre: 179 / 2.000 = 89.5 Nm/L.
Versus first-generation 2.0 i AT (155 hp, 192 Nm, 1999 cm³, no boost listed, Automatic 6, 95, mixed 7.5): second-generation 2.0 i AT is −6 hp, −13 Nm, +1 cm³, Turbo in this dataset, Variable instead of Automatic 6, 92 instead of 95. Mixed on the 2024 2.0 i AT is not measured, so economy cannot be ranked.
Versus first-generation / restyle 1.6 i T DCT (175 hp, 265 Nm, Robotic 7): second-generation 1.6 T-GDI AT is +18 hp (193 − 175), 0 Nm difference on peak torque (both 265), Automatic 8 instead of Robotic 7, 1600 vs 1597 / 1591 cm³. Mixed on the 2024 turbo is not measured.
Kia K4 specs: engine, horsepower and torque table
Exact names as in the catalogue. Duplicate names are split by generation (and, where needed, by horsepower).
| Version | Generation | hp | kW | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 i AT | 1 (2014–2018) | 155 | 114 | 192 | 1999 | 95 | 4 Inline | not measured | Automatic 6 | FWD |
| 1.8 i AT | 1 (2014–2018) | 143 | 105 | 176 | 1797 | 95 | 4 Inline | not measured | Automatic 6 | FWD |
| 1.8 i MT | 1 (2014–2018) | 143 | 105 | 176 | 1797 | 95 | 4 Inline | not measured | Manual 6 | FWD |
| 1.6 i T DCT | 1 (2014–2018) | 175 | 128 | 265 | 1597 | 95 | 4 Inline | Turbo | Robotic 7 | FWD |
| 1.8 i AT | 1 restyling (from 2018-06) | 143 | 105 | 176 | 1797 | 95 | 4 Inline | not measured | Automatic 6 | FWD |
| 1.6 i T DCT | 1 restyling (from 2018-06) | 175 | 128 | 265 | 1591 | 95 | 4 Inline | Turbo | Robotic 7 | FWD |
| 1.6 T-GDI AT | 2 (from 2024-03) | 193 | 141 | 265 | 1600 | 92 | 4 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | FWD |
| 2.0 i AT | 2 (from 2024-03) | 149 | 109 | 179 | 2000 | 92 | 4 Inline | Turbo | Variable | FWD |
Kia K4 engine size: 1591–2000 cm³. Engine type: Gasoline, 4 Inline, Direct injection (direct), Front, transverse on every row. Kia K4 horsepower: 143–193 hp. Horsepower and torque peak: 193 hp and 265 Nm share the turbo 1.6-class; the 193 hp figure is only on second-generation 1.6 T-GDI AT. GT-Line / GT / EX horsepower is not measured as separate trims here.
Engine oil, air filter, engine bay, engine issues: not in this dataset — not measured. Reliability claims beyond Euro 5 (first generation only) would be invention.
Performance, mpg, 0–100
0–100 and top speed: not measured on all eight versions. 0–60 is the same gap.
Mixed consumption (the mpg-shaped figure we do have), litres/100 km:
- First gen 2.0 i AT: 7.5
- First gen 1.8 i AT and 1.8 i MT: 7.3 (−0.2 vs 2.0 AT)
- First gen 1.6 i T DCT: 6.9 (−0.6 vs 2.0 AT; −0.4 vs 1.8)
- Restyle 1.8 i AT: 6.5 (−0.8 vs same name pre-facelift)
- Restyle 1.6 i T DCT: 6.3 (−0.6 vs same name pre-facelift; −0.2 vs restyle 1.8)
- Second gen 1.6 T-GDI AT and 2.0 i AT: not measured
City and highway splits: not measured. US mpg conversion is not in the data.
Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance
Kerb weight and gross weight: not measured on every version, so kg per horsepower cannot be calculated. Wheel sizes: not measured. Length / width / height / inches: not measured.
Tank: 62 L on all first-generation and restyle versions; second generation not measured.
Ground clearance: 131 mm (first generation, all four versions) vs 117 mm (restyle, both versions) vs not measured (second generation). Arithmetic: restyle sits 14 mm lower than 2014–2018 cars in this table.
Which Kia K4 version to choose
Want the highest horsepower in the catalogue: second-generation 1.6 T-GDI AT at 193 hp — 18 hp above any 1.6 i T DCT, 38 hp above first-gen 2.0 i AT, 44 hp above second-gen 2.0 i AT (193 − 149). Same 265 Nm peak as both 1.6 i T DCT rows. Fuel 92, Automatic 8, mixed not measured.
Want the strongest torque without waiting until 4500 rpm: restyle 1.6 i T DCT — 265 Nm at 1500 rpm, mixed 6.3, 175 hp. That is the same peak torque as first-gen 1.6 i T DCT and second-gen 1.6 T-GDI AT, but the restyle is the only row where that torque is timed at 1500 rpm.
Want the lowest measured mixed use: restyle 1.6 i T DCT at 6.3. Next is restyle 1.8 i AT at 6.5. First-gen 2.0 i AT at 7.5 is the thirstiest measured car (+1.2 vs restyle 1.6 turbo).
Want a 2.0-class Automatic without turbo listed: first-generation 2.0 i AT — 155 hp, 192 Nm, mixed 7.5, 95, Euro 5, 131 mm. Do not confuse it with second-generation 2.0 i AT: that later 2.0 i AT is 149 hp, 179 Nm, Turbo, Variable, 92, mixed not measured. Same name, −6 hp and −13 Nm.
Want 1.8 with a pedal: first-generation 1.8 i MT — 143 hp, Manual 6, mixed 7.3, identical engine numbers to 1.8 i AT. After 2018-06-01 there is no MT in the data; restyle 1.8 i AT is the 1.8 that remains, with better mixed (6.5) and 117 mm clearance.
Want first-generation 1.8 after the restyle rather than before: restyle 1.8 i AT vs 2014 1.8 i AT is 0 hp difference and −0.8 mixed, −14 mm clearance.
Want maximum power per litre: second-generation 1.6 T-GDI AT at 120.6 hp/L, then restyle 1.6 i T DCT ≈ 110.0, then first-gen 1.6 i T DCT ≈ 109.6, then 1.8 ≈ 79.6, first-gen 2.0 i AT ≈ 77.5, second-gen 2.0 i AT 74.5 hp/L. The 2024 2.0 is the least dense of the eight.
Want 95 fuel and a measured Euro class: only the four 2014–2018 versions (Euro 5). Restyle and 2024 eco class: not measured. 2024 fuel is 92.
Kia K4 vs K5: K5 figures are not in this launch data — not measured. GT-Line turbo as a badge: the turbo engines that exist here are 1.6 i T DCT (both first-gen waves) and second-gen 1.6 T-GDI AT plus the 2024 2.0 i AT marked Turbo. Hatchback: body in the data is Sedan only.
Practical ranking from these numbers only. If mixed use is measured and you stay in generation one: pick restyle 1.6 i T DCT (175 hp, 265 Nm at 1500, 6.3, 117 mm) unless you need 131 mm, in which case first-gen 1.6 i T DCT (same 175 hp, 265 Nm at 4500, 6.9). If you need a clutch: only 1.8 i MT. If you need 2024 horsepower: 1.6 T-GDI AT (193 hp), not 2024 2.0 i AT (149 hp). If you need a 2.0 Automatic 6 with 155 hp: first-generation 2.0 i AT, not the later namesake.