Kia K8 Overview: Specs, Generations, and Which Version to Buy
Kia K8 specs at a glance: a sedan built since 2021 with 198–300 hp, one generation, and five modifications — plus advice on which version to choose.
The Kia K8 is a sedan produced from 2021 to the present, with outputs ranging from 198 to 300 hp. If you are comparing Kia K8 specs, the lineup is simple: one generation, automatic transmissions only, and a choice of front-wheel drive or 4x4. It suits drivers who want a large sedan with a wide engine range, from an economical 2.5 to a 300 hp 3.5.
Kia K8 generations
1 generation
The first and so far only generation of the Kia K8 has been in production from 2021 to the present, exclusively as a sedan. It counts 5 modifications with power outputs from 198 to 300 hp, all paired with an automatic transmission, and offers both FWD and 4x4 drivetrains. The engine range spans from a 1.6-liter unit (1598 cc, 230 hp) through a 2.5-liter (2497 cc, 198 hp) to a 3.5-liter (3470 cc) available in 240 hp and 300 hp versions. All four notable modifications in the data — the 1.6 i AT, 2.5 i AT, 3.5 i AT (240 hp) and 3.5 i AT (300 hp) — are front-wheel drive and have been offered across the same 2021–present production window. Fuel consumption figures are recorded for three of them: 8.3 l/100km for the 2.5 i AT, 9.4 l/100km for the 3.5 i AT (300 hp), and 12.5 l/100km for the 3.5 i AT (240 hp); no consumption figure is listed for the 1.6 i AT. The power spread within the generation is 102 hp, from the 198 hp base 2.5 to the 300 hp top 3.5.
Which Kia K8 to buy
- 3.5 i AT (240 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice — a 3470 cc engine with 240 hp, though fuel consumption is the highest in the range at 12.5 l/100km.
- 3.5 i AT (300 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful Kia K8 at 300 hp, and notably efficient for its output at 9.4 l/100km.
- 2.5 i AT (1 generation): the economical option — 8.3 l/100km, the lowest consumption in the lineup, from a 2497 cc engine with 198 hp.
- 1.6 i AT (1 generation): the freshest addition — a compact 1598 cc engine producing 230 hp, more than the larger 2.5-liter unit.
Since every Kia K8 belongs to a single generation built from 2021 onward, used examples are all recent cars, and there are no cross-generation differences to research — the choice comes down to engine and drivetrain. Note that the 1.6 i AT delivers 230 hp from just 1598 cc, while the 2.5 i AT produces 198 hp from 2497 cc — a 32 hp advantage for the smaller engine. All four highlighted versions use an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, so the driving hardware differs mainly in engine displacement and output.
Which Kia K8 to avoid
The numbers point at the Kia K8 3.5 i AT (240 hp): the 300 hp version of the same 3470 cc engine delivers 60 hp more while consuming 9.4 l/100km against 12.5 l/100km. On the data alone, the 240 hp variant is dominated on both power and fuel consumption — it burns 3.1 l/100km more than its 300 hp sibling and 4.2 l/100km more than the 198 hp 2.5 i AT.