Images
Kia has had a re-think about how to design compact family-sized combustion estate cars and come up with this, the K4 Sportswagon. Compared to anything the brand has previously brought us in this segment, it's more practical, better looking and should have wider appeal.
+ More
Background
What's that old adage? If at first you don't succeed, try, try again? Well we've had 20 years of Korean maker Kia bringing us several generations of its compact family estate, the Ceed Sportswagon. But that model never made much impact on the UK market. So Kia is now trying to succeed in this niche sector with a similarly-targeted combustion model that isn't called 'Ceed'; this car, the K4 Sportswagon.
This of course is the estate version of the K4 hatch, the model the Korean maker has introduced to replace all variants of Ceed. But there are differences this time round. As we're going to find out here.
+ More
Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 27000 | 38000 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 129 | 129 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 128 | 128 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Min | Max |
| Length (mm) | 4695 | 4695 |
| Width (mm) | 1850 | 1850 |
| Height (mm) | 1435 | 1435 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 482 | 604 |
Driving experience
As with the hatch version of this car, the only kind of electrification available to K4 Sportswagon customers is the familiar 48V mild hybrid 1.0 T-GDi 115PS three cylinder petrol unit, which offers 200Nm of torque and can be had with either manual or seven-speed DCT auto transmission. 0-62mph takes 12.3s. The alternative four cylinder 1.6 T-GDi powerplant is un-electrified, auto-only and available with either 147 or 177bhp. This top unit has 250Nm of torque and can make 62mph in 9.1s in 147bhp form - or 8.4s in 177bhp guise. A Drive Mode Select system offers three settings, 'Normal', 'Eco' and 'Sport'. If you're happy to wait a bit before placing your order, a new full-Hybrid unit will join the line-up shortly.
Like its Ceed predecessor, all versions of this K4 get the kind of properly sophisticated multi-link rear suspension that you still do without in some lower powered versions of family hatch sector rivals. And, as usual with Kias, there's a wide range of semi-autonomous ADAS drive assist features; 'Highway Driving Assist 2.0' keeps you a safe distance from the car ahead, stayed centred in lane, plus it can change lanes for you and adjust lateral positioning. 'Smart Cruise Control' can bring the car to a complete controlled stop if you're taken ill at the wheel.
+ More
Design and build
Quite a lot's different here compared to the model line this K4 Sportswagon replaces. The three generations of Ceed Sportswagon we'd had before this K4 were rather half-hearted pieces of estate car design, with very similar dimensions to the hatch versions but merely with a stretched rear overhang to give a slightly bigger boot.
The more flexible platform the K4 sits upon allowed the designers to take a far more thorough approach this time round. At 4,695mm long, the K4 Sportswagon is a useful 265mm longer than the hatch; which sounds promising until you learn that the 2.72-metre wheelbase length remains exactly the same as the hatch, so the load-toting area can't be massive. But there's just about enough for the average family, with 482-litres of space available in the MHEV versions most will choose, 44-litres more than the equivalent hatch. Choose the unelectrified 1.6-litre petrol engine and that figure grows quite a lot - to 604-litres. The MHEV versions offer 1,317-litres of space with the rear bench folded (it's up to 1,439-litres with the conventional 1.6).
Otherwise, everything is of course exactly as with the hatch, so up front it all feels properly modern, with big 12.3-inch screens for the instruments and infotainment, plus a 5.3-inch climate display. All three are joined adjacently to create a single panoramic look across the top of the dashboard.
Helped by this K4 model's relatively lengthy wheelbase, the second row offers reasonable levels of leg room (964mm), but the sloping roof line eats into headspace a bit (with the standard ceiling, you get 973mm of head room). A middle-seated adult could be squeezed onto the wide flat bench for shorter trips. There's a fold-down centre armrest with cup holders, plus there are rear vents and USB-C ports.
+ More
Market and model
Expect to have to find around £1,500 more for this Sportswagon body shape compared to the K4 hatch; which means you'll need to be budgeting from around the £27,000 price point upwards. The starting figure is for the manual gearbox 1.0 T-GDi 48V 113bhp three cylinder model. Most will want to find another £1,500 for the DCT auto gearbox.
But that's for base 'Pure' trim, which relatively few UK customers will want. The mid-level 'GT-Line' spec that most of them will choose starts from around £31,000 with the 1.0 T-GDi 48V auto powertrain combination; or from around £33,000 if you want the larger four cylinder 1.6-litre 147bhp T-GDi engine. The same two powertrain options are available at a price premium of around £4,000 with top 'GT-Line S' spec.
All variants are reasonably well equipped, with LED headlights, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control and a drive mode select system. Inside, there's a three-screen dashboard layout, with a 12.3-inch driver display and a 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen. Media connectivity's taken care of by a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system, complete with wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', plus a six-speaker audio set-up. ADAS safety kit includes Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Follow Assist and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist.
With mid-level 'GT-Line' spec, the 16-inch alloy wheels of the base version get swapped for 17-inch rims and there's a 'GT-Line' exterior and interior styling pack with gloss black highlights and rear privacy glass. You get alloy pedals, front heated seats and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist. Top 'GT-Line S' trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, artificial leather upholstery, a sunroof, front ventilated seats and heated outer rear seats, plus a heated steering wheel, a wireless 'phone charger, a digital key system, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound upgrade and Kia's 'Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.0' package.
+ More
Cost of ownership
The 48V mild hybrid three cylinder 1.0 T-GDi 113bhp engine manages around 50mpg on the combined cycle and about 130g/km of CO2. With the four cylinder 1.6 T-GDi units, it's around 42mpg and about 158g/km of CO2.
As usual with Kia, there's a 7 year or 100,000 mile warranty which, since it can be passed from owner to owner, should help the impressively strong residual values. You might want to note that roadside assistance cover is limited to one year, but you do get a long 12 year bodywork warranty. Maintenance costs can be kept down by opting for Kia's 'Care-3' or 'Care-3 Plus' servicing packages, which offer a fixed-cost and inflation-proof servicing plan for the first three or five years, something which can also be passed on to subsequent owners.
+ More
Summary
Kia's K4 Sportswagon is one of those sensible choices that you might just enjoy making. If you had your eye on the five-door hatch K4 but felt your growing family perhaps needed a little more room, it could be just about perfect. And even if you'd had no interest in Kia but came across one of these, you might just be tempted.
For a start, most small estate cars are either deathly dull to look at, not especially spacious inside or inefficient to run. Or all three. This Kia is different. The styling's smart, the practicality's sufficient and the running costs are where they need to be. It feels of high quality inside too and is better equipped than comparable rivals. In summary, this model is yet further proof that not only has Kia closed the gap on many of its European rivals but has edged past many of them. If you're looking for a small estate car, it'd be wholly remiss to deny this Sportswagon a place on your short list.
+ More
Have you considered these alternative models...
Find a Review
We have over 500 new and used car reviews to help you find your next car.
Browse reviews and model guides for all makes
