The Ceed Goes Down in History, the New KIA K4 Now Has a Date for Europe
It is official, you can completely say goodbye to seeing a new KIA compact with the name Ceed on the back. The brand has just announced that its successor will be the new K4, a modern model with serious arguments to be a leader in the category when it goes on sale in Europe in 2026.
There is no turning back, and what has been maturing for months has finally materialized. KIA has decided to revamp its global model strategy, getting rid of some that it had duplicated in a single category but aimed at the same type of customer, different in design and mechanics.
A significant saving for the Koreans, who will now only sell the new KIA K4 in the Korean, American, and European markets, as well as in other countries where they are also present, distinguished only by very specific details on the outside and, of course, in the engine range.
The Departure of the KIA Ceed and the Arrival of the K4 Has a Second Part
If the commercial name was one of the great mysteries, this has also been resolved, because KIA has also chosen the name K4 as a unifying element worldwide. A premeditated goodbye for some time because, with the departure of the Ceed from the plant in Zilina, Slovakia, they will be able to manufacture more units of the new KIA EV3 that is proving to be a perfect substitute, since the successor will come from Korea.
The new KIA K4 is a compact that stands out for a more elongated silhouette, as evidenced by its 4.44 meters in length compared to the 4.32 of the Ceed, a low roofline, and a completely vertical rear. That, on the outside, because, on the inside, it features two 12.3-inch screens, and also a significant drawback: the trunk volume of the successor is smaller, with 328 liters compared to 395 liters, which means that the comfort of the rear passengers has been prioritized, as is usually the case in the Asian market.
Regarding technologies and equipment, the new KIA K4 may include the following systems, in addition to a sporty GT-Line trim, which is distinguished by glossy black details:
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Induction charger for smartphones
- Wireless software updates
- AI-based voice assistant
- Digital Key 2.0
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Harman Kardon sound system
- Blind spot assistant with image transmission
- Cross traffic alert with emergency braking
- Road assistant with safety distance regulation
- Lane keeping assistant
- Lane change assistant
- Front collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- 360° camera
The Engines of the New KIA K4, Another That Says No to Diesel
The new KIA K4, which will also have a family variant that we have seen in testing, will debut in European markets in spring 2026, so it will not be until the date approaches that we will know more details about both prices and equipment.
Regarding the engine range, we already know that there will be no diesel and no plug-in hybrids PHEV. The offer will be limited to four versions, starting with the basic 1.0 T-GDI with 115 hp, with a six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a 1.6-liter turbo with 150 and 180 hp, both with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a self-charging hybrid that will arrive at the end of 2026.
