2025 Kia K4 hatch unveiled to succeed Cerato, likely for Australia

The five-door hatchback version of the new 2025 Kia K4 – the replacement for the Cerato – has been unveiled overnight, ahead of Australian arrival expected towards the end of next year.

The first images of the K4 hatch were revealed to the surprise of the world’s media alongside the unveiling of the sedan, which succeeds the Cerato – also known as the Forte and K3 overseas – and consolidates Kia’s small-car range under one badge.

Australian showroom arrival timing is yet to be confirmed, and the South Korean car giant’s local division has not confirmed if the hatch – badged in these US images as the ‘5DR’ – will be sold here.

However it is likely – based on the roll-out of the outgoing Cerato – the K4 hatch will reach showrooms towards the end of 2025, after the sedan’s confirmed launch in the first quarter of 2025 (January to March).

More is shared between the K4 hatch and sedan than many rivals, with the same front end, and all four side doors – but the hatch slices the long boot off the sedan, and adds a conventional lift-up tailgate, plus black trim on the rear window pillars.

The GT-Line variant of the hatch also gains body-coloured inserts for its front bumper.

Kia has provided few details on the hatchback, aside from confirming it is due in US showrooms in 2025 – after the sedan in the second half of 2024.

It is expected to match the sedan’s choice of 110kW/179Nm 2.0-litre non-turbo and 142kW/264Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines, with a hybrid version reportedly under consideration, according to US media reports.

The sedan’s three-screen interior – 12.3-inch instruments, 12.3-inch infotainment and 5.0-inch climate-control displays – is likely to carry over, as well as its longer list of safety features than the previous model.

For everything you need to know about the Kia K4 sedan, click here to read our comprehensive unveiling story published overnight.