Affordable, manual-shift wagons have all but disappeared in the United States, and the new Kia K4 Sportswagon is a striking reminder of what we’re missing.
Even Volvo has abandoned wagons, making it clear that this body style is on the decline. Combine that with the dominance of automatic transmissions, and a manual-shift wagon seems almost unimaginable.
Yet Kia has done just that. The new K4 Sportswagon is a compact wagon available with a manual gearbox, a refreshingly unconventional entry in a market now dominated by crossovers.
Kia already offers a K4 sedan and K4 hatchback in this market. The K4 Sportswagon is the third member of the compact K4 family, sharing its front fascia with its siblings.
But the longroof design introduces a distinct personality. Kia has kept the look clean by hiding the rear door handles, and the upswept beltline between the C and D pillars adds a sporty flair.
Measuring 184.8 inches in length, the K4 Sportswagon is actually 0.6 inches shorter than the U.S. sedan. Its cargo area, however, is more generous at 21.3 cubic feet, compared with 14.6 cubic feet in the sedan, and a powered hands-free tailgate adds extra practicality.
The K4 Sportswagon doesn’t exactly thrill with its base engine. A 1.0-liter turbo producing 113 horsepower is standard, modest by American standards, but it comes with a six-speed manual and an optional mild-hybrid system.
A more spirited 1.6-liter turbo engine with up to 177 hp is also available, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Later this year, a hybrid version will join the lineup.
Kia’s high-tech interior features and driver-assistance offerings remain intact, including blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree surround-view camera.
Unfortunately, the 2027 Kia K4 Sportswagon isn’t headed for the United States. Wagons struggle in this market, and the budget wagon segment is effectively extinct here.
Meanwhile, Europe still embraces the body style, and the K4 Sportswagon is expected to thrive there. Alongside a trio of recently revealed Kia GT EVs unlikely to reach American shores, this wagon is another case of an appealing car the U.S. market is simply not ready for.
A K4 Sportswagon with a manual gearbox and the sedan’s available 190-hp turbo-four could be an excellent small-crossover alternative, but it’s not the type of car American buyers are looking for.
