Kia drops the 180-hp 1.6-liter turbo from the K4 range in the Netherlands due to higher CO2 taxes. Only 115-hp 1.0 mild hybrid remains, from €33,995.
Kia has revised its K4 lineup for the Dutch market and dropped the most powerful gasoline engine option. The decision follows changes in tax rules that are directly tied to CO2 emissions.Originally, the Kia K4 Hatchback and K4 Sportswagon were available with two engines: a 1.0-liter mild hybrid delivering 115 hp and a 1.6-liter turbo producing 180 hp. After recertification, the more powerful engine recorded higher emissions, which pushed the BPM tax significantly higher.Consequently, the version with the 1.6 T-GDI became much more expensive. To put it in perspective, the tax on the base version is around €8,000, while for the 180-hp variant it reached €13,000 to €14,000. The importer conceded that the setup was no longer competitive and pulled it from the range.That leaves the 1.0-liter engine as the sole option, offered with either a manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It takes around 12 seconds to hit 100 km/h, and average fuel consumption comes in at 5.6 L/100 km versus 6.6 L/100 km for the discontinued model.Pricing for the Kia K4 kicks off at €33,995 for the hatchback and €35,495 for the estate. Against the backdrop of broader trends shaping new cars for 2026, tax policy is increasingly dictating which powertrains remain viable.
Automobile Magazine – USA
