- Kia has revealed a brand new mannequin known as the K3. It is a small sedan that will probably be inbuilt Mexico.
- It is powered by both a 1.6-liter four-cylinder or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
- The K3 is slated to go on sale by the tip of the yr, making us assume it may arrive within the U.S. for the 2025 mannequin yr.
Kia has revealed a brand new small sedan that appears like a alternative for the subcompact Rio. However due to its title, K3, we predict that it may also be changing the compact Forte—which is presently bought in Korea below the K3 nameplate.
Whereas we do not but have affirmation that this mannequin is coming to the U.S., we do know that the brand new K3 will probably be inbuilt Mexico on the identical plant that presently builds the Rio and Forte. Kia has additionally already filed a trademark for the K3 title within the U.S. This title change would align this new entry-level mannequin with the nomenclature for the bigger K5 mid-size sedan.
The K3 adopts a few of Kia’ newest design cues, equivalent to LED accent lights that stretch beneath the headlights as on the EV9 electrical SUV, and incorporates a modern-looking dashboard setup with giant digital gauge cluster and infotainment screens. The steering wheel is taken from the EV6 and there are interesting-looking patterns on the door panels and dashboard trim.
Kia says that the usual powertrain will probably be a 1.6-liter inline-four with 121 hp, which is presently the Rio’s customary engine within the U.S. The GT Line mannequin can have a 150-hp 2.0-liter inline-four, and a 1.4-liter engine will probably be provided in sure markets. We predict the two.0-liter powertrain is the most definitely possibility for the U.S.-market K3.
There isn’t any phrase on U.S.-specific timing, however we predict we’ll hear extra concerning the K3 quickly. Kia says that it’s going to go on sale in some markets within the fourth quarter of this yr, which means that it may arrive within the U.S. as quickly because the 2025 mannequin yr.
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Senior Editor
Regardless of being raised on a gradual weight loss plan of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or maybe due to it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive trade all through his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He discovered a technique to write about automobiles for the varsity newspaper throughout his school years at Rice College, which finally led him to maneuver to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first skilled auto-writing gig at Vehicle Journal. He has been a part of the Automobile and Driver workforce since 2016 and now lives in New York Metropolis.