NYIAS 2025: Kia Announces the 2026 K4 Hatchback and EV9 Nightfall Edition
Kia has a slew of new and updated models at this year’s New York International Auto Show, including the 2026 K4 Hatchback and 2026 EV9 Nightfall Edition. The two vehicles join the new EV4 sedan on the Kia stage at the show.
Kia released the K4 sedan for the 2025 model year, and for 2026, the automaker has a new hatchback. It’s 11 inches shorter than the sedan but offers the same rear legroom and improves rear headroom by an inch. The rear hatch also affords more cargo space, with 22.2 cubic feet behind the seats and up to 59.3 cubic feet with the rear bench folded flat.
The car will be available in sporty GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo configurations that offer a three-spoke steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, and unique exterior trim. The Turbo model adds LED projection headlights, LED fog lights, and a sunroof.
2025 New York Auto Show Gallery, Part 1
Kia equips a 2.0-liter engine with 147 horsepower as standard, but a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 190 horsepower is available. The base four comes with a continuously variable transmission, while the turbo mill comes with an eight-speed automatic. Both GT-Line models offer a sport suspension system.
Like the new EV4 and existing K4, the Hatchback comes with almost 30 inches of interior screen space, including a large digital gauge cluster and touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard. Safety kit includes features like lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
The 2026 EV9 Nightfall Edition brings dark styling elements and unique color combinations. It rides on black 20-inch wheels and is available in an exclusive Roadrider Brown exterior paint color. Available for the dual-motor Land AWD trim, the model offers six- or seven-passenger seating and extensive use of gloss-black accents, inside and out, including a skid plate, roof rails, and side mirrors. Inside, it features an exclusive black interior with accent stitching and a black headliner.
See Photos of the 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback
Beyond appearance changes, the Nightfall Edition comes with a Boost feature that bumps torque from 443 pound-feet to 516. Combined with the dual-motor powertrain’s 379 horsepower, the system can propel the EV9 to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. Kia also noted that the Nightfall will come standard with a charging plug for Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) but said that owners will be able to utilize other charging stations with an adapter.
[Images: Kia]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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With our Sportwagen on its last legs due to scoring in the cylinders, we been waiting for this. We are really enjoying our new K5.
Hatch looks good in that yellow.