The new petrol-powered Kia K4 is a VW Golf-sized family hatch headed to the UK

Kia insists this isn’t a direct replacement for the Ceed – reasonably priced, we hear – because it isn’t built in Europe for European (and UK) tastes, and is only available as a hatchback, not an estate.

But still. It is a medium-sized five-door car – like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus – powered by petrol and a bit of electricity. Time was this sort of car was a best-seller. Let’s see how this one does: Kia has confirmed it’s heading to the UK and Europe.

It’s actually a smidgen longer than both the Golf and the Focus, with two engine choices and a few powerbands available. There’s a 1.0-litre petrol with a six-speed manual ‘box, the same but with a bit of electricity (mild-hybrid), and the same again with the same bit of electricity but a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. All of these 1.0-litre ‘T-GDi’ cars produce 114bhp.

There’s a bigger engine on offer – a 1.6-litre ‘T-GDi’ petrol with that seven-speed dual-clutch auto – allowing bigger numbers, like a 148bhp version, and the range-topping 178bhp K4. Later next year, there’ll be a full hybrid powertrain available. Simple.

All are front-wheel-drive, all feature very Kia-esque design cues (like the lights inspired by the mahoosive EV9), 17in or 18in alloys, lots of screens (a pair of 12.3in screens and a 5.3in climate display), much tech (blind spot monitor, crash avoidance, cruise, etc), and a loud stereo courtesy of Harman Kardon.

No word on how much the Kia K4 will cost, but it’ll be built in Mexico and shipped over to the UK before the year is out, at which point we’ll find out whether it’s reasonably priced.