Kia K3 EURO

2014 Kia K3 EURO

It's been quite a long months since it made an American appearance at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show and its Asian premiere at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show but at long last, the Kia K3 lineup is finally complete because not only it has the four-door saloon that it came last year and the turbocharged K3 KOUP that came late last month but now, the hatchback version of the K3, dubbed K3 EURO, has arrived for just 18,370,000 Korean Won (estimated 18,000 US Dollars).

So, what's it all about this...5-door version of the K3? Well, for starters, it has all of the same stuff you'll find from its sedan counterpart except now in its 5-door configuration. The EURO name, well it's somewhat sarcastic because you can't find these in Europe in favor of the Cee-apostrophe-D. Never mind because while the K3 locks on against the Samsung SM3 and the recently updated Hyundai Avante and the K3 KOUP locks on against the Avante Coupe, this K3 EURO loves to play hide and seek against the Hyundai i30.

Check your records though because the new K3 EURO offers more wheelbase and length than the i30 but it's a bit shorter than the i30 by about 20mm. Based on the looks it looks more convincing than the i30 but no matter what, it won't win you many friends like any Korean cars do.

2014 Kia K3 EURO interior

Like the K3 sedan, the EURO hatchback features a well-behaved interior which is as tech-savvy as a hipster carrying too much gadgets in her purse. One thing you'll may not now that for the new K3 EURO, there's an exclusive brown interior offered just to give the inside view a more coffee-like atmosphere which is as warm as visiting your granny's house. On the EURO, the rear seats are foldable to accommodate rear space for your luggage and oh, there's even a tonneau board behind which gives the interior a bit more sedan-like while stuff are under the tonneau. Sounds convenient but meh...

The only engine available on the K3 EURO, like the sedan counterpart, is the 1.6L Gamma GDi engine which produces about 140PS of power, 17kg-m of torque, and fuel economy of only 12.5km/L, while mated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. It's even got ACTIVE ECO ASSIST and FLEX STEER as well but no matter what...its still has the "meh" reaction you'll be getting so...meh...

Available Colors: Milky Beige, Aurora Black Pearl, Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver, Glittering Metal, Golden Beat, Temptation Red, Planet Blue, and Abyss Blue.

So...this one or the Hyundai i30? Don't be daft but it's good fun finding out...

Photo: Kia Motors