Kia K3 GT 5-door

Addressing concerns that the newest Kia K3 discards its fun to drive factor for fuel efficiency because of the new gearbox that made the new model behave like a Japanese city car, Kia Motors provided customers with a tangy new addition to this new model. Dubbed the K3 GT, it can be offered in a choice of a 4-door saloon and this, a 5-door hatchback.

2019 Kia K3 GT

2019 Kia K3 GT interior

Whereas the saloon can be offered in normal or GT variants, the hatchback is offered exclusively as the GT so focus is shifted on this one and while it carries the same exterior design as the saloon version, the K3 GT's hatchback profile is as stunning as the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback, one of the key rivals of this car, and from every angle, this is something you really want to get your hands on if you got yourselves a driver's license for the first time.

On the interior, since this is the GT model, it's been given red stitching on the seats and the steering wheel while the door panels are as trendy as a nightclub. It maybe youth-focused but it carries all of the same stuff as the saloon such as the touch screen sat nav that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB ports, wireless charging station, KRELL Premium Sound with 8-speaker, and many more. Because being a hatchback, the boot space is decent enough for your everyday stuff from work or for weekend trips and the rear seats can be folded down to make the most out of it. You can make it a five-seater, a three-seater, a two-seater, and as a little sleeper. Smart thinking, right?

Under the hood, the K3 GT is powered by a 1.6L Gamma T-GDi four-cylinder engine producing 204PS of power and 27.0kg•m of torque while mated to a 7-speed double clutch gearbox, which is a bit of a buzzkill for a sporty hatchback of that size, but it's the dynamics that put the shine on the K3 GT as it features a sports rear multilink suspension as well as improved springs so that now, it's stable at the bends and comfortable. With the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres set as well as the available tuning package featuring some handling upgrades, the K3 GT really puts a charm on the dynamics department and although being a Korean car, it doesn't really behave like a Korean car at all. It really is something that can't be denied from the start.

For added safety, the K3 GT, like most models, now come with Forward Collision Warning and Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Warning, and High Beam Assist, all standard, while the Smart Cruise Control and Blind-spot Collision Warning are optional extras.

Prices for the K3 GT starts 19,930,000 Korean Won and although costly to own compared to the normal K3, the new K3 GT promises to bring back the fun-to-drive character to this new model, something that the normal K3 is missing the whole time, and with that, there's so much to talk about a sporty variant that does almost everything to keep the drivers happy for more.

Photo: Kia Motors