Kia Isn’t Ruling Out a Manual Transmission for Its Hip New Hatchback

Kia may be doing the unthinkable and could offer a third pedal on its incoming K4 Hatchback. Word comes from CarScoops, who recently sat down with company product planners during the model’s recent media drive.

In the interview, the outlet learned that the Korean automaker is open to the idea of offering a manual transmission. But only if the demand for it exists.

Potential buyers need to speak up

Kia

The Kia K4 Hatchback has been shaping up to be quite a compelling car. It’s affordable, well-packaged, practical, efficient and futuristically designed. It seemingly hits all the core attributes that make a quality vehicle.

However, prospective buyers did express disappointment at the lack of a manual option. But Kia surprised the world when it introduced the classic transmission on the European-spec wagon model.

Kia

The optional third-pedal, however, did come with a catch. It’s only available on Euro-spec K4’s base 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder.

At launch, the North American K4 Hatchback will come with the same engine choices as the sedan. Which means, a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline four-cylinder with a CVT, or the option for a peppier 1.6-liter turbo-four with a conventional eight-speed automatic.

Kia

If Kia finds the demand to justify the means for a manual model in America, it would be one of the few markets offered with one and the larger engine choices.

“We don’t have any plans for a manual transmission right now, but the platform is perfectly capable of accepting one,” the unnamed spokesperson told CarScoops. “We do offer a manual in other markets. If we find that there’s demand in our market for a manual transmission and it makes business sense, it’s technically possible.”

We haven’t had a proper selection of manual (cold?) hatches in eons

Kia

It’s been years since America received any sort of abundant options for a manual-equipped hatchback. At least, one that isn’t a high-performance model.

While US buyers did and still do have a few choices for a manual-equipped hot hatch, there haven’t been many standard hatch models with the cog swapper.

Kia

Until recently, buyers could get a Volkswagen GTI with a six-speed rower. But the Wolfsburg automaker then canned the option, citing poor demand and an inadequate business case, even in Europe. And it’s been years since VW sold us the regular Golf, which fell out of favor for SUVs.

Honda offers a manual for the Civic Si and Type R, but those are pricey hot hatches, and the jury’s still out on whether they’re proper hatchbacks.

Kia

Toyota does the same with the GR Corolla and used to offer a six-speed for the standard Corolla in specific trims. But the big Japanese automaker recently stopped offering the option.

Mazda also offers a manual rower, but only on the mid-upper non-turbo 2.5 S Premium model. And while Ford used to sell us the Focus and Fiesta hatchbacks with manuals, those days have long gone. And Subaru’s Impreza hatch has also been absent from the market for quite some time.

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