The 2025 Kia K4 is a new compact sedan from the South Korean manufacturer, replacing the Kia Forte. It expands to two the number of non-sport utility vehicles in the carmaker’s lineup.
Four years ago, Kia introduced the K5 to replace the Kia Optima as the brand’s midsize sedan.
As siblings, the vehicles share appearances with angular headlights and other modernized features. The K4 also debuts as among the few vehicles that look and drive well beyond their segment designation and price range.
With its tapered roofline, high-resting, flush rear door handles and protruding fenders, the K4 has sports car leanings. It expands its sporting feel with a flat top and flat bottom steering wheel in the reviewed GT-Line trim.
The Kia’s expanded length also corresponds to more interior space, notably a few inches more of legroom for rear seat passengers. Its wheelbase is 107.1 inches, its overall length 185.4 inches. The numbers must approach the limits of what defines a compact vehicle.
In fact, with its elongated exterior orientation is the K4 really a compact sedan or the coming out of a sleek sports car?
The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have dominated compact sedan sales for many years. With the Toyota Prius, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra, Kia is hoping the K4 is a legitimate challenger in perhaps the most competitive market. It should be soon, although Honda and Toyota both sold more than twice as many vehicles in the segment last year than Kia.
The K4 is available with two engine options. Several of the five trims are equipped with two-liter, inline four-cylinder configurations with 147 horsepower, continuously variable transmissions and front-wheel drive.
The reviewed GT-Line Turbo trim features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It has 190 horsepower and an eight-speed, dual-clutch and sport-tuned transmission. Paddle shifters are steering-wheel mounted. And there’s a drive mode select function with Normal and Sport settings.
With its performance boost, the GT-Line Turbo accelerates from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds, although it seems quicker. Gas mileage averages are 26 miles per gallon in city driving, 36 mpg in the highway. The combined 29 mpg is the vehicle’s only disappointment.
Kia equips its vehicles well. Top-line K4 models include heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, color-selectable LED ambient lighting and a power sunroof with a power sunshade. A 360-degree surround view camera system, 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, rear air vents are also in the mix as are 10-way power adjustable seats with futuristic-looking back and headrests. They’re standard only on the GT-Line.
The GT-Line trims are slightly smaller than siblings. But they have a compact-sedan plentiful interior of 95.8 total cubic feet. Front passenger legroom is 42.3 inches, rearseat legroom is 38 inches. It’s as close to a five-passenger vehicle as a manufacturer can legitimately claim for its compact sedan.
Technology highlights include a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, the adjacent 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Standard is an eight-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system.
Further technology is impressive for a compact sedan: USB-C charger Front (2 ports, front center console), USB-C charger rear (2 ports, rear center console) and on power outlet.
Safety is a strong suit throughout the Kia lineup. The K4 includes a back-up camera, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, alarm, tire pressure warning, stability control and pre-collision and post-collision safety systems. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the sedan a 5 out of 5 stars rating.
With its technology package option ($2,200) and inland freight and handling charge ($1,155), the top-line 2025 Kia K4 is priced at $31,445. There’s no better automotive value.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also contributes business, lifestyle and sports content to several print and online publications. E-mail: [email protected].
