Test Driving The 2025 Kia K4: Kia’s All New Compact Sedan
Test Driving We’ve simply street tried the all new 2025 Kia K4, which is a substitution for the Kia Strong point and an immediate challenger to a few quite large names in this fragment, including the Honda Municipal and the Toyota Corolla. In any case, while it doesn’t have a longstanding name, the Kia K4 has new and forceful styling that really upgrades its look and makes it champion within the sight of those conventional cars that have been around for a really long time. Kia likes to be ground breaking with its styling, a methodology that has paid off for the brand in models like the Sportage and Telluride.
Test Driving are plans for a significantly sportier-looking hatchback rendition of the K4 coming one year from now, however for this street test we’re centered around the Kia K4, explicitly in its top, “GT-Line Super” trim. That trim accompanies a 190-strength, 195 pound-feet turbocharged four-chamber motor. The 1.6-liter is joined to a 8-speed programmed transmission including paddle shifters on one or the other side of the guiding wheel. The K4 is front-wheel drive, and has a base 2.0-liter, four-chamber non-super motor with 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of force driving a persistently factor transmission (CVT).
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2025 Kia K4: Evaluated somewhere in the range of $23,000 and $29,000
Test Driving Kia K4’s trim levels range from the base LX to the very good quality GT-Line Super seen here. Valuing begins around $23,000 (counting the $1,155 conveyance charge) and goes up to about $29,000. Extra standard highlights on the base trim incorporate radar journey control, keyless section/begin, Drove outside lighting, warmed mirrors, and path keeping help. Mid-grade K4 trims like the LXS and EX add larger wheels, more driver-assist tech, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Fuel efficiency runs between 30 and 40 MPG with the base engine.
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Test Driving Drivers wanting a more advanced suspension design can switch from the lower trim’s trailing arm to a multi-link rear suspension in the GT-Line trim, which also has synthetic leather, a navigation system, and 18-inch wheels, yet retains the base 2.0-liter engine. The top trim GT-Line Turbo gets the more powerful engine, a sunroof, a Harman Kardon audio system, upgraded LED headlights, and a surround view camera. That’s pretty luxurious for less than $30,000, though the more powerful turbo engine sees fuel efficiency ratings drop to 26 MPG city, 36 MPG highway.
2025 Kia K4: Prioritizing Comfort Over Performance
Test Driving the new Kia K4 on a twisty road, like Angeles Crest Highway, is when you’ll want to engage “Sport” mode with the button at the bottom of the steering wheel to take full advantage of not just the turbo engine, but the paddle shifters on either side of the wheel to hold a gear and leverage the turbo engine’s boost. In this trim the Kia K4 is not slow, but handling isn’t as confident or engaging as a Honda Civic, Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla. It feels like Kia focused more on comfort, even in the GT-Line Turbo with its more powerful engine and multi-link rear suspension.
2025 Kia K4: A High Feature, High-Tech Interior
Test Driving interior is where the K4 really shines. The 12.3 inch central touchscreen gives the Kia an upscale feel, especially as a standard feature in the base LX trim with a starting price of $23,000. If you want the dual 12.3-inch screens you have to step up to the EX trim, for about $25,000. Between the 12.3-inch gauge cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen is a 5-inch climate control touchscreen, which is (unfortunately) perfectly positioned to be blocked by the upper-right corner of the steering wheel. You can still see it, but you have to slightly move your head either left or right.
Test Driving give Kia props for continuing to offer dedicated buttons to access the climate control system, navigation system, media options, and vehicle settings. There’s even a dedicated volume knob in the center of the dash, which means both front occupants can quickly and easily adjust sound levels — no wrestling with a digital slider required. Yet another button on the dash can be programmed to access an additional system of the driver’s choosing. Buyers purchasing the Kia K4 in EX or higher trim also get a wireless smartphone charging pad beneath these dedicated controls.
Test Driving K4’s cabin isn’t just well equipped, it’s also rather plush in the higher trim levels, with the faux-leather seats in contrasting colors. The interior is also roomier than the outgoing Forte this car replaces. The K4’s longer and wider exterior dimensions translate into a class-leading 38 inches of second-row legroom and 37.3 inches of rear headroom. The hatchback design offers 14.6 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats, and the variety of storage pockets and cubbies in the first and second row give passengers plenty of options on where to place their items.
Test Driving also an impressive array of advanced technology in the new Kia K4, ranging from voice control to an AI assistant that can answer questions and play games with occupants. Kia is also introducing a new My Q Connected Garage feature that automatically opens and closes the garage door when the K4 approaches and departs the house. Over-the-air updates for this system will expand the choices of design themes for the infotainment screen in coming months, including 30 NBA team themes.
2025 Kia K4: Loaded For Compact Competition
Test Driving like the styling of the new K4, and we like that it has more interior space than the outgoing Forte. The standard feature list is impressive, as are the value-priced options on higher trim levels. In terms of driving dynamics, the K4 doesn’t feel quite as sporty as Honda’s Civic or Toyota’s Corolla, but it seems Kia is targeting buyers with an interest in advanced features, fuel efficiency and value, which the K4 clearly delivers. Perhaps Kia will eventually introduce a performance version of the K4 even more focused and capable than the GT-Line Turbo we drove.
Test Driving Until then, buyers in this segment will likely be intrigued by the K4’s exterior design, advanced tech, and premium cabin. Roll in Kia’s standard full warranty protection of 5 years/60,000 miles, and the drivetrain coverage of 10 years or 100,000 miles, and the 2025 Kia K4 brings a compelling package into this highly-competitive segment. And, honestly, we’re happy to see a brand like Kia not only present in this segment (one that so many other automakers have abandoned…), but clearly working hard to give non-SUV buyers — yes, they still exist — a new model to get excited about.