The Kia Forte is lifeless, and a brand new mannequin has taken its place: the 2025 Kia K4. Very like how the K5 changed the Optima, the K4 takes over as Kia’s compact sedan, going toe-to-toe with heavy hitters just like the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Corolla. It arrives as a sedan first, however the 2026 mannequin 12 months will see the addition of a hatchback as effectively. Together with the brand new identify, the K4 will get a daring new design, an up to date inside, and two four-cylinder engines underneath the hood.
Each K4 bought in america makes use of a four-cylinder engine, both a base 2.0-liter naturally aspirated unit or an non-obligatory 1.6-liter turbocharged one. We examined the previous within the GT-Line trim, which provides visible sportiness with none efficiency upgrades. That is an inexpensive automobile that packs a ton of options, however it leaves loads to be desired by way of efficiency with the bottom engine. Must you take into account the 2025 K4 when looking for a compact sedan? We spent every week with one to reply that query.
Exterior Appears: A Lot Going On Right here
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Kia has launched loads of daring designs lately, and the K4 may be one of the outrageous examples. It makes use of a novel iteration of Kia’s Opposites United design language with vertical boomerang-shaped headlights and enormous taillights. The entrance finish is fairly cool trying, however we think about some individuals may be turned off by the awkward rear styling, particularly the odd C-pillar behind the rear doorways. In our opinion, the upcoming K4 Hatchback pulls off this design extra elegantly. The bottom LX is simply obtainable in three exterior colours (silver, white, and black), whereas all different trims are available seven obtainable hues. Our tester’s Morning Haze coloration appears fairly cool without charge, as does Deep See Blue. Our favourite coloration is Currant Crimson for $395.
The LX rides on 16-inch metal wheels with fairly nice-looking wheel covers, the LXS upgrades to 16-inch permits, and the EX will get 17-inch wheels. Upgrading to the GT-Line brings sporty 18-inch wheels, that are all black on the GT-Line Turbo. Kia claims the K4 is the longest car in its class at 185.4 inches lengthy, which is 2.7 inches longer than the outgoing Forte, however it should have forgotten concerning the Volkswagen Jetta that spans 186.5 inches.
Inside & On-Board Expertise: Finances Luxurious
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The outgoing Kia Forte punched above its class with a premium inside that regarded a bit like a finances Audi or BMW. This K4 follows up with an much more tech-focused cabin that options soft-touch factors in necessary areas, however some low cost plastics in different areas. Even the bottom mannequin comes fairly well-equipped, however the high GT-Line mannequin feels outright luxurious. The K4 contains 5 seats with one of many roomiest again seats within the compact class.
2025 Kia K4 Inside Dimensions |
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| Seating Capability | 5 Seatere | |
| 1st Row | 2nd Row | |
| Headroom | 42.3 inches (39 w/ sunroof) | 38 inches (37.3 w/ sunroof) |
| Legroom | 42.3 inches | 38 inches |
| Behind 1st Row | Behind 2nd Row | |
| Cargo Quantity | 14.2 ft³ | N/A |
Even the bottom LX mannequin comes with quite a few customary options, together with fabric seats, heated facet view mirrors, Sensible Key with push-button begin, 4 USB-C ports, sensible cruise management, auto emergency braking, lane preserve help, driver consideration warning, rear occupant alert, and excessive beam help. The LXS provides blind spot monitoring with clear cross-traffic warning and split-folding rear seats. Upgrading to the EX makes the K4 really feel extra premium with twin 12.3-inch shows, dual-zone computerized local weather management, premium fabric, and a wi-fi cellphone charger. The GT-Line provides built-in navigation, an AI assistant, heated entrance seats with Syntex/fabric seats, an influence driver’s seat, lumbar adjustment, and extra.
Our tester got here outfitted with the GT-Line Premium Package deal, bundling a Harmon/Kardon audio system, SynTex heated/ventilated seats (black and white or purple and black), a reminiscence driver’s seat, and an influence sunroof with sunshade. The GT-Line Turbo will get the upgraded stereo, sunroof, and Syntex seats as-standard, however presents a Expertise Package deal with temper lighting, Ahead Collision-Avoidance Help 2, and Freeway Driving Help 2.
Because of its prolonged wheelbase, the K4 presents one of the spacious rear seats in its class, besting even the Jetta by over half an inch of legroom. The Hyundai Elantra, which rides on the identical platform, boasts an an identical 38 inches within the second row and 14.2 cubic ft within the trunk. There are opponents with bigger trunks, so in the event you want extra room, we propose certainly one of them or ready for the K4 Hatchback.
Infotainment: Nice Stuff At A Low Worth
Each trim degree features a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that options wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus loads of local weather and audio management buttons mounted under. The LX and LXS trims embrace a small four-inch gauge cluster, whereas the EX trims and better improve to a nicer 12.3-inch unit with a five-inch display screen situated between it and the infotainment to regulate the local weather. It appears extra premium to have extra screens throughout the sprint, however we by no means discovered ourselves wanting to make use of the center display screen over the extra simply reachable buttons. For those who do not care about audio, the LX trim comes with 4 audio system, whereas the LXS, EX, and GT-Line embrace six audio system. The GT-Line is on the market with an upgraded eight-speaker Harmon/Kardon unit that sounds premium for the value, and this technique comes customary on the GT-Line Turbo.
Efficiency: The place’s The Pep?
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Kia presents two engines within the K4: a 2.0-liter multi-point gas injection (MPI) four-cylinder and a 1.6-liter direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder. The previous is a full carryover from the Forte, together with the ability and torque outputs and the repeatedly variable transmission, which Kia calls an Inteligent Variable Transmission (IVT). As for the K4 GT-Line Turbo, the engine is identical because the outgoing Forte GT, however it really produces 11 fewer horsepower. Energy now goes out by way of an eight-speed torque converter computerized, not the seven-speed dual-clutch used within the Forte GT. In contrast to the Hyundai Elantra, the K4’s sister car, no hybrid is on the market, neither is there a high-performance mannequin.
2025 Kia K4 Engine Choices |
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| 4-Cylinder | Turbo | |
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| Engine | 2.0-liter four-cylinder | 1.6-liter four-cylinder |
| Transmission | Clever Variable Transmission | Eight-speed computerized |
| Drivetrain | Entrance-wheel-drive | |
| Energy | 147 hp | 190 hp |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft | 195 lb-ft |
Efficiency Impressions
Automakers sometimes ship us probably the most highly effective engine to guage, however on this case, we reviewed the bottom powertrain. Kia would not quote a 0-60 mph time for both K4, however we measured a sluggish 9.58 seconds in our testing. Base fashions on this phase sometimes aren’t very fast, however above 9 seconds is fairly lackluster. The turbocharged engine must be considerably faster, as a Hyundai Kona with that very same motor reached 60 mph in 8.48 seconds in our testing. Anticipate the K4 with the stronger engine to be within the seven-second vary, however the brand new computerized transmission will likely be much less participating than the outgoing dual-clutch.
Regardless of being fairly sluggish, the bottom engine automobile does an admirable job not sounding overstressed. The IVT retains the RPMs low, and does an satisfactory job pretending to shift by means of simulated gears. The engine itself by no means sounds too loud or intrusive, particularly at freeway speeds.
Experience and Dealing with
The K4 is not making an attempt to be sporty, however it feels decently athletic. A sub-3,000-pound curb weight on the non-turbo mannequin retains the dealing with spry with exact steering that gives respectable communication again to the driving force. There aren’t many drive modes – Regular or Sport – and in typical Kia vogue, Sport mode causes the steering to agency up, making it really feel barely extra participating.
Each GT-Line fashions improve to impartial multi-link rear suspension, which delivers superior trip and dealing with in comparison with the bottom torsion beam axle. It is a chassis that may deal with extra, and we hope Kia brings again the GT mannequin, ideally within the hatchback physique fashion with the Elantra N’s 278-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. We might additionally like to see Kia supply a hybrid, matching the Elantra Hybrid’s superior gas economic system.
Gasoline Financial system
The EPA charges the bottom K4 LX at 30 mpg within the metropolis, 40 mpg on the freeway, and 34 mpg mixed. These aggressive numbers drop by one in every class within the higher trims, whereas the GT-Line Turbo falls to 26/36/29 mpg due to its stronger engine. The K4 might not boast class-leading gas economic system, however it’s no less than on-par with a lot of its non-hybrid opponents. Consumers in search of over 50 mpg might want to look elsewhere for an electrified choice, just like the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, or Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
Verdict & Pricing: Luxurious Is Its Forte
Pricing for the 2025 K4 LX begins at $21,990, not together with a $1,155 vacation spot charge. That is barely cheaper than the Hyundai Elantra SE ($22,125), which comes with the identical engine and related options. The truth is, the K4 is simply undercut in its phase by the Nissan Sentra, beginning at $21,590. The LXS trim prices $1,000 extra at $22,990, however we would suggest spending one other $1,000 to get the EX at $23,990, as a result of it comes with extremely fascinating options just like the bigger gauge cluster, computerized local weather management, and nicer fabric seats.
The GT-Line provides a sporty taste for $25,190, however requires a further $1,100 for the GT-Line Premium Package deal and $900 sunroof, bringing the as-tested value to $27,190. For those who plan so as to add these packages, it may be price it to step as much as the GT-Line Turbo for $28,090, which incorporates many of the identical options and a extra highly effective engine, however you will want to spend $2,200 extra on the Expertise Package deal to get ventilated seats, reminiscence seats, a digital key, temper lighting, and improved security expertise reminiscent of a 360-degree digicam.
The K4’s highlights embrace superior, intuitive expertise, an enormous variety of luxurious options, wonderful security expertise, and large passenger house. It lags behind rivals in each efficiency and gas economic system, although the non-obligatory turbocharged engine mitigates the previous. It is a robust bundle, particularly on the value, and we’re excited to see what Kia can do with the hatchback mannequin. If you would like probably the most bang to your buck in a compact sedan, have a look at the 2025 Kia K4.