Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
Let’s welcome another all-new family member to the Kia household: the K4 sedan. It’s a compact, efficient, and daring value proposition that has pervasive admiration stemming from various tech amenities, design aspirations, fun-to-drive skillsets, and pricing that won’t blow up your bank account.
In the eclectic city of Austin, TX, Kia invited us to the national media drive to evaluate the first ever K4 “small wonder” through the busy urban streets and outside of town on the curvy country roads. You may have seen the K4 TV ad with the gentleman walking backward observing his new Korean possession while sidestepping people and obstacles. That’s the model I drove and enjoyed, especially the interior. With Kia targeting Gen Y/Z, the K4 would be the perfect vehicle for your collegiate graduates as they depart campus full of uniqueness.
“By juxtaposing the K4’s fastback roofline and wide stance, we split the difference visually between the compact and midsize segments,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America. “The creative tension that the Opposites United design language stresses allowed us to improvise on the traditional three-box form factor.”
Formerly known as the Forte, Kia product planners wanted to show off the vehicle’s progression while staying in tune with Kia’s naming convention like the K5. Yet, the K4 is longer and broader than the Forte with an array of design lines and edges, especially in the busy rear. Its vertical LED headlights and taillights are borrowed from the all-electric EV9, and flush rear door handles are embedded into the C-pillar. Expect 14.6 cubic ft. of trunk storage as well. In late 2025 a 5-door K4 hatchback will become available for owners who prefer more utility and versatility—for example, bikers or DIYers who often hit Home Depot. The K4’s silhouette flows without moving and looks speedy when still, especially since designers incorporated a fastback outline. And if you choose the sporty GT-Line or GT-Line Turbo, Kia adds dynamic front and rear ends, black 18” brushed-alloy rims, and contrasting gloss black components such as the mirrors, window trim, and side sills to enhance the vehicle’s aspirational influence. Many of my media colleagues said they were still ambivalent toward the overall styling of the K4 and would need to spend extended time with it.
For performance, the base FWD K4 gets down with a fuel-efficient 2-liter, 4-cylinder (up to 30/40/34 city/hwy/comb) paired with an intelligently variable transmission (IVT), which you can easily distinguish when accelerating uphill. This powertrain puts out a respectable 147-horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. The second option is the 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted on the flat-bottom steering wheel. This sporty package provides 190-horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, metal pedals, and a sports-tuned suspension. On the switchback roads of Texas Hill Country I discovered how maneuverable the little guy is with energetic acceleration and steering inputs, specifically in Sport Mode for incremental dynamics to the vehicle’s handling traits.
The interior is a similar rendition of what you see and experience in other Kia models such as the EV6. The cozy cabin feels and looks familiar, especially the available 30” Connected Car Navigation Cockpit display and instrumentation incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and over-the-air (OTA) software updates. You can even download NBA team logos and branding. An Onyx/Off-White cloth/synthetic leather combo is slated for the GT-Line while the GT-Line Turbo is refreshed with synthetic leather in Onyx/Off-White. Yet, the popping Red and Onyx/Red synthetic leather is available for the GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. More tech consists of ultrawideband Digital Key 2.0, Harman Kardon audio, and Kia Connect utilizing “Hey Kia” voice commands and in-depth AI feedback. And for a compact sedan, neither my driver partner Kirk Bell nor I felt scrunched, even in the back seat. For comfort, the seats are marginally bolstered, heated, and ventilated.
Amazingly, Kia is offering its Kia ADAS suite that includes a boatload of safety prevention mechanisms including standard Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist, Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, and Driver Attention Warning. The K4 is further blessed with rear-side airbags for a total of eight. Evasive Steering Assist will help reduce accidents when drivers with slower reaction times are behind the wheel. I’m also a fan of Smart Key with Remote Start since I live in Maryland where it gets pretty cold in the winter.
With a starting MSRP of just $21,990, the 2025 K4 is offered in five trim levels including the LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line, and the most sensational version, dubbed GT-Line Turbo. More importantly, Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty will grant you with ownership confidence.
To stay in tune with youthful buyers, the Kia TikTok Creator Car Configurator allows individuals to build out their K4 creatively. For example, users can simulate spray painting the vehicle in their favorite hue. Times are changing and so is Kia. Are you ready for the K4?
