As we get to the tip of every 12 months, I mirror on the vehicles I’ve pushed, what I’ve favored, what I haven’t favored, and what essentially the most vital and essential automobiles of the 12 months are. I take into consideration cool know-how, drivability, person expertise, driving place, practicality and, in fact, value. After I roll all these issues collectively, there are often a couple of standout automobiles from at-home exams and media packages. As 2024 rolls to a detailed, and I’m sitting in Austin, Texas, as I write this, I feel I simply skilled essentially the most vital automobile I’ve pushed in 2024: The 2025 Kia K4.
2025 Kia K4
Whereas I completely liked the Dodge Charger Daytona I reviewed final week, and the brand new VW ID. Buzz is intelligent and funky, their value tags are only a bit stiff to make them essentially the most vital automobiles I’ve pushed this 12 months.
The 2025 Kia K4 GT-line Turbo, nonetheless, begins at $29,245, together with vacation spot. Mix that with the very fact it has first rate experience and dealing with for a automobile on this class, and you’ve got a successful mixture in addition to a really vital automobile.
What’s the 2025 Kia K4?
To raised align with international technique, Kia has began renaming its automobiles within the U.S., ditching precise phrases in favor of an alpha-numeric code. So, the Optima midsize sedan grew to become the K5, and now the Forte turns into the K4. It’s nonetheless a compact sedan, however its proportions do develop a bit. It’s about 3 inches longer and a pair of inches wider than the outgoing Forte.
It is going to are available 5 trim ranges: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo, and the bottom value will probably be $23,145, together with vacation spot. The bottom engine will probably be a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 147 horsepower, and it’s mated to a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) — or as Kia likes to name it an “clever variable transmission.” The uplevel powertrain is a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder turbo mated to a traditional 8-speed automated transmission.
It is going to get commonplace options akin to a 12.3-inch infotainment display, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, good key with passive entry and distant begin, adaptive cruise management, lane maintain help and automated excessive beams. Up-level options will embody heated-and-cooled seats, the 30-inch show that goes from gauge cluster to infotainment, a digital key, AI voice assistant, 360-degree digicam, premium Harman Kardon-brand audio, Google factors of curiosity and MyQ storage door app integration.
Non turbo versus turbo powertrains
This media preview in Texas centered on the GT-Line fashions with all of the premium accents, and our check automobiles had been tricked out with the out there Premium and Tech packages. The as-tested costs had been $28,345 for the GT-Line and $31,445 for the GT-Line Turbo.
So, was the $3k value distinction value it?
I’m going to say one thing that can in all probability put me within the minority: No. By way of the powertrains, I actually favored the bottom 2.0-liter engine higher. It was extra evenly and constantly powered, and I didn’t discover any lag or lack for my driving maneuvers–and I’m on the extra aggressive facet of the spectrum. Positive, the additional 43 horsepower is good, however the tradeoff is a bit lag. And I hate lag.
One other unpopular opinion: I didn’t hate the CVT. It didn’t really feel loud or whiny to me, and I feel it’s well-paired with the bottom engine. Take note we’re speaking a couple of compact automobile that has a base value underneath $25k. It is a nice powertrain for that value level.
If you wish to carry gasoline economic system into it, the two.0-liter engine delivers 33 mpg in mixed driving, whereas the 1.6-liter turbo will get 29 mpg. The EPA estimates that’s a couple of $200 financial savings between these two powertrains.
One curious factor I seen in regards to the 2025 Kia K4: Neither powertrain got here with automated cease/begin performance. Can I get an “Amen,” right here? I hate this function, and it typically has a clunky implementation, particularly in lower-cost automobiles. The actual fact K4 doesn’t have auto cease/begin is a large promoting level in my guide. And it doesn’t seem gasoline economic system suffers due to it.
Driving dynamics
The 2025 Kia K4 is a plucky little automobile. Whereas I wouldn’t name it sporty, it’s simple to drive in addition to maneuverable. I performed round with the 2 drive modes, Sport and Regular, and the first change is to throttle mapping. So, automobile stays in decrease gears longer to assist with faster accelerations when passing on the freeway. However there are not any suspension or steering tweaks.
I basically spent six hours behind the wheel of the K4 in a single day, and it didn’t matter if I used to be on floor streets or the freeway, it was snug for the lengthy haul. I favored the seats, I favored the experience and dealing with, and I loved the drive. Whereas the GT-Line trims do get a multi-link rear suspension to assist on-road consolation, the final drivability will probably be comparable all through the lineup. Plus, the facility output is identical from LX to GT-Line, and as beforehand said, it’s actually good.
The value factors
With the typical transaction value of a brand new automobile hitting the $48,000 level, the pricing of the 2025 Kia K4 could be very vital. Particularly because the variety of automobiles which might be priced lower than $25,000, together with vacation spot, is lower than 10. That’s thoughts boggling. However the K4 is one such automobile, and it has two well-equipped trims priced beneath $25,000.
Right here’s the breakdown, together with vacation spot:
LX ($23,145):
This contains security tech akin to automated emergency braking, automated excessive beams, lane maintain help and adaptive cruise management in addition to options like a 12.3-inch touch-screen show, wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a sensible key with passive entry and push-button begin and LED exterior lights.
LXS ($24,145):
This provides blind spot monitoring, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear cross visitors alert, 60/40 break up folding rear seats, drive modes and a 6-speaker audio system.
EX ($25,145):
This provides 17-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, dual-zone automated local weather management, upgraded inside supplies and a wi-fi cellphone charger.
GT-Line ($26,345):
This provides a multi-link rear suspension, GT-Line exterior and inside styling, 18-inch alloy wheels, two-tone seats, energy driver’s seat, heated entrance seats and navigation.
GT-Line Turbo ($29,245):
This provides the 1.6-liter engine and 8-speed automated transmission, 18-inch black alloy wheels, LED projection headlights, artificial leather-based seats, sunroof, Harman Kardon premium audio and acoustic glass on the windshield.
Whereas most of those trims are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get), there are two packages on the GT-Line fashions. A GT-Line Premium bundle ($,1,100) provides the Harman Kardon audio, artificial leather-based seats, reminiscence driver’ seat and mirrors, ventilated entrance seats and acoustic windshield. The GT-Line Turbo Tech bundle ($2,200) provides extra uplevel ahead collision avoidance tech, blind view monitor, reminiscence seats and facet mirrors, ventilated entrance seats, ambient lighting and the Digital Key 2.0.
Our take
Although this was only a fast first spin, it was lengthy sufficient to grasp it is a vital automobile – each by way of pricing and facilities. That is an economy-class automobile with some good upgrades. Because the Kia execs mentioned throughout the media presentation: That is every thing a compact sedan proprietor wants and rather more than they anticipate.
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2024 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo Photos
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