Eric's Autos: 2025 Kia K4

Kia's forte is undercutting its rivals (and then some) on price -- without cheaping out. If anything, the new K4 sedan -- which replaces the Forte as Kia's most affordable offering -- looks expensive.

Even though it's the least expensive new sedan you can buy.

What It Is

The K4 is a compact, entry-level sedan that competes with the Honda Civic and Mazda3. It costs significantly less to start than either of its two main rivals and is available with features such as a panoramic flatscreen dash display that looks like what you used to have to buy a Mercedes S-Class or something in that class to get.

Base price is $21,990 for the LX trim, which comes with a 2.0-liter four (no turbo) paired with a continuously variable transmission. A mid-trim EX ($23,990) upgrades to the panorama flatscreen dash display, along with wireless phone charger and upgraded cloth upholstery.

There's also a high-performance GT-Line Turbo iteration ($28,090) that swaps out the 2.0-liter engine (no turbo) for a smaller but more powerful 1.6-liter engine with a turbo that's paired with an eight-speed automatic. This trim also comes with synthetic leather seat covers, sport buckets, sport-tuned suspension (including an upgraded multi-link rear suspension), eight-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system and gloss black/satin chrome trim.

You can also get most of the cosmetic and some of the functional upgrades of the GT-Line Turbo, including the sport suspension and 18-inch wheels -- without the GT-Line's drivetrain. The GT-Line (no Turbo) reverts to the 2.0-liter engine/CVT combo. It stickers for $25,190.

All K4s are front-wheel drive.

What's New for 2025

The K4 is brand-new. It replaces the Forte in Kia's model lineup.

What's Good

-- Looks and feels like a much more expensive car.

-- Standard engine isn't turbocharged (so you'll never have to worry about replacing a turbo after the warranty expires).

-- Cost thousands less to start than either the Honda Civic sedan ($24,250) or the Mazda3 ($23,950).

What's Not So Good

-- Forte was available with a manual transmission; the K4 is automatic only.

-- Mazda3's standard engine is as powerful as the Kia's optional engine.

-- All-wheel drive isn't available.

Under the Hood

The K4's standard drivetrain is pretty much the same as the outgoing Forte's drivetrain. It consists of a 2.0-liter four that produces 147 horsepower; it is paired with a CVT.

This combo touts 30 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway.

The K4's optional engine is also pretty much the same as the outgoing Forte's optionally available 1.6-liter, turbocharged engine -- though the rated output has dipped a little bit from 201 horsepower previously to 190 horsepower for the new model year. The big difference is that this engine is no longer available with the six-speed manual transmission that used to be optionally available -- or the previously available seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Instead, an eight-speed conventional automatic is the standard -- and only available -- transmission with this engine.

On the Road

It's a little weird driving a car these days -- given how few there are relative to the presence of crossovers, pickups and SUVs everywhere you drive.

But it's also enjoyable to drive something that's not another crossover, pickup or SUV.

Cars have become scarce relative to crossovers, pickups and SUVs because there are only a few cars you can buy for less than $25,000 that are large enough inside for a family rather than just a couple (or a single). Even midsize cars like the Camry and Accord that were once top sellers aren't selling as well anymore because they both sticker for nearly $30,000 to start -- and neither of these two has appreciably more room inside than this Kia, which stickers for under $22,000 to start.

They're also both close to a foot longer. If they were rear-drive cars with long hoods, they'd feel more like larger cars used to, but they don't -- being front-drive cars with shorter hoods. The K4, on the other hand, feels bigger than it is -- probably because it is big on the inside (more on this follows below) while also feeling more agile, especially at low speeds -- because (once again) it is. This car takes less back-and-forthing when parking because it's small and agile enough to just slide into position without much (if any) need for correction. The Honda Civic and Mazda3 are just as virtuous in this respect but also significantly more expensive, which is no small thing these days when two plastic bags of groceries costs $100.

But it's not as sporty as it looks.

With the 2.0-liter engine (and the standard suspension), the K4 is a fine alternative to the Civic with its standard 2.0-liter four and CVT but outmatched by the Mazda3 equipped with its standard 2.5-liter (191 horsepower) engine and six-speed automatic.

The GT-Line gets you sportier handling feel because it comes with a multi-link (versus torsion bar) rear suspension and 18-inch wheels, which sharpen up the steering feel via shorter, stiffer sidewall tires). But you may prefer the softer ride you get with the standard 16-inch wheels.

At the Curb

Can cars make a comeback?

If more were like this Kia, they could. It's affordable, obviously. And it's nice-looking, with its Stinger-inspired fastback lines. But what really matters here is that it isn't small on the inside.

At 185.4 inches long, the K4 is -- nominally -- a compact sedan. But have a look at the cabin -- and trunk -- specs. There's 42.3 inches of legroom up front and 38 inches in the backseat. The Forte only had 35.7 inches of rear-seat legroom, which made it tight for adult-sized passengers. But the really interesting comparison is with the midsize Toyota Camry, which is 193.5 inches long but essentially the same size on the inside. It has 42.1 inches of front-seat legroom and 38 inches of rear-seat legroom - and a 15.1-cubic-foot trunk versus the K4's 14.6-cubic-foot trunk. The Camry has also been shorn of the V6 that used to be available that set it apart -- under the hood -- from compact-class sedans that never offered them. Ditto the Accord, which is also now a four cylinder-only sedan.

It raises the question: Why buy the larger -- thousands more expensive -- sedan when it's not any bigger on the inside? Or under the hood?

The Rest

A hatchback version of the K4 is apparently on deck for the 2026 model year, and that will add to the car's interior bigness by opening up more space (and access) for items that are hard to fit inside a trunk. It will also give potential buyers what they can already get in a Civic -- which is already available in hatchback configuration -- and undercut the Mazda3, which is only available as a sedan.

The Bottom Line

"Gamechanger" is an overused cliche -- but that doesn't mean it's not sometimes true.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.