Kia’s new K4 compact sedan supersedes the company’s Forte model, which was discontinued in 2024 after a good run of 14 years.
The 2025 Kia K4’s appeal includes attention-grabbing design, tons of technology and standard features, a spacious cabin, and an attractive base price of $21,000. It’s available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Turbo.
A 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine sits beneath the hood of every trim except the GT-Line Turbo, whose standard engine is a 190-horsepower four-cylinder. Likewise, every model comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) except the GT-Line, whose standard transmission is an eight-speed automatic. Every 2025 Kia K4 has front-wheel drive.
A partial list of standard features on the base K4 LX model includes 16-inch wheels, keyless entry, remote start, heated mirrors, air conditioning, cloth seats, a 4-inch driver information display, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with SiriusXM and HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, and a four-speaker audio system.
Among the advanced driver assistance features standard on the LX are adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, forward collision avoidance, automatic high beams, and a rearview monitor with parking guidelines.
I drove the GT-Line model that enriches the K4 with sport-tuned suspension, cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, navigation, heated front seats, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, dual zone automatic climate control, wireless charging, and Kia’s AI voice assistant. Additional safety equipment includes blind spot monitoring. The GT-Line also makes available the option of an eight-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Audio system.
Inside the K4 GT-Line, seats offer a good blend of comfort and support, and the ride is pleasant. The cabin is roomy enough to allow 38 inches of legroom and 37.3 inches of headroom for back seat passengers, a demographic that typically gets the squeeze in a compact sedan.
In this higher trim level, two 12.3-inch displays, one for the gauge cluster, the other for infotainment, are incorporated into one long rectangular screen. It stands upright, and the left-side segment directly in front of the driver almost touches the steering wheel, providing excellent visibility for important information.
Thoughtful backup physical controls are included for select functions that don’t lend themselves to touchscreens. Volume control, for example. The GT-Line’s fat sport steering wheel is wonderful, but it does interfere with the driver’s view of the climate control panel.
The K4 doesn’t have delusions of grandeur about performance. It isn’t intended to attract sport driving enthusiasts, but to excellently meet the needs of ordinary drivers.
The GT-Line felt like it could use the GT-Line Turbo’s more powerful engine, but that would mean dropping fuel economy ratings from a healthy 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, to a less desirable 26/36/29 mpg.
2025 KIA K4 GT-LINE
Base price: $25,190
Price as driven: $28,345
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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