New York, NY – At this time beneath the brilliant lights of the 2024 New York Worldwide Auto Present (NYIAS) Kia debuted the K4 compact sedan, marking the primary time Kia’s newest styling language has made its method to a Kia sedan after making waves on the likes of the Kia Niro, Sorento and even the EV9.
The all-new 2025 Kia K4, in profile | Photograph: Kia
Design of the 2025 Kia K4
There’s certainly a transparent connection between these fashions and the K4 when you think about the entrance fascia. Extra particularly, the headlights have a number of bulbs, the LED DRLs wrap across the main hood edges and a single horizontal chrome strip connects these atop the patented Tiger Face grille.
The 2-tone chrome/black grille and its detailing are proper on as effectively. However then down the facet of the K4 comes the C-pillar, which joins the rear facet home windows in an odd style. It’s as in the event that they took the higher a part of the car – the greenhouse, if you’ll – and nested it inside the remainder of the physique. The result’s a sedan that appears very very like a grand touring hatchback form, a theme began by the Stinger again in 2018.
2025 Kia K4, entrance | Photograph: D.Heyman
It’s all a part of a design language that Kia calls – await it – “Twist Logic” – which undoubtedly lives as much as its identify as you try to perceive what it means. Barely clearer is one thing Kia calls “Opposites United”, which speaks to the way in which the roofline and physique mesh.
One other facet of the design are the flares round all 4 wheels, offering a widebody form that echoes one thing Dodge tried with the Charger again in 1970, known as a “coke bottle form” on the time.
Round again we see extra of the fashionable Kia design language with a full-width taillight bar in addition to drop-down vertical taillights the likes of that are clearly paying homage to the underside halves of the objects discovered on the EV9. It’s largely a superb look, though the taillight bar might sit a little bit increased on the rear fascia.
Powertrains of the 2025 Kia K4
Beneath all of it we discover a choice of two engines: a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder is the bottom selection, and it’s good for 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, despatched to the entrance wheels by way of an clever variable computerized transmission, which is Kia’s “good” tackle the constantly variable transmission.
A 1.6-litre turbocharged engine can be accessible, and it makes 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque with the assistance of an 8-speed computerized transmission with paddle shifters. This engine comes on the GT-Line mannequin, which additionally will get the good thing about a multi-link rear suspension for higher dealing with by the bends.
Inside of 2025 Kia K4 | Photograph: Kia
Inside of the 2025 Kia K4
Inside, it comes as little shock {that a} digital gauge cluster and matching infotainment show as that sort of factor is turning into extra commonplace. That mentioned, the K4 is the primary car within the non-luxury compact sedan section to get that setup. That’s proper: the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra – none supply it as of but.
The show is slick-looking, with shiny graphics and a mixed 30 inches of digital instrumentation. The content material modifications with automative over-the-air updates and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as customary. Harman Kardon audio is out there, and it may be made simpler to listen to due to accessible noise-reducing windshield glass.
The outside could also be a mixture of flowing surfaces and sharp edges, however the inside styling is extra squared off and upright, placing every part clearly inside your line of web site and making for easily-accessible controls. The best way the instrument/infotainment shows be a part of the decrease valance above the gear lever additionally suits the “Opposites United” logic, trying a little bit like these off-centre Tetris items. It’s a neat design that, within the driver’s seat, feels ensconcing and open on the similar time.
The 2025 Kia K4 will begin arriving in sellers within the second half of 2024; count on pricing nearer to then.
2025 Kia K4, wheel | Photograph: D.Heyman
2025 Kia K4, rear | Photograph: D.Heyman