Coming soon to your Kia dealership is the 2025 Kia K4. The stylish compact sedan is a new model in the Kia lineup that replaces the Forte. The K4 is planned to slot under the larger K5 sedan and is designed with a fastback roofline and wider rear fenders for a sporty stance. The base engine is borrowed from the Forte and makes 147 horsepower.
Overview of the Kia K4
The 2025 Kia K4 is a bit larger than the outgoing Forte and it will get a GT-Line Turbo trim, featuring a 190-horsepower engine. Thanks to its slightly larger size, the K4 will be roomier inside, especially for passengers in the rear seat. This allows it to more readily compete with other top compact sedan options like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda 3. You won’t have to wait long to test drive the new K4. It should be at your local Kia dealership before the end of 2024. However, the hatchback variant won’t arrive until the 2026 model year.
What’s New For the Kia K4?
The K4 is a completely new nameplate for the North American Kia lineup and is expected to replace the Forte for the 2025 model year. The outgoing Forte is a compact sedan and the K4 is the same, but it’s also a bit larger than the Forte. The K4 will come in a total of five trims and all are expected to start at a price under $30,000. The two top trims belong to the GT-Line model lineup and one is a turbo variant.
Kia K4 Trims and Pricing Details
With a range of starting prices under $30,000, it’s likely going to be pretty tempting for buyers to go directly to the GT-Line Turbo model at the top of the lineup. It starts at $29,245 and features the more powerful 190-horsepower engine. Below that is the GT-Line with a starting price of $26,345. The base LX model starts at an affordable $23,145. The LXS and EX trims slot above it with prices rising by roughly $1,000 each time.
K4 Powertrain Options
Most Kia K4 models will come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower. That engine combines with FWD and a CVT sending power to the wheels. This carries over directly from the 2024 Kia Forte and it’s not the most exciting combination. However, the K4 gives buyers a better choice with the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that makes 190 horsepower. This engine uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and is exclusive to the GT-Line Turbo trim. The good news is that the starting price for this top trim is not extravagant at under $30,000.
Interior Features and Cargo Space
The interior of the new Kia K4 features clean and simple lines with a straight dash and a large infotainment display. There will still be several physical buttons as well, which is a nice change from the industry’s push to make everything touchscreen. As mentioned earlier, the K4 is bigger than the Forte and its cabin should offer more room for passengers and cargo.
More information on the Kia K4 should be available soon as it gets closer to arriving at Kia dealerships.
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