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Motor 1
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Kia K4: Pros & Cons
Certain vehicle segments come and go, but compact sedans are forever. In 2025, there are some truly excellent options to choose from, ranging from our 2024 top choice—the Honda Civic—to podium finishers like the Hyundai Elantra and the Toyota Corolla. Kia's former Forte fell to the bottom of the respective pack. But a nifty name change, a sharp redesign, and a fresh interior help propel the new K4 to near the top of the heap. It's still no Civic, but Kia's latest compact makes a strong case for itself. Quick Specs 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Engine Turbocharged 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder Output 190 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic Fuel Economy 26 City / 36 Highway / 29 Combined Base Price / As Tested $23,165 / $31,445 Kia K4 Pros Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Sharp Looks Punchy Engine Premium Interior One thing you can't fault Kia for is its designs—the K4 is no exception. Like the larger K5, it looks sharp. Angular headlights connect across the hoodline via the company's signature 'Tiger Nose' grille, while shapely taillights are joined in the rear by a light bar that runs the width of the trunk lid. And where some other compact sedans look stumpy in profile, the K4 is sleek, and honestly, not much of a downgrade visually from the larger K5. Depending on which trim you choose, Kia offers a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder. For something sportier, choose the latter; the K4's turbocharged engine makes 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque in this GT-Line Turbo model. It's a punchy, direct, and surprisingly powerful engine for such a small car. Best of all, this model swaps the standard CVT for an eight-speed automatic. The GT-Line Turbo also has a surprisingly nice interior compared to the rest of the K4 range—hell, compared to most compact sedans. A 'SynTex' faux leather covers most surfaces, and it does a decent impression of real cowhide. The steering wheel looks good and, where so many automakers opt for touch-capacitive, the K4 still has plenty of real buttons—including a nifty volume roller. Dual 12.3-inch screens occupy the dash, one for the instrument cluster and another for the central infotainment. The K4 employs Kia's latest user interface software, which is clean, concise, and easy to use while on the move. And of course, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Kia K4 Cons Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Noisy at Speed Cabin Isn't Super Comfy Best Stuff Is Pricey One thing you will notice when driving the K4 at highway speeds is that it isn't nearly as quiet as a comparable Civic. There's a decent amount of wind and road noise, enough that you won't be able to speak to your passengers without having to raise your voice slightly at higher speeds. The cabin isn't super comfy, either. While the faux leather looks and feels nice, the seats themselves are stiff—it's like you're sitting on them rather than in them. Maybe they take more time to break in. Most of the surfaces are hard to the touch, as well, and when combined with the obvious road noise, it makes for a less-than-pleasant driving experience over longer bouts. And if you do want the best engine and the nicest features, your only option is the priciest trim. Kia doesn't offer the turbocharged engine on any model other than the GT-Line Turbo—which starts at $29,265 with destination included. You can't even get the LED headlights or full combination LED taillights unless you go with the top trim. The good news is that, if you don't need any of those features, the base Kia K4 starts at just $23,165 for the standard LX model. And even without the best engine or the nicest features, the K4 is a solid compact sedan that gives the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra a run for their money. Competitors Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra Nissan Sentra Toyota Corolla Competitor Reviews The 2025 Nissan Sentra Is Hard to Hate: Review The 2025 Honda Civic Is a Love Letter to Hybrid Cars Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo Engine 1.6-Liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Output 190 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 14.6 Cubic Feet Efficiency 26 City / 36 Highway / 29 Combined Weight 3,283 Pounds Base Price $23,165 As-Tested Price $31,445 On Sale Now Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Blog
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Lexus IS 500 Climax Edition Marks End of V8 Compact Sedan
Add this to the long list of weird car names The last compact sedan with a V8 engine really is on its way out. After Mercedes-AMG killed the V8 in the C63, the Lexus IS 500 was the last sedan of this size to retain a V8, but it seems this characterful Lexus won't be around for much longer, both in America and beyond. A few weeks ago, Lexus announced the IS 500 Ultimate Edition, a run of just 500 models that will be sold in North America. Now, it's Japan's turn to say goodbye to this sedan with the IS 500 Climax Edition. As far as car names go, this one can be thrown into the same box as the Daihatsu Naked and Ford Probe. Awkward name aside, this special edition is likely to become something of a collector's item in the years ahead. 0:03 / 0:09 Thinking about buying a Toyota RAV4? These 5 rivals might change your mind Watch More Sporty Styling Upgrades Much like our own Ultimate Edition, the Climax Edition will feature 19-inch forged BBS wheels in a sinister matte black finish. These partially conceal upgraded Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers. To match the black trim, special Neutrino Gray paint has been introduced for this model, which is inspired by neutrinos. If you also had no clue what those are, they're elementary particles produced in outer space, where they move at the speed of light. Eight other colors will be available for the Climax Edition, though. Inside, Lexus Japan has hilariously added several IS 500 'Climax Edition' plaques, not that anyone owning this car would forget what it's called. A red and black color scheme adds to the raunchy look, and even the analog clock in the center of the dashboard gets a new background. Familiar Power, Epic Soundtrack Nothing has changed under the hood, not that it had to. Producing 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, the rear-wheel-drive IS 500 can run from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. That time is no longer earth-shattering, but it's accompanied by a soundtrack that no rival can match. Keep your foot planted, and the fastest IS will reach 149 mph. Paddle shifters can be used to take manual control over the eight-speed automatic transmission. In Japan, the IS 500 Climax Edition goes for 9,500,000 yen, which is equivalent to around $65,000. It's set to go on sale in August, and America's own Ultimate Edition will go on sale later this fall. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Car and Driver
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Interior Photos of the 2026 Kia EV4
read the full review | See Exterior Photos The Kia EV4 is a new electric compact sedan, and while its exterior is pretty funky, the interior keeps things pretty normal.
Car and Driver
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Exterior Photos of the 2026 Kia EV4
read full review | See Interior Photos The Kia EV4 is a new electric compact sedan, and we drove it in Korea ahead of its U.S. debut.
WIRED
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- WIRED
Kia EV4 Review: Price, Specs, Availability
The 2026 Kia EV4 could be an important vehicle in the ongoing global EV transition. To be sold in 140 markets globally, the EV4 is a carefully calibrated shot at bringing long-range electric power into the high-volume mainstream segment of compact sedans and hatchbacks at an affordable price. US and Asian markets will get an EV4 sedan (the model I spent the day with for this review), now built in Korea. Europeans' preference for five-doors means only an EV4 hatchback will be available in that region—built in Kia's plant in Žilina, Slovakia. Asked if the hatch would come to North America, Kia execs replied with a 'hard no.' The Kia EV4 is already on sale in South Korea; it will roll out to the rest of the world over the next nine months. At the time of writing, pricing for markets outside Korea still hasn't been announced, but if the prices in its home country are anything to go by, US buyers can expect a cost somewhere between $29,000 to $36,000, depending on spec. The likelihood is, it won't be quite that simple, but anything in the low-to-mid $30,000 range would make this a very interesting EV indeed. Courtesy of Kia 400 Volts to Cut Cost Built on a new, 400-volt version of Hyundai Motor Group's shared E-GMP platform, the EV4 line debuts the brand's first dedicated EV sedan. With its sibling the slightly smaller EV3 hatchback, it uses a 400-volt battery architecture to lower cost, rather than the 800-volt system of the Kia EV6 hatchback utility and EV9 three-row SUV. LG Energy Solutions nickel-cobalt-manganese cells are shared among Kia's many EVs, but the EV4 uses a new and more cost-efficient battery design, traction motor, charging gear, and power electronics. Apparently, designing the 400-volt E-GMP largely for front-wheel-drive models eliminates the weight and range disadvantages of providing for a second motor in the rear. Kia also said it will choose cell chemistries specifically tailored to maximizing range within a smaller pack volume, at the cost of slower fast charging. While Kia declined to provide WIRED examples of specific cell chemistries, it has discussed its new "highly efficient, super-compact thin HVAC system" (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) fitted to the related EV3. The new heat-pump system is now the fourth generation; Kia says it expands front legroom by 6 mm against previous versions. However, the ultimate goal for the EV4 was 'acceptable range and charging time,' Kia execs said. The EV4 takes 30 minutes to fast-charge from 10 to 80 percent of capacity versus 18 minutes for the pricier 800-volt EV6. Those charging specs are measured under ideal circumstances: battery and ambient temperatures, a preconditioned battery, and more. Real-world charge times will of course likely be longer.
