2025 Kia K4 EX
Price: $26,495 CAD
Colour: Morning Haze
Okay, apologies for the pun. I couldn’t resist. When Kia introduced the Forte in 2008, they showed they could produce a car that was capable of mixing it up with the sub-compact segments perennial champs the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. In truth, the Forte was never as good as either of these two titans but it wasn’t a bad car by any measure. Combine that with pricing consistently sharper than the Corolla and Civic and you had something that found an audience. With the Forte’s replacement, Kia has done what they’ve been doing with their entire line-up for years – improve and upscale. Welcome the all-new Kia K4. It signals the end of the Forte and as a replacement it succeeds at both improving on what came before and moves the vehicle closer to the kings of the castle.
Power & Performance
The 2025 Kia K4 comes on offer with two engine choices. The LX, EX and EX+ come with the 2.0L 4 cylinder delivering 147 hp and 132 lb/ft of torque. It’s mated to the Kia CVT so coined an “IVT” (Intelligently Variable Transmission). I don’t like CVT’s for the most part but, while I wasn’t blown away by Kia’s IVT, it was better than many others I’ve driven over the years. It was pretty smooth without feeling like a wind-up toy. It was also pretty quiet and simulated gears gave it a more conventional driving feel which was a pleasant experience. If you’re looking for something a little more authentic you can spec your K4 with a 1.6L turbo charged 4-cylinder which delivers 201 hp and 197 lb/ft of torque. This is a huge improvement in performance and as a not to be understated bonus, this power plant also comes mated to a true-blue 8-speed automatic transmission. This will cost you an extra $5,000 CAD and won’t deliver the same excellent fuel economy you get from the 2.0L drivetrain but it’s so much more satisfying a driving experience. You feel real power surging through real gears and it’s fabulous. If you’re going to get a K4 and like your driving a little spicy, seriously consider the upgrade.
Exterior
The traditional four-door sedan continues to fall into obscurity with every passing model year. All anyone wants is a pudgy 5-passenger SUV. Fine, you do you. Me, I’d still prefer a good old fashion sedan for my daily commuting. They drive so much better, and I think are far more interesting to look at. The sedans that are still made today are generally a good-looking bunch. The K4 is another addition to this class of studly looking autos. It has nice lines, contemporary design elements and is significantly different from its sibling the Hyundai Elantra that it makes its own case for your dollars.
If I must find one thing to complain about I’ll point out the bare plastic trim around the wheel wells. This has been a common design trend on SUV’s for years and is only getting more pronounced (look at the current Subaru lineup to see what I’m talking about). We’re also now beginning to see it pop up in other segments of the market, including in the all-new Kia K4. I guess this decision delivers demonstrable savings on the production of the vehicle but I really don’t agree with its inclusion in any car, particularly my beloved sedans. It cheapens the look of the car and it’s a shame.
Interior
The 2025 Kia K4 has a wonderful, modern interior. You get the requisite high end infotainment system we see in almost all Kia products and while this EX test model lacked a few bells and whistles you’d find on higher trim levels, I didn’t really notice their exclusion.
The EX trim comes with good old-fashioned fabric seats. They’re a nice grey colour and feel durable and comfortable. I really like a nice textile seat fabric. I’m tired of PVC products being passed off as “synthetic” leathers and looking and feeling cheap. Give me a good quality leather seat or switch to fabric. It’s the better choice for many reasons.
The Kia K4 features a proper shifter mounted to the center console. I know it’s all electronic gubbins and isn’t connected directly to the transmission, but I like that it’s still in the right spot. I rest my hand there while driving and I like being able to have contact with the shifter. It makes me wish this thing came in a manual with the 1.6L turbo, but I’ll take what I can get. The cupholders are right behind the shifter and in a great position to hold my endless cups of cold drive-thru coffee.
Quality
I get asked a lot about how long Korean cars will last. Are they any good? Are they durable? I can’t really answer those questions when I’m driving a brand new K4. Time and conversations with long-term owners will tell that tale. What I can say is the Kia K4 feels like a good quality car. It’s hard to find any real corner cutting. The cabin is comfortable and filled with better than expected quality materials.
CQI – 8. No crappy Velcro carpet to be found in the K4. Thank whatever god you pray to.
Value
The 2025 Kia K4 offers great value. It delivers a well spec’d vehicle at a price point where the Civic and Corolla start. The K4 also delivers excellent fuel economy. It’s rated at 6.0L/100kms on the highway, 8.4L/100kms in the city and combines for 7.3L/100kms. I can report it actually delivers numbers very close to these. That’s a rare thing where most cars fall short (sometimes well short) of their reported fuel economy. There’s a lot of value in the Kia K4 and that’s harder to find day in and day out.
Final Thoughts
The four-door sedan isn’t dead yet. In fact, it’s alive and well in vehicles like the 2025 Kia K4. They also represent some of the best value left in the new car market. Combine that with a great driving experience, good looks and a lower cost of ownership and you have a winning combination. Maybe as the world continues to descend into chaos and people find their budgets stretched the value offered by the Kia K4 will fall back into fashion once again.
