The 2025 Kia K4 has been unveiled, showcasing a bold design inspired by recent Kia EVs and concepts. It will replace the Forte as the brand’s small sedan, offering familiar components under the hood. The new design features sharp lines, broad fenders, and hidden rear door handles, giving it a pseudo-coupe appearance. The front headlights and grille take inspiration from the Telluride, while the slim grille transitions into a long hood. The K4’s profile resembles a fastback hatch, but it remains a true sedan with a trunk. The interior boasts a beveled, chiseled look with a dual-screen monolith on the dash, available in various color schemes. Despite losing some trunk space, the K4 offers more rear seat space compared to its predecessor. Mechanically, the K4 retains the same powertrains as the previous model, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The new K4 is set to go on sale in the second half of the year, with pricing and fuel economy details yet to be announced.
**Bold Design and Inspiration**
The 2025 Kia K4 features a bold design with sharp lines and broad fenders, taking inspiration from recent Kia EVs and concepts. The fenders have bulging sections that emphasize the wheels and width of the car, while hidden rear door handles give it a pseudo-coupe look. The front headlights and grille resemble the popular Telluride model, with a slim grille transitioning into a long hood. The K4’s profile resembles a fastback hatch, though it remains a sedan with a trunk. The rear of the car boasts nearly full-width taillights with vertical aspects that mirror the front design.
**Spacious and Stylish Interior**
The interior of the Kia K4 features a beveled, chiseled look similar to the EV9, with a dual-screen monolith on the dash measuring a total of 30 inches diagonally. The air vents are integrated into the wide and low dash, while the interior color schemes vary based on trim level. The soft green color is available on the EX trim, while other trims offer dark grey or black and white options. The K4’s interior provides more rear seat space compared to the previous model, with increased legroom and headroom for passengers. However, the redesign has resulted in a slight reduction in trunk space.
**Familiar Powertrains and Suspension**
Mechanically, the Kia K4 retains the same basic powertrains as the previous model. The regular models are equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The GT-Line trim offers an optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine is only available with an eight-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 7-speed dual-clutch option. Front-wheel drive is the standard drivetrain, with a torsion-beam rear suspension for 2.0-liter models and a multilink setup for turbo variants.
**Release Date and Expectations**
The new Kia K4 is set to go on sale in the second half of the year, with pricing and fuel economy details yet to be announced. With the familiar powertrains and components, we can expect the K4 to offer similar performance and efficiency to the current model. The bold design and spacious interior make the K4 an exciting addition to Kia’s lineup, appealing to customers looking for a stylish and practical small sedan option. Stay tuned for more updates on pricing and fuel economy figures as the launch date approaches.