The Kia K4 immediately stands out with its sharp design inspired by the bigger K5. Up front, the signature tiger nose grille connects seamlessly with sleek headlamps that stretch across the hood. In the rear, a full width light bar adds modern flair that gives this compact car serious road presence.

Under the hood, Kia gives drivers two choices: a 2.0 liter engine or a more exciting 1.6 liter turbo that cranks out 190 horsepower and 264 Nm of torque. The turbo version in the GT Line ditches the CVT for a responsive 8 speed automatic, making it way more fun to drive.

Inside, the GT Line impresses with synthetic leather seats that feel close to the real deal, physical buttons for easy access to controls, and dual 12.3 inch displays that handle both driving data and infotainment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, too.

While the K4 delivers on style and performance, it falls a bit short on comfort during highway driving. Wind and tire noise are noticeably higher than in rivals like the Civic, which can make conversations harder unless the volume goes up.

Seat comfort is another weak point. Despite the upscale materials, the seats feel firm, and hard plastic surfaces dominate the cabin, reducing the luxury feel on long drives. Another downside is that many of the premium features, such as LED headlights and the turbo engine, are only available in the GT Line trim, which starts at $ 29,265. The base LX model starts at 23,165 dollars but misses out on key features.

Overall, the Kia K4 2025 is a stylish and energetic comeback for Kia in the compact sedan space. It offers solid value and good performance for drivers looking for something fresh, especially if they want a lower price than the Civic or Elantra. However, to truly dominate the segment, Kia still needs to refine comfort and sound isolation.