Yes…there was a time back when inexpensive cars looked the part. Remember? No more. KIA’s new-for-’25 K4 goes head-to-head with Honda’s Civic and Toyota’s Corolla…and does so with KIA’s typical “more for less” approach…and a fresh, new body that would look at home in just about any upscale garage
But I realize that what looks good to me may not appeal to you. That’s why it’s what you get for your dollar that makes the K4 stand out.
Pricing starts just over $20,000 for a price-leader LX. Of course, that’ll get you basic cloth, wheel covers, and not too many “extras”….except 40 Hwy MPG and that 100K warranty. Still…for a brand new vehicle with a strong warranty, $21-$22K is a huge deal these days.
And it’s only a thousand more for an LXS with alloys and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts.
Then you can step it up by another thousand or two and all of a sudden you’ve got a vehicle with most of the stuff that you really wanted. Bigger alloys, more attractive interior, nice touches like heated faux leather, dual 12.3” screens, wireless charging and blind spot and cross-traffic alerts.
When you’re done, you’ve still got a mid-sized high-mileage 4-door sedan with plenty of legroom in the rear…for LESS than 30 thousand. Pretty unusual these days.
KIA spoiled us, tho’, and gave us their top-of-line K4 GT-Line Turbo to test. This one substitutes the standard 2.0 four for a 1.6 liter turbo and trades the standard variable ratio auto for an 8-speed automatic. That gets you 190 HP and a 0-60 time of around 7 seconds….and quite a bit more.
Yes…this is the setup that gets you the sunroof, LED exterior lighting, Bose premium audio, additional trim items like alloy sport pedals, and the faux leather.
How much?
You’re still under $30,000…even with transportation fees.
But if you’re willing to go over that $30K number just a hair, I’d recommend KIA’s $2,200 GT-Line tech package. Your seating will be ventilated, and you’ll have ambient lighting, plus surround-view, forward and rear parking assist, a memory drivers’ seat, KIA’s smartphone Digital Key, and collision-avoidance. All features designed to enhance safety and avoid those little bumper and door-dings.
Driving around town, I appreciated the K4’s somewhat soft, pothole-absorbing suspension…even with the settings on “Sport”. And keeping it in “Sport”, I still averaged 34-35 MPG.
So…go ahead and splurge and bump the bottom line on your window sticker up to $31,445. You’ll have an enjoyable ride that’s loaded with features for thousands…even tens of thousands under what others may have paid for similar space and content.
