Cerato replacement is bigger and bolder… but is it better? (Kia K4 GT-Line 2025 Review)

After more than two decades and nearly 200,000 sales in Australia, the Cerato nameplate is dead - with a new ‘K4’ badge applied to its longer, wider and far bolder-looking replacement.
The bigger dimensions - at 4.7 metres long, it’s more medium sedan than small sedan - and bolder styling makes it tempting to dub the K4 sedan the ‘Baby Stinger’. There’s no rear-drive layout or six-cylinder engine here, alas, as the K4 remains resolutely front-drive, sharing its platform with the Hyundai i30 Sedan that’s already been around for a little while.
For now there’s no electrification under the bonnet, or anything notably new. Kia Australia says it has its hand up for the hybrid drivetrain available in the i30 Sedan, otherwise for now its the same 2.0-litre non-turbo and 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinders carrying over.
More safety features are added to the K4 but prices are also up notably across the range.
In this review, Chasing Cars provides an overview of the Kia K4 range but with a special focus on the flagship GT-Line that is expected to the most popular K4 in Australia
As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct.
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Chasing Cars is Australia's most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!

[@DCB2018]

In one month I will of owned my Kia Stinger for 7 years, and that K4 has absolutely no similarities or the right to reference too even a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder turbocharged Stinger, it's a replacement model for the Cerato, nothing to do with Stinger at all.

[@M4rt_FX]

It’s a hell of a lot uglier than Stinger, that’s for sure!

[@Mexxx65]

I'd go further.....it will be the most ugly Kia ever sold in Australia!!!!

[@goldcoast8549]

​@@Mexxx65Don't think much can beat the Kia Tasman in terms of ugliness

[@KeithPatrick-wo5cw]

It’s a pity as the k5 actually quite nice.

[@Shifty319]

that's pretty subjective

[@Mexxx65]

@@KeithPatrick-wo5cw Whats with the K5 comparison. It doesn't exist in Australia fgs. Kia refuse to make RHD ones.

[@purplehazeffc]

Sorry but, Hyundai/Kia have completely lost the plot with new car releases to date. First the i30 Hatch & now this. Prices have jumped up into a different class. We brought our 1st Cerato in 2016 & got it for a drive-away price of just under $19k. In 2021 we then upgraded it to a Cerato Sport+ for $31k drive-away. The price Kia wants for the equivalent K4 Sport+ ? $37,500 plus onroads. It's going to be $9000 more to put it on the road !!!! This new K4 series has the same 2.0lt engine & gearbox. Remember when Kia was the cheaper cousin to Hyundai?? Now the base Kia K4 is more expensive than the base Hyundai i30 sedan. And they are the same damn car under their skin. In 2020 my mate brought a brand-new Cerato GT. Paid just over $33k drive-away. This (so called replacement) GT-Line is going to pretty close to $45k drive-away. 😲 And they are building these in Mexico because it's cheaper??? Sounds more like a bigger profit margin. The Kia Cerato were $20k drive-away for such a long time, but now you're looking at around $33k to get into the base model. A 65% increase in price Yes, yes, yes, we all know prices have gone up with many things. But I don't recall at any time that a new model of a car has gone up the % that these have. Discounting of course cars like Ferrari, Lambo or other Supercars.

[@KeithPatrick-wo5cw]

Agree. They are setting themselves up for failure in the mass market relative to the incoming Chinese. They won’t shift many at these MRRP.

[@Shifty319]

1: all of the technology manufacturers are pumping into cars these days isn't cheap 2: welcome to capitalism

[@Vaari90]

Prices will continue to rise as long as people are willing to go into further and further debt. Clearly people are still buying cars at healthy numbers, why not keep jacking the prices up until they maximise profit per unit?

[@nizm0man]

COVID lockdown showed that people are happy to pay 20-50% more for everything, so the prices went up.

[@Mububban23]

2025 base model S with safety pack, from $32,690. In 2021 I bought a Cerato manual S with safety pack for $22,800 drive away. $10,000 jump in less than 5 years 😞

[@조영민-x7s]

🇰🇷 In South Korea, the Cerato was called K3, and the K3 was discontinued and the K4 was released instead.

[@lewisjohnson7260]

Nice finger prints on the media screen. Were you scoffing KFC before you started filming? 😂

[@chasingcars]

We will neither confirm, nor deny, these allegations…

[@RodneyW]

One of the reasons why I dislike touchscreens. The Mazda approach of 5 shortcut buttons plus a Commander wheel is much better.

[@yuhboyify]

​@RodneyW you mean the bmw approach that came out on the 7 series in 2001 and was copied by Mazda?

[@RodneyW]

@@yuhboyify LOL. You're right about the "inspiration" for Mazda from BMW.

[@MarkHoffman-j3g]

Always personal preference however for me this is the ugliest car kia have produced. Theres nothing " GT" about this car at all

[@GTS300Coupe]

Considering that the Aussie car market used to be huge with Commodore and Falcon, the Kia K5 GT would have been a great sedan for Australia

[@aerofox64]

I own a K5 GT and can say its a great car, and it's a shame that it's not available down under. However, the Sonata N Line has the same powertrain, virtually the same car outside of the styling and interior. I think my first car if when I move to Australia will be a new Sonata or a used Stinger.

[@goddyb7601]

Sonata n line is such a whole lotta car

[@gregburville3368]

That C pillar design isn't an example of a flying buttress design. Some examples are: 1. Jaguar XJ-S 2. Ferrari Dino 246GT 3. Corvette C3, and 4. Toyota MR2 (second gen)

[@Shifty319]

why is it that every car review channel refuses to go into the amount of room the driver gets? don't give a shit about the passengers, I'm gonna be driving the thing every day! step up your game

[@mlasrb]

love the video but please 0:20 change your sponsor, budget direct is worst insurance scam company I had to deal with....

[@Greg-k4j]

I would take an Octavia every day of the week just for the liftback flexability.. Will Kia (or Hyundai) ever move service intervals above 10,000km for the turbo petrol model?

[@MrBenHaynes]

I wouldn't own anything from the Volkswagen Auto Group. Service interval is the reason I chose the Cerato Sport+ over the GT (in addition to not wanting a Dual Clutch Transmission)

[@awc900]

I'd wait for the better looking hatch in hybrid form especially if PHEV.

[@hwdan3096]

6:23 Right! Every single K4 KZbin review I've watched whether from Mexico, USA, Canada and now Australia, all of them always seem like the reviewers got in and closed the door after eating a bag of Cheetos.

[@spiro5327]

Did you say terrific looks at the end of the video ??. Wow. This has to be one of the worst looking vehicles for sale. Definitely a case of each to their own 😢😮

[@MrTonifumi]

The K4 Sport + has a plastic steering wheel. Think about that for over $39k!!!! POOR FUEL ECONOMY, OLD DRIVETRAIN.....This car is a MASSIVE FAIL.

[@kane4013]

I thought they might put more effort in given the sales figures of the Cerato. Such a disappointment ☹

[@MrBenHaynes]

I bought a Cerato in 2019 for the "old" proven drivetrain after previous CVT and DPF failures. With an average claimed fuel economy from Kia of 7.4L/100km, I have averaged 6.5 to present. With the added benefit of no carbon buildup in the head due to MPi over Direct Injection, I'm a happy customer. You're right about the plastic steering wheel and exorbitant pricing though. No wonder people are buying Chinese EV's.

[@koddesa]

This has a more 'fancy appliance' feel, then the Cerato - which had some pizazz to it. It has a style that looks cool, but is forgettable, and a generic 2020s touchscreen interior.

[@Mububban23]

2025 base model S with safety pack, from $32,690. In 2021 I bought a Cerato manual S with safety pack for $22,800 drive away. $10,000 jump in less than 5 years 😞

[@davidpetrie3880]

This reviewer does not understand the target market or the main usage case for the K4.

[@trevorhsu6357]

This car look heinous

[@coldude2559]

Absolutely horrendous!

[@goddyb7601]

Agreed

[@MrBenHaynes]

Too wide (+50mm), too ugly & too expensive (compared to EV's coming to market) What do you do for a small car from Kia now? K4 too big, Rio axed, Picanto cartoonishly small. KIA = Killed In Action. Bring the EV2 to Australia Kia!

[@Mexxx65]

Top 5 comment! Nah we never got it, don't think we need it now, probably won't turn up here till early 2026. The Cerato was a sales success in Australia. R.I.P. This is NOT a Cerato replacement. Completely different platform and style. The yanks and canadians called it a "cheap" Stinger. But in the end, it was a flop. Too old tech and too dated style. Our current Hyundai Sonata with its brilliant turbo motor, trumps this K4 in all areas. The K4 might be new to to Australian car market, buts its old Kia tech, its an old car......

[@Shifty319]

Why are you comparing a Sonata to the K4? The K5 is the Sonata equivalent

[@Mexxx65]

....because we don't get the friggin K5!!!!

[@JamieTostada]

the 6 speed auto is a fking CVT. is the new 8 speed auto that replaces the dry dual clutch also a CVT??

[@MrBenHaynes]

Are you sure it's a CVT in the K4? Current Cerato is 6sp torque converter auto. CVT is in the SUV's (Seltos).

[@GlowingTube]

Horrible

[@rinbine2713]

Someone who knows nothing about this car or the Cerato is working as a car reviewer. The K4 doesn’t have a 6-speed. Ugh...

[@Shifty319]

All variants except the GT Line come with a torque converter 6 speed. the GT Line comes with an 8 speed torque converter gearbox

[@rinbine2713]

@@Shifty319 Kia does not use a 6-speed transmission except for hybrid models. Instead, they use a CVT called IVT or 7 speed DCT. They've been making cars like this for years, so why are people talking about a 6-speed in the K4?

[@Shifty319]

@@rinbine2713 maybe look at Kia Australia's spec sheet. they use the IVT in America, not here.