2025 Kia K4 Early Review | Consumer Reports

[@scott8919]

Commuting to work and back shouldn't cost $40k out the door. We need cars like this.

[@rembo183]

I totally agree. A daily driver or commuter. This is a good value for $24k. For only a few thousand more the larger Camry Hybrid at about $29k is also as is the compact Corolla at about the same price as the K4.

[@fgtw96way]

i think the Big 3 auto makers missed the point on that one and living in Michigan glad to have a Kia dealership in the area

[@robertgonzalez7321]

I have a kia forte 2020 with 111k miles never had a issue. I love her ♡

[@usaverageguy]

The K4 follows in the tradition of Ford Focus. In that, it is an affordable car for someone just getting started. But, it puts you in line to buy another, more expensive, Kia when you get a better job. Something Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler seem to have forgotten.

[@Combatpzman]

Ford does have the Maverick, which is the new Focus, it starts under $30. Not a compact sedan of course, but still entry level price point, with entry level build quality.

[@fgtw96way]

Agree had a ford focus for 18 years, drove great but they stop making sedans not many options glad i went for a Kia (would be a no no living here in Michigan/UAW 20 years ago)

[@davidfoote696]

@@Combatpzman i couldn't find a maverick for under like 35k in my area (phx).

[@georgeh6856]

The reviewer might be too young to know that back in the day most cars did not have degrees on their HVAC controls so that you could set the precise temperature you wanted. They usually had a slider or circular dial to set the temperature. Sometimes they were a variable control, but other times they had only a few discrete hot or cold settings kind of like in this car. The first car I had with auto A/C was a top-of-the-line 2001 Honda Accord.

[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

Except...the Forte, its predecessor had more precise HVAC controls, dual zone climate control in fact.. And so this new version, from that point of view feels like a step backwards.

[@mikebentz3048]

Didn't care for the constant background music during the review.

[@DrEvilToBe]

👏🏾😂😭💀😩🥹

[@horseathalt7308]

A little annoying to say the least.

[@toronado455]

gets a bit distracting at times.

[@drewkotchan4081]

U read my mind.

[@consumerreports]

Message received! Working with our post-production team to not overdo it in the future, thanks for the constructive criticism.

[@gman9543]

HVAC controls never use to show you the exact temperature. You had a lever that went from a Blue wedge to a Red wedge. You set it to where you felt comfortable and didn't care about the exact degree measurement. I actually like the old classic Toyota controls where they had one knob for fan speed, one knob (or slider) for temperature, and a button for AC (compressor ON or OFF.)

[@GlennLaycock]

I thought the same thing -- MANUAL controls - like back in the covered wagon days. Zero issue to me with the Elantra I got - in Canada they trade out the nicer heating system for a heated steering wheel (in leather) which was an easy trade off as I've only ever had manual heating - shoot first car with ABS for that matter.

[@Anon_0192]

Think of it like the thermostat in your home. Set it to 70-ish, winter or summer, and the car heats or cools to maintain temp. It's better than the red/blue vague dial, in my opinion.

[@toronado455]

i prefer those old controls

[@Combatpzman]

It’s not even that long ago either. 14 year old cars still had that setup if you got the entry level trims.

[@dhruvb38]

I’d say there’s a diff between a whole dial or range vs just 3 lights.

[@mlhobbs]

I bought a K4 EX. It has better features than the lower models for not much more money. We really like our K4.

[@ShaqKicks]

Going on 10,000 miles in my kia k4 EX trim😊

[@davidfoote696]

Just hit 1000 on my LXS

[@MrKikoboy]

It's only been out since fall - what are you? running from the law?

[@carlosjaimes4141]

200 on my gt,

[@mr.yessiirr]

It’s a great value for the money, just worried about the reliability of the engine and it’s long term life span.

[@robinbell9770]

Bravo. What a great review . For once they didn't roll out all the seniors to talk about when I first got my model t. Yada yada. Long winded . This man is the only person at cr who knows how to review a car.. he's a keeper. Once again great review!!!!

[@chemjam92]

I believe these are considered compact sedans not sub compact. I don't think anyone even makes a subcompact sedan anymore.

[@GlennLaycock]

sooo close to the old style mid-sized that made that class so well liked - in Canada we buy this sizing in volume and not the mid-sided people in the USA still buy a lot of.

[@Fabulousprofound168]

I thought it was the Elantra that was in the compact category, or are they the same thing?

[@sarkplex]

Nissan does, not for long tho

[@jermainec2462]

The Mitsubishi mirage and Nissan versa are the last subcompacts ... 2024 was the last year for the mirage... Kia made the subcompact kia rio but cancelled it a few years ago

[@chemjam92]

@@Fabulousprofound168 yes this the Kia version of the Elantra

[@maciejszumny6919]

Great review, Alex

[@davidfoote696]

I know everyone is comparing this car to the corolla and civic, but this car is about $3k cheaper out the door than both of those, at least in my area (phoenix). And I've got family members who have corollas and rav4s (all 2018 and newer) and they are unimpressive. Loud cabin noises and poor quality interiors. I'm happy with my K4 LXS, I know it's not attractive to everyone (I'm kinda meh about it's looks) but it gets me where I need to go and I don't feel like I overpaid for it. Cars are stupid expensive right now, but this didn't hurt as much lol.

[@davidwilliams9963]

Nice review Alex. TY

[@27Zangle]

I've been watching the K4 last few months and while in town yesterday I decided to finally look at one in person. It looks amazing online but in person it is even better. I was thinking the EX but the more I think about it, I might go for the GT-Line should we get one. I like the idea of memory seats since I am so much taller than my wife. I think the K4 offers a lot of value for the money but the top trim cost is close to some of the other manufacturers models. Edit: it would be replacing my RX330 with TONS of miles now. It is time to put it in the shop for a timing belt and plugs among other maintenance, so I am thinking of selling it soon because dropping 1500 into it now means I may as well keep it for another 50k miles which then means it will need struts soon, the cost start to add up quickly. My wife wants to keep her Forte Koupe, she loves the darn thing, but it only has 136k miles and its solid with no rattles still.

[@aonforme3349]

Thanks for the better perspective compared to the other 30 reviews of this same vehicle.

[@RelicDavvi]

There's some logic to the HVAC buttons. You can tell they wanted overall minimalism but still offer physical controlls. The fan control you would use most. The temp you usually go up or down until you hit the right setting for you the main driver. The temp is farthest from the fan so you don't mix up the two or have to bring your attention down from the road. I wish they would fully commit and just make it a 5 door and stand out.

[@reymustanggt4082]

Good effort on design vs price point..but its UGLY at the back door ...and why the goofy interior colors mismatching???

[@acuintegra]

Thank you for actually reviewing a non-GT model!

[@fgtw96way]

Glad to get one this year, 3 year lease, not a bad price under 30k in 2025, i am surprised it has no heated mirrors. With our Michigan rough weather winters i hope it endures our potholes roads (345 miles for a full tank of gas, not bad)

[@tyo8223]

All K4's come with heated mirrors, the come on automatically when you turn on the rear window defroster

[@ys7son]

An affordable, fancy-looking car for commuters with up-to-date tech. I feel like buying one. I guess not so much performance-focused, but probably good MPG, considering the price.

[@WatchmanForthePeople]

This is a great car! KIA has a winner, don't overlook it. Like a fastback coupe with the hidden back door panels. Plenty of get up and go and no complaints on the drive and transmission.

[@traffic.engineer]

Why the heck are the stop light and turn signals combined? I bought foreign cars to keep them separate.

[@fmmusicrandom9079]

The odd thing about this is that the K4's for the Mexican and latin-american market got ambar back turn signals separated from the stops, Kia put intentionally reds for US/Canada exports. If it makes you feel better, we don't get the green/red interior options, the cool ambar DRL's (just white) or -most important, considering the temperatures here- the heated and VENTILATED seats.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

A 1979 Mercedes 240D was considered mid-size car at the time. It was 180 inches long. The K4 is more than 185 inches long and is considered a 'small compact'? Crazy times.

[@sandrakilpatrick8452]

I just bought a k4 2025 so far so good has more room seems like.

[@michaellopour7409]

Very savagegeese vibe to this. Great job covering a somewhat plain and boring economy vehicle in detail. 👍

[@VidOfFriend]

haha I was gonna say the same. but CR got their own opinion nailed .

[@toronado455]

it's nice that CR is doing longer reviews

[@drewkotchan4081]

I'm looking forward to seeing how the K4 GT Line Hatchback turns out. Hope CR reviews that version.

[@johnnyk6906]

Kia/Hyundai 4cyl engines are the quietest? especially compared to Toyota. I do prefer the Kias when traveling for overall utility and functions that works reliably. Forte consistently averaged 40MPG in the hwy speed at 80 mph so it's a perfect for traveling. we love it's reliability and overall value for the money. our 2010 Soul lasted two boys and Chicago winters without a hitch and we only had one issue with an EVAP sensor [$20 part] while we had owned it 15 years and 160k miles. we now have a Seltos and Niro and we love both for it's efficiency and reliability.

[@Nick-h7t3m]

that is definitely a coat hanger on the back of the seat. Koreans almost always have a layer and care very much for not being wrinkled or messy looking

[@paulcheek5711]

cracks me up when you talk about leg rom. for real leg room see 1971 Buick Electra 225

[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

I was a pretty big fan of the previous gen Forte GT I test drove. Especially the interior. With dual zone climate control, nice clicky knobs, intuitive HVAC controls. Just a good user-friendly layout. I also found the drive to be nice, but I only had about 20 minutes in it during my drives so I don't recall the negatives that CR is referring too. Great ventilated seats, comfortable, huge "midsize" car trunk in a small car package. Underrated car IMO. I just find the rear design of the new "Forte" car awkward and tortured. Also the GT had leather steering wheel and an independent rear suspension. This new K4 seems like a step backwards honestly.

[@GlennLaycock]

A nice review - now the GT model (one up) has a lot of the stuff you mentioned plus more - including I think the middle heating system screen "up top".

[@davidfoote696]

The EX is just above the LXS, and every trim above the LX has more features than the previous, that's how all trims for all models for all manufacturers work.

[@GlennLaycock]

@@davidfoote696 Yes .. LX, then EX and EX plus .. thank you for that .. GT is the turbo motors here in Canada. The LX is comparible to the base Civic but is about $3200 less expensive (K4 LX $26,564 and Civic LX $29,790 again in Canada). The K4 EX is more equal in price to the Civic LX - so it adds things like 3 digital screens instead of 2, leather, accustic windshield, deluxe sunroof, better speakers, and so on.

[@45414]

The difference between one hot and three hots is two hots. AMA

[@GlennLaycock]

well stated.

[@palebeachbum]

Excellent presentation, but please stop playing music nonstop while the journalist is talking. It's distracting and annoying. Could you just play the music during the B-roll segment transitions?

[@GeeEm1313]

Also, the grey/black door panels remind me of the "quality" of 70s American cars.

[@erich.4305]

my only question which time will tell is , Will it last 200,000 plus miles?

[@daniel0223-i8s]

Step away from the myth of Toyota's durability. Compare the 2024 sales figures of Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Nissan, Honda, and Volkswagen. Global consumers aren't less intelligent than you for choosing Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

[@horseathalt7308]

Heheh....might last 40k until the engine blows up.

[@MikhailMamontov-c6h]

No! Bad engine and bad transmission will last less than 100k.

[@Terry-p7t]

​@@MikhailMamontov-c6hThat's ok.You don't want to keep a car past the warranty period nowadays anyway.

[@carlosjaimes4141]

Mpi 2.0 smart engines are not the Kia killa, check the engine details

[@AudiophileTubes]

Dammit! It has a CVT?! Forget it! I'll go for the Jetta or a Mazda 3 instead!

[@hckr_]

Why is everyone so harsh about the exterior? IMO it got that fresh look, not sporty but more tech-style, LEDs, and with an accent of chinese cars bodies. Looks good to me

[@BullittHilts]

That steering wheel reminds me of early 90's Fords haha. Not necessarily a bad thing, it just makes me chuckle.

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

0:43 Forgot to say "horsepower". Sounds like it's not for someone with a bit of OCD like me, so go get the Hyundai version? Elantra anyone?

[@toddygallent7258]

In Ontario Canada this model without any options out the door with destination charges and taxes of 13% is almost $31,000.00

[@Snickers4211]

Canadian model also gives you faux leather wrapped wheel, heated seats and steering wheel standard.

[@asiftalpur3758]

The presenter was top notch.

[@PeckiePeck]

Just 3 years ago the Forte was MSRPing at 18k. This is an excuse to charge more.

[@davidfoote696]

Lol idk if you were in a coma for the last 5 years, but the prices of cars has risen dramatically across the board. Even used cars are selling at insane price points. I broke even on a 2001 camry that I bought 4 years ago and put 60k miles on. The K4 is the best value compared to the corolla and civic. And mazda3 for that matter.

[@stanleysourelis5104]

The Honda Civic CVT will also hold engine revs on hills.

[@davidfoote696]

Yeah but costs about $4k-$5k more out the door. The civic is the better car, for sure. But the K4 is for more budget conscious people who don't need a car that's pretending it's a racecar

[@ryanelectra225]

What if any active safety features does it have?

[@bradywood459]

The k4 has a lot of safety features standard, which I think is a huge talking point that should’ve been addressed

[@davidfoote696]

Lots lol lane departure, brake assist if you're getting too close to the car in front of you, back camera alert if a car is about to drive by you while you're backing out. Pretty standard stuff.

[@aleemrahaman-rb9mf]

Perfect car to lease

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

If only they could make an engine that would last.

[@502Chevy]

I would say kia needs to buy some Honda engineers but then Hondas lately …..

[@stu-po]

What electronic safety features come with the K4? Blind spot? Rear cross traffic? Others? Why does CR never evaluate these features?

[@AndrewHaverson]

It has Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Follow Assist. That's basically it. Maybe they didn't come across these things in an early review.

[@ThatGuyChey]

Im thinking because this is a “early review” they left all the specifics like that too on e the car is a year old. Maybe not 100% but thats my guess

[@DavidPerez-rq1sd]

This is an early review. Those things are covered in the full reviews.

[@horseathalt7308]

Gotta buy a subscription to their website to get more info. They don't do the tests for free you know.

[@toronado455]

CR does evaluate. part of their paid content behind their paywall.

[@yass123]

I don't know why they don't make the trunk swing open further up without assistance @3:00

[@yass123]

@8:30 Kia and Hyundai program their auto headlight timer to turn on even if you just drive under a tree or light pole.

[@paulfranklin4870]

Not impressed with the K4. Bought my daughter a Forte in 2023 and has been a good experience.

[@DoorisJ]

I dont like that the grill has larger openings, bugs will erode the radiator faster

[@502Chevy]

A/C condenser is what catches the bugs.- it’s in front of the radiator.

[@anonymousbrowsing6726]

I love a quite car. I'll test-drive it.

[@rockbigfoot5531]

The quarter to roof part is ugly and not necessary, they could have tied them together with more blue

[@scottdean27]

Isn’t this still the same 2.0 L that has been catching fire in Kia’s and Hyundais for years and years, and starts burning oil, and frequently large amounts of oil, once it gets past about 10,000 miles? Aren’t there class action lawsuits against Kia and Hyundai regarding this engine? By the way, most reviewers tell us their height so we can gauge the back seat size, and they show whether the trunk has a spare tire, or not. Cars do still get flat tires on a rare occasion and it would be nice to change your tire and be able to get home or to a tire shop.

[@nhp5067]

No those engine recalls were on their suvs

[@carlosjaimes4141]

Mpi engines are not the problem engines

[@502Chevy]

@@carlosjaimes4141 and no cylinder deactivation!

[@jaydejong1674]

Found the music distracting.

[@nickolastiguan]

Make cars affordable again

[@wyzemann]

Alex Knizek, your reviews are improving. Lately, you appear more at ease in front of the camera. By the way, this is an excellent and informative review of an average budget ride🦾.

[@toronado455]

I actually prefer plain urethene steering wheels without any stitching.

[@benjochs]

Right I get stressed out that I’m going to damage the leather steering wheel constantly.

[@502Chevy]

@@benjochs or worse yet alcantera steering wheel.

[@thwipp89]

The corolla runs about the same price. How does it compare?? I don't really trust kia, especially compared to toyota.

[@davidfoote696]

Out the door, the corolla will be about $3k more. At least that was the case in my area (phoenix). In my immediate family, there are 2 rav4s and 2 corollas, and they all have interior quality issues and are noisy rides. All are 2018 or newer. That's why I went with the K4. We'll see how it does, but I'm not impressed with toyota recently. If quality is your biggest concern, get a Lexus.

[@davidfoote696]

Also toyota has been plagued with several recalls recently, but they don't all make the news like the tundra one last month or whenever that was. My parents corolla was recalled because the paint on the bumpers was literally peeling off. Same with their rav4.

[@MichaelCiampa-q6f]

Hyundai is more reliable and more solid than the Kia

[@bho6486]

The exterior kind of reminds me of the Stinger.

[@Pamlicojdjdj1487]

Think again🤔

[@uabir8338]

Only problem is that it lasts just till the warranty before breaking down

[@davidfoote696]

This car just came out a few months ago, no one's put 100k miles on it yet

[@StevenSmith-nq9rh]

Ok that's 10yrs It has that 10 yr powertrain warranty

[@adamwasserman3642]

Yeah, pls silence the needless and irritating background noise!

[@jaywho476]

Ride is irrespective of price. Cheap Subarus drive much softer.

[@GeeEm1313]

It's ugly and awkward looking. I love it.

[@rajTrondhjem10]

A good car at a reasonable price point..

[@nhp5067]

The only advantage it has over the forte is Tech and a larger cabin. the forte GT is a much better value than any K4

[@timgt5]

Not terrible but not a class leader either. The Mazda 3 base price is around 25K and you get a real transmission and 191 Horsepower standard not to mention a much nicer interior. The Civic also boasts lots of room and great gas mileage. Both offer better driving dynamics. The Corolla is going to be more reliable. The Koreans used to have the advantage of substantially cheaper pricing but production costs have caught up with them as well. Speaking of Korean built cars, you can get a well-equipped Chevy Trax for about the same $$ which gives you more room and the bonus of the CUV ride height.

[@davidfoote696]

So I just bought the K4 LXS. I looked at the civic, corolla, and mazda3, and they were all at least $3k more. I couldn't find a civic within 50 miles of where I live that was less than $30k out the door. The cheapest corolla I found was $29k, and the mazda3 was about the same. They are all fine cars, the civic was arguably the best drive, but it was about $3k more out the door. Where the K4 stands out is its price point. $3k may not seem like a lot, but for a lot of people, it makes a difference in their month to month budget

[@carlosjaimes4141]

Run away from the Chevy turbos, I considered the trax but the gas mileage sucks and it’s a turbo

[@Australiaisupsidedown]

Who wants to own a trax though

[@alimonytony]

Enough with the music and volume covering up the narrative. No car video needs background music unless it’s showing the test cars stereo.

[@chrissimmons9969]

The rear end design of that car is hideous!

[@jackfrost99]

The whole design is horrible. 🤣😂

[@horseathalt7308]

CVT = No Sale.

[@MichaelCiampa-q6f]

The Kia K4, It's just not Me.

[@roguedogx]

8:02 sounds like they were trying way too hard and it didn't work.

[@paulcheek5711]

you lost me when u said CVT transmission. NEVER will I get a CVT transmission. Don't forget to tell folks you will be replacing the transmission at 30,000 miles

[@luissandoval4977]

808 messages?

[@MrKikoboy]

If they are auto high beams why do you need to know every time they change? are you saying you don't trust technology? 😝

[@rembo183]

The review was a bit flat and monotone so boring like the car. Need a more enthusiasm if please. No excitement about this car at all.

[@plin20000]

No stick shift?

[@Anon_0192]

Nope. There is a very, very small number of buyers looking to shift their own gears.

[@davidfoote696]

Manuals are very hard to find today. Also, if you do find one, it's going to be assisted to prevent stalling and loss of traction. They discovered that sequential transmissions are quicker, so there's sports cars with paddles now.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

😥

[@andresmattos7541]

Listen to all these loser haters this is an excellent economy car

[@zarbon700]

Only if you love high depreciation and Kia's weak reliability.

[@andresmattos7541]

@@zarbon700 only if you live in 1980.

[@TobyMichaelPortableTechReview]

Or, hear me out…to see a blocked control, move your head 1”.

[@carlosjaimes4141]

😂

[@MrTonifumi]

Stopped watching at "CVT".

[@BTC909]

A car with sidewalls.

[@timshelby2324]

The two different door panels is a deal breaker for me .

[@disan9135]

I like Kia, but this design is not attractive.

[@ampman40]

Lot's to like about this inexpensive car however looks is not one of them. Someone at work has a black one. I keep looking at it trying to see something pleasant about the exterior design, but so far, not much luck.

[@HenrySchecker]

Major step back in every regard Forte looked better Had a nicer dashboard Had a BETTER NAME

[@krisl368]

A Ford Focus in sheep’s clothing! Don’t buy! It’s a lemon.

[@atlabama]

Ripping off the door handles from a Chevy Beretta.

[@mjrtensepian1727]

Or a 6th gen Grand Prix; that era of GM cars anyway. Wonder if there are earlier examples...

[@davidfoote696]

I mean how unique are car door handles? There's only a handful of different styles lol what a weird thing to complain about

[@ab348]

The review sounded constantly like he was making excuses for the Kia’s shortcomings. I have to think that would never happen with certain other makes. At least he noted the bizarro-world decision to make each side of the interior trim a different shade of non-color. The interior is otherwise dismal. The exterior design at the C-pillar is unattractive and strange. The power train sounds underwhelming. I have to think there are better choices out there.

[@horseathalt7308]

I wonder does CR accept payola today? Maybe so.

[@MikeDD86]

would never buy a car like this for 24k. You really aren't getting anything buying these newer cars. They have squeezed all the efficiency out of the engine and the stuff inside is just cheaper plastic and software updates. I bought my 2016 prius for this price of the car and love it

[@Rubz22]

Youre just jealous on how newer cars are getting better.

[@jasonarsenault1550]

What a complainer.

[@horseathalt7308]

CVT = No sale.

[@bubingamakore3328]

Sounds like it will be a piece of junk in 5 years. I would buy a 10 year old used Toyota/Honda over this thing.

[@ericB3444]

come up four grand and get the base Camry and its 51 mpg. Its a better car.

[@michaellopour7409]

$4k is a lot of money at this price point… but these compromised cheap new vehicles always beg the question regarding how much you have to hate a nicer used vehicle as a better alternative.

[@victreebel170]

You could make that comparison with pretty much any compact car. But good luck finding a "base" Camry, dealers barely order any.

[@treads2595]

I think you are missing the point. This car is for people who can't afford a Camry.

[@mullen25]

if you can find one, they're often sold before they even reach the dealer lot.

[@jacksonndoll5055]

​@treads2595 if it's for 4k difference so most people would get it and k4 is comparable with corolla. K5 price will be less than 4k for camry.

[@omarsocias1330]

looks like a Prius...hideous.

[@Pamlicojdjdj1487]

KIA😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DirtE30]

What an ugly car… Looks practical… as in practically forgettable like every other Kia anything.

[@jermainec2462]

Shit is ugly ... All round ugly ... 😅

[@NathanBrooks-x1c]

So ugly, especially around the back door.

[@nealjohnson5059]

This car has a horrible design...that rear quarter looks hideous. That head lights and rear light signature is ripped off from Cadillac. js

[@jackfrost99]

I agree. The designer should be fired.

[@Daytripper58]

Early review? Every car reviewer has beat you to it. 😂😂

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Early review as in their first impressions. CR buys all the cars they review, so they also do long term testing.

[@tigerfan8244]

What an ugly, cheap looking turd with some really stupid design cues. Spend another thousand or two and get a Civic, Mazda3, Impreza, or Corolla.