2025 KIA K4 GT-Line Turbo – Review by David Colman +VIDEO

It’s Hot, Hot, Hot!

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

According to Kelly Blue Book (KBB), the average USA new vehicle transaction price is currently $48,499. Now I don't want to be the guy who flashes phony Rolexes at you from inside my overcoat, but have I got a new car deal for you! Kia's 2025 K4, spiced up with top-grade GT-Line trim, and powered by a very lively 190hp Turbo motor, will set you back just $31,445 out-the-door. That makes your savings over KBB's new car price tag a tidy $17,054. Just think what you could do for your house, or where you could vacation with that extra seventeen grand you saved at the dealership. And if my week-long test run in the K4 is any indication, you will be giving up nothing in the way of comfort, performance or looks when you plump for this tasty new sedan from Kia.

The K4 boots the long-in-the-tooth Kia Forte into retirement. It's simply called K4, just like that famous mountain bridging Pakistan and China is called K2. The new Kia is 2 inches longer and two inches wider than the four-door it replaces, a slight upsize that gives back seat passengers more legroom, and all cockpit occupants more elbow room. Yet the K4 still weighs in at a svelte 3,285 pounds. If you run the power-to-weight numbers, you'll discover that the K4's turbocharged 1.6 liter inline-4 propels just 17.2 pounds per horsepower. With the helpful assistance of an 8-speed automatic gearbox (No CVT, thank you Kia), the lively K4 Turbo sprints to 60mph from a standing start in just 7.3 seconds, and traverses the quarter mile in 15.7 seconds at 90mph. Kia claims the K4 Turbo tops out at 130mph.

With that kind of solid performance on tap, it's reassuring to know that Kia did not skimp on the subtle details that make this pocket-sized sedan pleasurable to drive with verve. Since all good handling starts at the tire contact patch, we were happy to discover a set of generously oversized Kumho radials (TW 540) pinning the K4 to the pavement. These Kumho Majesty 9 Solus TA91 tires (235/40R18) proved grippy and responsive. Kia's GT-Line suspension enhancements turn the K4 into a switchback master. The sport-tuned multilink rear suspension magnifies the stick of the Kumho radials by sucking up bumps with magical equanimity.

Part of our driving enjoyment stemmed from manipulating the squared off rim of Kia's "GT-Line Sport Steering Wheel." Fingertip feedback was immediate, aided by two additional elements that further elevated the driving experience. You can flip upshifts and downshifts through all eight gear sets via sizeable ergonomic paddles attached to the wheel. Additionally, you can instantly select your preferred Drive Mode using a fat, well marked button embedded in the steering wheel's bottom rim. Now there's a bright idea I haven't seen elsewhere. Any innovation that keeps your eyes glued to the road rather than the dash constitutes a major safety advance these days. Kia's steering feel also earns top marks for perfect feedback and weighting in Sport Mode. In no way is the company's "GT-Line" moniker an idle boast.

The K4's exterior styling is sleek and purposeful, handsomely accented by our test car's "Morning Haze" green/gray exterior color. The GT-Line's blacked out trim and shiny black 10-spoke alloy rims complete the deft ensemble. We particularly liked the deceptive way the exterior rear door handles are embedded in the black upper trim of the C-pillars. By doing this, Kia invests the GT-Line version of the K4 with the appearance of a coupe, since the expected rear door handles are visually absent from the beltline. It's a neat stylistic trick that fools the eye while adding to the overall coherence of the design.

Similar visual magic confers unexpected dynamism to the interior. An alternating pattern of black SynTex vinyl seat bolsters contrasts with light gray cloth seating surfaces to energize the cabin. This combination is carried out across the dash and onto the door panels, lending the K4's interior car show complexity. Kia's attention to detail is particularly apparent in the subtle black-on-black "GT-Line" logo and lettering inconspicuously embossed into the headrests of both front seats.

You can stuff the K4's ample trunk with 15 cubic feet of baggage, or extend the carry capacity by lowering the rear seatback via a pair of handy pulls located inside the open trunk. For those who need yet more storage space, you're in luck because Kia is about to introduce a full hatchback version of the K4 to market in the USA. For our part, we liked the stealth lines of the sedan, and would prefer to keep our goods and valuables locked in the trunk and out of sight. Since this vehicle is assembled in Pesqueria, NL, Mexico, and draws 45% of its parts from Korea, and 35% from Mexico, there's no telling how the tariff situation might affect the bottom line of the new K4. But at least for the present, you can still get yours for $31,445. And don't forget that in doing so, you'll be saving seventeen grand over KBB's median new car transaction price.

2025 KIA K4 GT-LINE TURBO

• ENGINE: 1.6 liter inline-4, turbocharged and intercooled, DOHC, 16-valve, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 190hp@6000rpm
• TORQUE: 195lb.-ft.@1700rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 26MPG City/36MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $31,445

HYPES: Interior Layout, Hot, Well Balanced Handling

GRIPES: Digital Gauges Graphically Underwhelming

STAR RATING: 10 stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman