Kia K4, Avante's overwhelming performance..Will it come out in Korea
Apr 14, 2025
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There is a vehicle that has quietly disappeared in this electric flow. It is the Kia subcompact sedan K3. Unlike Hyundai Motor's Avante, a sibling vehicle, in the domestic market, Kia withdrew from the internal combustion engine subcompact sedan by discontinuing the K3 last year.
However, in the overseas market, K3's follow-up full-change K4 debuted. K4 is produced in Mexican factories and exported to the United States. Overseas car media The Drive directly test-drive the K4 and analyzed its advantages and disadvantages with competitive models.
If what you want most from a subcompact sedan is a new option and a nice design, the K4 is actually the perfect car for these conditions. Various lines and triangular C-pillars across the exterior attract attention.
There are a lot of pixels on the indoor dashboard, so it looks a little complicated, but the performance is simple. Its basic skills are solid and it boasts performance beyond its weight.It is a subcompact sedan that is second to none in its class. The price varies widely depending on the trim, but the base price starts at $23,165.
The Honda Civic has been the most attractive vehicle for consumers looking for sedans of this grade in the U.S. market in recent years.If you don't like such an ordinary car, another option was the aggressive design of Mazda 3-ga. But now, thanks to K4, I can make other decisions. Kia K4 is the cheapest sedan in Kia as it is newly released as a 2025 model.
The existing Kia K3 started at $21,145. It was cheaper than the Soul, which costs $21,885 (W21,885). With the launch of the K4, Kia has raised entry barriers for customers who want sedans. K4 is about $2000 more expensive than K3. Compared to K3, the total length is about 7.5 centimeters and the total width is 5 centimeters wider. The rear legroom is about 6.5cm longer, showing space beyond the level of a small car.
Intelligent cruise control is applied to all K4 trims as a basic specification. It also features a 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple car display and Android Auto support, along with four USB-C ports.The design is attractive.
What I like most about the appearance is that Kia has properly shown its personality without adding fake air vents or promising performance that is not in the car. K4 looks neat, simple, and smart. I am satisfied with the simplified triangular C-pillar and door handle design. The sporty design reminds me of a baby stinger.
Inside is futuristic but not complicated. The price of the GT-Line test drive, the top trim, is $28,345.It is equipped with a richer instrument panel interface and an additional 5-inch touchscreen for air conditioning control. The finish or assembly quality is impeccable.
Plastic is as good as plastic in every car I've driven. There are so many small touches that are similar to the use of scroll wheels to control the volume and navigate the menu.GT-Line's artificial leather seats and material satisfaction are also high, but the partial fabric options are also quite attractive.
The Kia K4 feels like a very different car from the K3, but the power train is similar.The engine is an existing 2.0-liter natural intake four-cylinder. It produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft torque.Drive the front wheels via CVT.The rear suspension from LX to EX trim is a torsion beam. GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo have improved ride comfort by applying multi-link suspension.
The test car was fitted with a GT-line improved suspension. However, it was not equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic transmission with a top 190 horsepower. The basic engine alone is perfect for the general public.Not fast, but not dangerously slow.
The sporty GT-line suspension ride is comfortable. It is geared to lightness for ease of driving, but the steering moves predictably.However, it cannot be compared to the high-performance Hyundai Avante N. I can't even feel the same intensity as N. That doesn't mean Kia will give up such sports sedans.
Compared to the $25,400 Honda Civic Civic writer, the K4 has theoretically performed similarly but has fitted more options at a lower cost.For example, Civic's Google-based infotainment system with wireless phone projections is applied to a $33,100 sports touring hybrid.
Compare the other options, Toyota Corolla ($23,935) and Mazda3 ($25,335).Corolla is about 20 horsepower higher than K4 and Civic and compares well to K4 in terms of technology value. Instead, it is an old car with the narrowest interior.
Mazda 3 stands out for its driver-centered design. Of course, it is more expensive and not particularly spacious. Equipped with 191 horsepower and a true automatic transmission rather than a CVT, the Mazda3 is slightly less fuel efficient but somewhat attractive. It also has a nice interior.
Finally, I have to mention Hyundai Avante ($23,320).It shares the platform with K4 and is similar in many ways. It can be seen that only the appearance is different. Hyundai is also launching the Avante hybrid model, but Kia is not launching the K4 hybrid model. The fuel efficiency of the Avante hybrid model is 22.9 km per liter, but starts at $26,645.
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In the case of fuel efficiency, we will look at how Kia K4 is compared to major competitors.Corolla is about the same level.The Mazda 3 is far behind because of the existing six-speed automatic transmission.Civic, on the other hand, clearly has the upper hand. As a result of testing, Kia's combined certified fuel efficiency of 14 kilometers per liter is almost correct.
All U.S. brands have given up on subcompact sedans and small SUVs are dominating the market. Subcompact sedans have since been considered an underrated segment. Why develop and sell subcompact sedans when they can force consumers to drive bigger, higher cars and vehicles that offer higher margins? At a time when competitive models are dwindling, the 2025 Kia K4 is a really good subcompact sedan.
That doesn't mean that it's generally superior to its competitors.Kia K4 has excellent cost-effectiveness and is equipped with advanced technology. It can be said to be a cost-effective sedan for early adopters.It is unclear whether Kia K4 will be released in Korea. Kia is implementing a strategy to absorb the demand of the electricity market through EV4.
Editor Song Moon-chul mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
