Kia K4 Turbo..The obvious advantage compared to Avante is
May 20, 2025
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On the other hand, although good sales are expected in domestic sales, there are also domestic cars that have not been released. The main character is Kia K4. The KT line, which is equipped with a turbo engine in the K4, was tested on Autoblog, an overseas automobile media outlet.
It goes without saying that the Kia Design Department has developed remarkably over the past few years.One of the cars that benefits from this design the most is the Kia K4 sedan. The hatchback and wagon design that will be added in the future has become a hot topic.We recently test-drive a K4 sedan for a week.It was a really interesting car.
The first thing that attracts attention is the exterior design of K4.One of the most noticeable elements is the headlight containing cyberpunk sensibility.The headlights and the tehlights are connected by a central line, within which a rear camera is located.
Overall, it feels symmetrical and futuristic.The headlights are also very unique because they extend downwards from the corners. Especially in the dark, it creates a wonderful appearance.
The K4 has a striking appearance among ordinary commuters. The overall roofline of the vehicle is halfway between a regular sedan and a fastback/hatchback.Like Hyundai's Veloster, the back door handle located on the C pillar further emphasizes this.
Because of this body style, K4 looks a little longer than it really is. This is not a drawback. However, due to the inclined loop line passing through the C pillar, the very limited rear view served as a disadvantage.It's not a big problem thanks to the rear camera, but it's a little inconvenient when you want to get a glimpse of the vehicle behind you while driving.
Even the back number plate holder and reflector were built into the black accent panel. You can get a glimpse of the delicate details of designers.Kia recognized that this aesthetic could be useless if implemented only with monochrome colors, adding this color combination to all trims except the basic trim.
In addition to the $395 Current Red and free Deep Sea Blue, the K4 offers a unique green-grey color called Morning Haze. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I got used to it, I found it a very attractive color.
If you go inside, the positive side continues.The sub-trim comes in a rather dull grey and black fabric trim, while the EX is a mix of green and black fabric trim, which is rather unique.
GT line and GT line turbo are black and red color combinations. You can select the artificial leather"scene tex" interior trim. The downside is that some combinations only apply to certain exterior colors.If you look inside, it's very pleasant. The front seat bucket seat wraps around the body perfectly. It is very comfortable because there is enough leg space.
The same goes for the back seat. The steering wheel has the same color combination as the interior. The top and bottom are flatter, giving it a sportier look. Beyond the steering wheel is a digital cluster of the same size as a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.
These clusters can display digital or real gauge shapes depending on their taste. The theme changes depending on the driving mode.Kia applied a separate 5-inch screen between the cluster and infotainment.
It is a function that digitally controls air conditioning. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard for all trim levels, while GT Line and GT Line Turbo offer a few additional specifications that other trims don't.
All Kia K4 trims were equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 18.2 kgf.m torque through an intelligent variable transmission (IVT), with the exception of GT-Line Turbo.The turbo model lowers the displacement to 1.6 liters, but raises the output to 190 horsepower and 27 kgf.m. of torque, and an eight-speed automatic transmission is applied instead of the IVT.
It's by no means an impressive number, but the rough exhaust sound, hard steering, and small body make it feel like a sports car with a lot more power.Switching to sports mode keeps the small four-cylinder engine spinning slightly longer than usual.It's also fun to go around the corner and hear the growling sound.
Fuel economy is 8.5 km/l in the city center, 15.3 km/l on highways, and 12.3 km/l in complex, which is also efficient for commuting. Prices start at $21,990 (about KRW 30.63 million) for the basic LX trim. The high-end GT-Line Turbo starts at $28,090 (about 39.13 million won).
The GT-Line Turbo test-drive cost $31,445 (about W43.8 million), including the technology package and all the additional costs.In other words, for less than $32,000 (about 44.5 million won), you can buy a sleek and compact car with an attractive exterior, a stylish interior, a not-fast but vibrant powertrain, and enough fuel efficiency and loading space to use as a daily car.
However, at this price, you can also buy a similar Hyundai Avante N-Line for $30,170. It combines the same turbocharger four-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that generates 201 horsepower. Fuel economy is also better with 11.9km/l downtown, 14.9km/l highway, and 13.2km/l complex.
But it doesn't look as futuristic and unique as K4. If you value the appearance, you can always pay an additional $1,275 (about 1.77 million won) and recommend purchasing Kia K4.
K4 also has a fairly good design evaluation in North America. Unfortunately, however, it was not released in Korea. It is interpreted as a point to protect the successful launch of EV4 and demand for Avante. In addition, demand for sedans is minimal, and labor union consent is required to introduce overseas production vehicles in Korea. As there is a lot of demand in Korea for the launch of K4, we look forward to future strategic changes.
Editor Song Moon-cheol mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
