2025 Kia K4 Unveiled With a New Design and Engine, Challenging the Honda Civic

The 2024 New York Auto Show is witnessing the unveiling of Kia’s latest iteration of the Forte model. With this new generation, the C-segment sedan is being rebranded as the K4, aligning with the uniform naming convention for Kia sedans. Last year, Kia introduced the new-generation Rio in the Mexican market under the K3 moniker.

2025 Kia K4 Exterior Design

The new Kia K4 measures 4,709 mm in length and 1,849 mm in width. Compared to the previous Forte, the car has grown by nearly 76 mm, resulting in a more spacious cabin and luggage compartment. The 2024 Kia K4’s cargo capacity stands at 413 liters.

In the United States, the C-segment sedan will be available in five variants: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Turbo. Among these, the two GT-Line trims naturally feature a sportier design. The vehicle showcased at the 2024 New York Auto Show is also the GT-Line variant.

Adhering to Kia’s Opposites United design philosophy, the new K4 combines a fastback style with a substantial C-pillar, reminiscent of the discontinued Stinger sports car. As a result, the car exudes a more muscular and intricate appearance than the outgoing Kia Forte.

Similar to recently launched Kia models, the K4 flaunts striking vertical LED headlights. Accompanying these are LED daytime running lights and LED taillights, all of which draw design inspiration from a star map. According to Kia, the headlights and taillights of this model “borrow” styling cues from the EV9 flagship SUV. Additionally, the 2025 Kia K4 features a redesigned “tiger nose” grille with a slimmer profile and a chrome strip accentuating its upper edge.

The C-segment sedan’s side profile is characterized by sharp creases on the front and rear fenders. This design, dubbed Twist Logic by Kia, causes light to morph across the car’s body. The interplay between the “muscular” fenders and the substantial C-pillar, which integrates the rear door handles, makes the 2024 Kia K4 resemble a sporty 2-door coupe.

Unsurprisingly, the Kia K4 GT-Line 2025 sports more aggressive front and rear bumpers than its counterparts. The front and rear bumpers, mirror caps, door sills, and wheel arches of the GT-Line are all finished in a glossy black hue. Furthermore, the GT-Line variant rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the GT-Line Turbo trim boasts LED headlights with small square, jewel-like bulbs, LED fog lights, and 18-inch wheels.

2025 Kia K4 Interior Design

As mentioned earlier, the interior of the 2025 Kia K4 has been improved in terms of space due to its increased dimensions. Consequently, the rear legroom measures 965 mm, which Kia claims is best-in-class.

Not only is it more spacious, but the C-segment sedan’s interior has also undergone a design overhaul compared to the previous Kia Forte. The centerpiece of the cabin is an all-new, floating curved display positioned atop the dashboard, measuring close to 30 inches. This setup combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen.

The vehicle’s central touchscreen operates on the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system, which debuted on the Kia EV9. This interface supports wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and over-the-air software updates via Wi-Fi. Voice control with the command “Hey Kia” is also available, enabling access to features such as climate control and audio.

Flanking the central air vents are two rows of physical buttons, ensuring that drivers are not overly reliant on the touchscreen. A traditional “T”-shaped gear selector adorns the center console.

That’s not all. The 2025 Kia K4 is also equipped with second-generation Digital Key 2.0 technology with a broader frequency range, allowing drivers to use their smartphones to unlock, lock, and start the car. Drivers can also share the digital key with friends or family via text message.

The two GT-Line trims will feature a three-spoke steering