The Kia K4 Transcends the Rental-Car Stereotype: Review

Vehicles are about to get much more costly. Fortunately, inexpensive automobiles like this Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo nonetheless exist—and so they’re nonetheless actually good. With a sticker worth of $31,465 absolutely loaded (for now), this Kia would possibly quickly be all of the automobile you may afford. However it’s additionally fairly presumably all of the automobile you want. 

The K4 is Kia’s alternative for the outdated Forte. It’s additionally the model’s reply to perennial favorites just like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and its Hyundai sibling, the Elantra. It’s not our favourite automobile within the class, but it surely carves out a pleasant area of interest for itself.

The Kia K4 is a kind of vehicles that feels nice as quickly as you get inside. The inside is top of the range and logically laid out, with—reward be—bodily controls for mainly every little thing. The infotainment system can also be simple to get the hold of. 

When you’re on the transfer, it’s simply as simple to be impressed by the K4. Regardless of the “GT-Line” moniker, this sedan is unquestionably aimed extra for consolation than sporty driving. However that’s tremendous! Who’s shopping for certainly one of these to tear up their favourite nation street, anyway? 

With a comparatively low curb weight of underneath 3,300 kilos and good suspension tuning, the K4 handles the nice roads south of San Francisco with ease. With a supple, well-damped trip, it excels in on a regular basis driving. Particular point out goes to the steering, which has a beautiful, pure weight build-up off heart. Whoever tuned that actually knew what they have been doing.

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Professionals: Extraordinarily Nicely Geared up, Nice Design, Logical Inside

The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder makes 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and pairs with an eight-speed computerized transmission. It’s not fast, as you’d count on, however this drivetrain does assist the K4 transcend its economy-car roots. (Lesser K4s have a 147-hp naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a constantly variable transmission.) 

A Civic Si this isn’t, however the K4 has sufficient energy, torque, and refinement right here to justify making the soar to the Turbo mannequin. And, the transmission is even fairly responsive while you flick the paddle shifters, so you may get pleasure from some spirited driving.

Our tester additionally had the $2,200 Expertise Package deal, which incorporates every little thing from heated and cooled seats to Kia’s glorious driver-assist know-how. There’s even a surround-view digital camera system! In a automobile that’s barely greater than $30,000!

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Cons: Not Very Sporty, No Hybrid

My abiding feeling is that this factor is sweet for the cash. Compact sedans have lengthy felt like rental vehicles, and whilst you might get that sense within the $23,000 K4 EX base mannequin, this GT-Line Turbo transcends its class. Or no less than, in style expectations for its class. 

There aren’t many faults with the automobile itself. I want its driving dynamics lived as much as its sporty styling, and the bizarre contact show for local weather controls between the gauge cluster and infotainment is expertly blocked from view by the steering wheel. However maybe the K4’s greatest subject is what it isn’t—a Honda Civic Hybrid.

Motor1’s Better of the Greatest award winner final yr, the Honda Civic Hybrid, is almost good. Enjoyable-to-drive, extremely environment friendly, inexpensive, and simple to dwell with. This gas-powered Kia isn’t fairly nearly as good to drive and doesn’t supply practically as nice gas economic system—29 miles per gallon vs 49 miles per gallon mixed—and it prices about the identical. 

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

The Kia counters the Civic with a sure design panache and plenty of big-car niceties that the Honda doesn’t supply. However personally, they don’t add as much as fairly sufficient. I wouldn’t speak somebody out of a K4 GT-Line Turbo, however I might actively suggest the Civic Hybrid.

On the flip facet, it’s good that we have now nice choices like this K4, wherein consumers aren’t penalized for going with a small, smart automobile. As a result of they might quickly don’t have any selection.

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Supply: Chris Perkins / Motor1