2025 Kia K4 Review

After a long, illustrious sales career, the Cerato has officially retired while the Kia K4 hopes to both follow in its footsteps while breaking a new trail for the company in the small car segment.

Kia has announced that a hatchback version of the K4 will be joining the lineup later in 2025, along with the introduction of a more fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain.

Until then, though, the Kia K4 hits Australian dealerships in a total of five different flavours and two engine options; let’s take a closer look at all the pricing and specification details you need to know about Kia's latest small car hero.

Kia K4 Competition

How Much Does the Kia K4 Cost?

The Kia K4 range is priced from $30,590 for the entry-level K4 S variant with prices rising to $42,990 for the range-topping K4 GT-Line.

Kia is yet to confirm pricing and specification details of the forthcoming K4 hatchback and hybrid variants.

• MY25 Kia K4 S - $30,590

• MY25 Kia K4 S with Safety Pack - $32,690

• MY25 Kia K4 Sport - $35,190

• MY25 Kia K4 Sport+ - $37,590

• MY25 Kia K4 GT-Line - $42,990

Prices for the full MY25 Kia K4 range can be found below.

These prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Kia K4 S Specifications

What Features Does the Kia K4 Have?

Kia's entry-level K4 S range comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys and receives LED head and tail lights, LED daytime running lamps, cloth upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, a two-spoke steering wheel, LED interior lighting, a 4.0-inch LCD multifunction display, air conditioning with rear air vents, an auto-release boot lid and heated, folding side mirrors.

Upgrading to the K4 S with Safety Pack adds dual-zone climate control, a surround-view monitor, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 5.0-inch climate display and an upgraded infotainment system display.

Buyers stepping up to the K4 Sport range pick up a set of 17-inch alloys and satellite navigation atop all the goodies added to the K4 S with Safety Pack, like the 12.3-inch driver's display, dual-zone climate control and surround-view monitor.

The K4 Sport+ picks up leatherette upholstery with heated front seats, soft-touch finishes inside the cabin, satin silver door handles, automatic wipers, a solar glass windscreen, and an glovebox and sun visors.

Finally, Kia’s flagship K4 GT-Line picks up 18-inch alloys, projector LED headlights, a GT-Line styling package with a bespoke front grille and black accents, a panoramic sunroof, a power-adjustable driver's seat, upgraded GT-Line leatherette upholstery, a heated, three-spoke steering wheel, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats and a wireless charging pad.

Kia K4 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

All members of the MY25 Kia K4 range, from the entry-level S to the flagship GT-Line, pick up the same 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard.

Kia's 12.3-inch display is able to remotely receive software updates over the air, with AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio thrown in alongside Bluetooth connectivity and a six-speaker sound system in most variants.

Stepping up to the K4 Sport adds satellite navigation with ten years' worth of live traffic and map updates, while the GT-Line receives an upgraded eight-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

All K4 variants come equipped with the Kia Connect suite of services which offers remote vehicle controls, status and location monitoring and emergency calls.

To sweeten the deal, Kia throws in a seven-year subscription to Kia Connect with the purchase of a new K4.

Does the Kia K4 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be pleased to know that all members of the Kia K4 range offer both wired and wireless smartphone mirroring for iOS and Android devices.

This means that you've got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at your disposal, as well as the option to connect your phone via one of the four USB-C ports inside the cabin.

What Engine Powers the Kia K4?

Kia offers the K4 range with a choice of two petrol engines, with a petrol-electric hybrid unit expected to join the family in the later stages of 2025.

Until then, the majority of the K4 range comes powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit pushing out 122kW of power and 192Nm of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Those upgrading to the K4 GT-Line pick up a more potent 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit that pushes out 142kW of power and 265Nm of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

Is the Kia K4 Comfortable to Drive?

The Kia K4 is a strong performer on the road on everything from a run around town to a long-distance country road trip.

This is largely thanks to Kia's attention to the suspension package, making a number of key revisions specifically for the Australian market, thanks to its local ride and handling program.

Around town, the K4 ticks all the important boxes that a small car should.

The steering is nicely weighted and easy to throw around at low speeds, which makes the process of squeezing into a car park a simple task.

It’s a user-friendly package that feels agile on its feet while absorbing many of the sharp, sudden bumps you'll find around town in a particularly impressive manner for a value-conscious small car package.

Power from the base 2.0-litre engine is modest, to put it kindly, though buyers in need of some more excitement have the option of the more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged unit that certainly adds more charisma to the mix.

Typically, small cars are built primarily for the urban jungle and, as a result, don't offer much in the way of versatility when you leave smooth city streets in the rear-view and begin tackling country roads.

The K4, though, impresses with its solid nature on sub-optimal roads, with Kia's attention to detail with the local ride and handling tune paying dividends.

You still feel large bumps inside the K4, though it manages to stay composed in a very impressive manner for the small car segment.

It's worth noting that the ride quality will be slightly firmer as you upgrade to the larger 17- and 18-inch alloys fitted to the Sport and GT-Line variants, respectively.

That said, the K4 represents one of the most versatile small car packages on the market thanks to its impressive refinement around town, user-friendly manners and ability to tackle country roads with confidence.

Is the Kia K4 Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency in the K4 range depends on whether you're opting for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit powering the majority of the range or the more powerful GT-Line.

The base K4 engine is the least efficient, drinking a claimed 7.4L per 100km on the combined cycle.

This drops down to 6.7L per 100km in the K4 GT-Line range with the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

• Kia K4 2.0-litre City Fuel Consumption: 10.3L per 100km

• Kia K4 2.0-litre Highway Fuel Consumption: 5.6L per 100km

• Kia K4 2.0-litre Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 7.4L per 100km

• Kia K4 1.6T (GT-Line) City Fuel Consumption: 9.3L per 100km

• Kia K4 1.6T (GT-Line) Highway Fuel Consumption: 5.1L per 100km

• Kia K4 1.6T (GT-Line) Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 6.7L per 100km

The Kia K4 is fitted with a 47L fuel tank and can drink 91 RON fuel.

Is the Kia K4 Practical and Spacious?

While the outgoing Cerato impressed on the practicality front, the K4 is even bigger, which means it ticks even more boxes and stands as a viable family car option for those looking to move away from the conventional SUV option.

Over the Cerato, the K4 is 68mm longer and 49mm wider which isn't a monumental increase, but does lend itself to some more interior space and practicality gains across the board.

Inside, the K4 is noticeably sharper and more modern compared to its predecessor, very much catching up to - and in some cases, over taking - its main rivals.

The design of the K4’s cabin, particularly the dashboard arrangement, mirrors that of Kia's latest battery-electric vehicle lineup, which we think looks great and makes even the entry-level K4 S feel far more premium than a base model.

This is a good thing, though, considering the K4's arrival has ushered in some price increases.

Real estate in the front of the K4's cabin is solid, with no problem accommodating tall adults and a decent range of adjustment in both the seat and steering wheel.

Storage options are solid, too, with the bulky centre console offering a large tray behind the gear lever, two cut-outs with pop-out cup holders and added storage inside the folding armrest.

Move to the rear and, once again, for a small car package, the Kia K4 knocks it out of the park for second row accommodation.

Thanks to the more generous 2,720mm wheelbase, the K4's rear bench seat can comfortably handle a pair of adults, though headroom can prove a little tight due for any tall rear passengers.

Those seated in the rear are treated to their own air vents, a pair of USB-C ports, a tiny storage nook and a folding armrest with built-in cupholders.

Finally, the K4 is packaged with two pairs of ISOFIX anchors at the base of the outboard seats, with three top tether mounts hiding behind the seatback.

How Big is the Kia K4's Boot?

The Kia K4 is a small car with a seriously big boot that gives larger sedans and even midsize SUVs a pretty serious run for their money.

There’s a small increase over the Cerato's already impressive boot, measuring 508L with the rear seats in play.

Fold the K4’s 60:40 split rear seats down and you’ll unlock even more real estate, though Kia doesn't put an official number on it.

Is the Kia K4 Safe?

Kia has thrown a hefty list of safety features into all K4 variants, though some key features are excluded from the base model.

The K4 range comes equipped with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection as well as a junction assist feature and adaptive cruise control.

All variants also pick up blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance with lane-centring, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, rear occupant alerts and safe exit warnings.

Kia's K4 S with Safety Pack and above all pick up a revised AEB system with junction crossing assist as well as direct and oncoming lane-change detection.

Buyers upgrading to the K4 Sport and above also receive Kia's Highway Driving Assist II system, which combines the adaptive cruise control system with lane-centring and lane-change assistance.

Does the Kia K4 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia K4 range remains unrated by ANCAP at the time of writing.

This is likely to change ahead of the arrival of the K4 hatchback and petrol-electric hybrid variants touching down later in 2025.

What Warranty Does the Kia K4 Come With?

Kia offers the K4 range with its excellent seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Buyers also pick up eight years of roadside assistance and seven years of capped-price servicing.

Servicing costs are, however, slightly pricey for the small car segment.

Seven years of capped-price servicing for the base 2.0-litre version totals $3,225 while servicing the 1.6-litre turbocharged GT-Line will set you back $3,877.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia K4 Worth it?

The Kia K4 is a mighty impressive small car package that improves upon the already impressive, fan-favourite Cerato with handfuls of modernity and even more space inside the cabin.

More often than not, small cars come with a range of compromises, namely their limited practicality and lack of driving comfort on a country road.

The K4, however, impresses with its sleek and practical cabin layout while remaining confident on a mix of Aussie roads thanks to Kia's local suspension tuning program.

In base versions, the K4 presents buyers with a particularly attractive value proposition that makes it worth a spot on any small car shortlist.

If you're looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to our team of car-buying experts who can help find you the best deal possible.

Five Kia K4 Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Two petrol engines available, both front-wheel drive

3. 6.7 - 7.4L per 100km fuel economy figures (GT-Line vs 2.0-litre petrol)

4. 508L boot space

5. No ANCAP safety rating (as of May, 2025)