2025 Kia K4 – Good Car Spoilt by its Looks

2025 Kia K4 Sport – the Good and the Bad – REVIEW

As I say in the video, it was not love at first sight with Kia’s K4 range. In fact, it wasn’t love at second sigh either. Its face and bum are too big for the series of square boxes in-between.

The wheel arches are too square and the mudguards they sit in are too big and square.

The fastback shape could have had a nifty hatchback, but falling at the last fence, K4 fastback has a regular boot.

Like the Tasman ute, K4 is not attractive so let’s move on.

For a full list of specifications get the brochure HERE:kia-k4-brochure

Inside

Unlike the exterior, the cabin is a triumph, even in the base model.

Our “Sport” is the second model in the range, so scores the digital dash and digital climate control display camera, 3 LCD screens that curve elegantly across the top of the dash. Sadly, the side view displays are not included. These appear in the driver cluster when the indicator is used but that is a big ask for a humble chariot.

Except for the touch controls on the extreme left of the panel, all other real and virtual controls are within easy reach. There is a selection of buttons (star, mode, and volume) that can be programmed for user-specified function. STAR on the steering wheel was programmed to access the Speed sign recognition menu to silence its hideous BONG. Once pressed (and speed sign system deactivated because there is no “silent” option) I then press either the dashboard star button for CarPlay or steering wheel MODE DAB+.

You have to go through that tedious rigmarole every time you start the car, or you bong when going over speed (even if the signed speed limit is different to what the car thinks it is), or when the speed changes. In the city, that’s a bong every 100 metres or so. The system doesn’t understand school zone times and often displays the speed from a side road instead.

The seat fabric could use a bit of jollying up as the grey is a bit grim.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –2025 Kia K4 Sport Review LOVES AND HATES – Alan Zurvas 

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Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –Atoto CB6 AI CarPlay & Android Auto Wireless adaptor – REVIEW BEST AI BOX – Alan Zurvas 

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ABOVE: Kia Tasman, Kia EV5, Kia K4 (S and GT-Line)

Seats are comfy and well placed, and there is a ton of leg room in the back, but entry head height of the back door can be a challenge for folk of a certain age.

Plastics are good quality and well executed. The cabin aesthetics are much improved over the Picanto, Cerato and the defunct Rio. Only a few years ago we were arguing the wisdom of a 6” infotainment screen and reversing sensors with Roland Rivero, Kia’s Product Manager. Now, even entry level cars get the full works which includes ADAS and infotainment.

The wireless CarPlay doesn’t have a matching wireless charger, but there are 4 USB-C sockets and a 12V socket for your charging pleasure. The left front USB-C can also connect to the infotainment system at the press of a button. Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto tends to suck quite a bit of juice from the phone. This way, you can power your phone by cable while still using wireless CarPlay. When you unplug your phone the phone call stays connected.

There are 4 X cup and 4 X bottle holders, a coat hook, and some well-placed cabin storage throughout. The boot is huge and includes a space saver spare wheel.

All but the base “S” model get navigation with 10 years of free maps, and the whole range gets Over The Air updates and telematics. This brings software changes and handy things like SOS calling and phone app.

The top model GT-Line scores seat heating/cooling and a banging Harman Kardon audio system.

The Drive

Only the range topper gets Multi Link rear suspension, the rest get a torsion bar which can make cornering a little choppy. Local tuning has done a first-class job sorting tyres, dampers, and steering (column mounted electric) for Australian roads. Graham Gambold (chief sorter) likes a sporty firm ride/handling situation, and is Kia’s secret weapon. This local tuning is something rare on Australia now, with European ride tending to be either pillow soft or brick hard.

Although the top model gets a (Euro 5) 142kw 1.6 turbo with an 8-speed automatic, the rest of the range scores a 112kw, 6-speed automatic (also Euro 5). Although the 6-speed is smooth with slick changes, the wheezing 4 cylinder is all talk, no do. Entering a freeway or thinking of overtaking will have the barely-adequate 4-pot screaming for mercy.

It is thirsty too. Our week was mainly freeway/motorway travel and we never bettered 9.4L/100k. The promised 7.4L/100k was but a mere a haze in the rearview mirror, and at one stage we topped 12L/100k in town.

We motored down to The Gong on the weekend with 3 on board. The pretty south coast offers scenic views over rolling waves and the squeaky sand for which Australia is famous. The K4 was excellent on the highway where a constant speed didn’t overly tax the aging engine. Another few cogs might have lowered the fuel consumption, otherwise it was a joy.

The Hyundai Group has a nifty HDA Highway Assist system. It centres in the lane, following the traffic ahead, and its auto-steering function can be disabled with a button on the steering wheel. In theory, when the system detects travel on a motorway its auto-lane-change activates. This system worked brilliantly, when it worked. For some reason it didn’t always switch on with the cruise control, even with auto steering activated on a highway. It is obviously user error, but shouldn’t it be easy to operate in order to be useful?

Conclusion:

K4 is packed with features, has plenty of space, and is a decent drive despite the lackluster drivetrain. The GT-Line’s engine and transmission should be the only option throughout.

In short – K4 is a good drive and deserves better than an asthmatic engine of a certain age, and a transmission with cogs missing (or worse still, no cogs at all). There is a hybrid elsewhere in Kia’s lineup, as well as a DCT and CVT automatic option. Ideally, the Sportage’s hybrid/6-speed automatic would be perfect. Hybrids with 6-speed autos are perfectly acceptable.

Kia has gone a little off the reservation with both Tasman and K4. Like Hyundai’s new Santa Fe, they will no doubt win awards, even with the suspect exterior design.

I hoped to fall for the K4’s unlovable face, but alas.

K4 Sport lacks the visual impact of either Optima or Stinger. K4 is around the same price as Optima, which was discontinued for lack of interest from buyers. Buyers didn’t love the passenger car for the price, and with only 3 passenger cars left, will Kia have any more luck with K4? Or, will it go the way of Optima, Stinger, and the delectable Pro_Cee’d GT?

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