The K4 would threaten Civic and Corolla’s statuses as top compacts, if Kia offered its hybrid gasoline-electric drivetrain in the U.S.

Another day, another new front-drive, four-banger economy car. This time around, it’s the 2025 Kia K4, the successor to the compact Forte, Kia’s second-best seller and a sedan that actually displayed market growth rather than stagnation.

Kia K4 is more spacious, more stylish and more high-tech than the Forte it replaces, and the GT-Line trim is an especially compelling package.

The base engine isn't exciting, but Kia's new compact sedan is refined and comes with high-end features at a reasonable price point.

Kia's replacement for the Forte is bigger, more stylish, and better-equipped, but does what's under the hood leave it falling short of compact sedan rivals?

I was in the passenger seat of the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line when a maroon Toyota RAV4 appeared at the top of the hill, which also happened to be a blind curve. It didn't look right; The SUV was filling up too much of the K4's windshield too quickly.