I Thought That Nothing Might Rival the Honda Civic Sedan at Its Value Level, However Then I Examined the New 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line, and Have Found a Nice New Choice For Consumers To Think about

I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Having examined the 2025 Honda Civic, I really feel that it’s nearly unbeatable. Significantly the hatchback variations. So, when Kia despatched us a brand new K4 to check, that clouded our judgment a bit. How may Kia presumably match or high that new Civic? Effectively, they’ve, and relying in your priorities, the K4 might even be a greater possibility. On this unconventional overview, we’ll give attention to the issues that differentiate these two nice automobiles. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Exterior Type and Inside Styling
The good information for customers within the sub-$30K automobile market is that nice seems to be are free. Each the Civic and K4 are good-looking automobiles outdoors. We notably just like the coupe-style rear doorways on the K4. Kia’s now signature C-pillar can also be a styling component we really feel units the K4 aside. 

Our sub-$30K K4 GT-Line tester had a two-tone inside that knocked our socks off. The steering wheel’s flat high and backside was additionally novel, and we cherished it. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Powertrains
We examined the K4 GT-Line. Its 2.0-liter engine and variable computerized transmission have been ample for the function, and that’s what you now get with the Civic. In our driving on combined suburban and concrete roadways, together with some fairly heavy visitors, we noticed 42 MPG within the K4. With that type of mileage, we’d seemingly skip getting a hybrid. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Physique Types
For 2025, Kia presents the K4 with a trunk, and it has 4 doorways in a sedan structure (with coupe styling). Honda presents a sedan or a hatchback. Nevertheless, in 2026, Kia will introduce its K4 hatchback. Personally, I favor the comfort and added cargo quantity {that a} hatchback presents. That is only one particular person’s opinion. The good information is that each manufacturers can be providing each choices, so consumers can decide and select. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic Pricing
We’ve reviewed costs and see that each of those fashions supply an incredible worth. You get a LOT for not a lot cash. Our K4 GT-Line tester had a client price of $28,345, together with Kia’s inland freight and dealing with charge, however much less no matter Doc charges your Kia seller costs. Honda’s Sport with comparable content material has a value of $27,831. 

Kia K4 – Notable Options
We love that Kia presents a spare tire within the K4. Honda presents a spare on solely sure trims. We additionally cherished how simply we may hook up with the wi-fi Android Auto within the K4 – even with out utilizing an influence cable to provoke the pairing. Right here, Kia is the match of Honda, which additionally presents an impressive infotainment package deal. 

Here is a list of all of the top-selling automobiles with spare tires. 

Kia K4 – The Drive
We discovered the K4 to have an ideal persona. We’d name it “chill” or “mellow.” The K4 GT-Line with its 147 hp engine was simply ample, and by no means felt sporty. If you’d like extra energy, there’s a GT-Line Turbo with 191 hp obtainable, nevertheless it comes at a meaningfully increased price ticket. We’d in all probability skip the turbo on this automobile, and dwell with the bottom energy score. The dealing with is sweet. It’s all the time pleasurable to strive a low-slung sedan after being in crossovers more often than not.

If efficiency is a precedence for you on this automobile section, see for those who can stretch the funds to the Mazda3 Turbo. It begins at $34K. 

Kia K4 GT-Line Conclusion
If you’re looking for a sub-$30K automobile, it’s exhausting to miss the Kia K4 GT-Line. It presents an ideal look, fashionable inside, loads of house for 4 and even 5 passengers, and lots of options we predict make it an ideal worth. One factor we actually like in regards to the Kia line is its 100,000-mile guarantee for preliminary homeowners. That is one space the place Kia objectively beats Honda. If we have been looking for a sedan beneath $30K, we’d take a look at the Kia K4 earlier than deciding on any of the opposite selections within the market. 

Do you assume Kia has a viable choice to the Honda Civic in its K4 GT-Line? Is that this a automobile you’d cross-shop? Inform us within the feedback under.

All pictures by John Goreham. 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Affiliation member and knowledgeable automobile tester. John accomplished an engineering program with a give attention to electrical automobiles, adopted by 20 years of labor in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive provide chain earlier than changing into a information contributor. He’s a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). Along with his eleven years of labor at Torque Information, John has revealed 1000’s of articles and opinions at American information shops. He’s recognized for providing unfiltered opinions on automobile matters. You possibly can join with John on Linkedin and comply with his work on his private X channel or on our X channel. Please observe that tales carrying John’s by-line are by no means AI-generated, however he does make use of grammar and punctuation software program when proofreading and he additionally makes use of picture era instruments.