Kia unveiled its replacement for the Forte compact sedan at the 2024 New York Auto Show today. Now christened K4, the new name brings Kia's smallest model's nomenclature in line with the midsize K5 sedan. Armed with an expressive new design and a plethora of standard and available features, the K4 reaffirms Kia's commitment to the compact sedan market as more automakers turn their focus to SUVs and electric vehicles.
"2023 was the biggest year yet for Kia with growth across our entire lineup," said Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales Operations for Kia America. "Simply put, customers are truly excited about our products, and we're ready to give them more of everything they love about Kia. While others continue to retreat from the ICE compact sedan segment, our entry was Kia's second best selling model last year, and its market share has more than doubled since 2018."
Kia's tiger nose grille now plays with the company's latest design language called "Opposites United," which Head of Kia Design, Karim Habib, claims gives the K4 a confident and technical impression. The K4 sports a radically sculpted body incorporating a steeply raked roofline and rear door handles integrated into the C-pillar. T-shaped headlights give the K4 familial resemblance to other recently redesigned Kia models such as the K5, Sorento, and Carnival.
Inside, the K4 dashboard has been upgraded to a full digital display. Two 12.3 inch screens handle gauge cluster and central infotainment functions. A small 5 inch screen between them operates the climate controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard after requiring wired connection on some Forte models. Other available features usually seen on more expensive cars but rare to find in mainstream compact sedans include a panoramic sunroof, an available 360-degree surround view monitor and an available blind-spot view monitor that displays a live video feed of left and right blind spots in the gauge cluster. Kia also touts the availability of a voice assistant on higher trim levels to help the driver adjust climate controls and audio settings. Furthermore, certain models will be able to receive over the air updates, allowing owners to download available digital features and services.
Powertrains remain unchanged from the Forte with a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four powering lower trim levels. The top trim Forte GT has been replaced with the K4 GT-Line Turbo. Although it uses the same 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four, horsepower drops from 201 to 190. This may be due to a switch to a conventional torque-converter eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the Forte GT's six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. No fuel economy figures have been unveiled yet.
The 2025 K4 also marks the return of a 5-door hatchback after the Forte became sedan only in 2019. By offering two body styles, Kia will be able to better compete with compact cars such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda 3. More details about the hatchback will be available at a later date.
The Kia Forte is one of the most affordable new car models left on sale with base prices starting around $21,145 and fully loaded versions topping out at less than $28,000. Forte owners have come to appreciate their cars' affordability, sharp styling, roomy interior, and plentiful standard and optional features. No doubt, they should expect more of the same with the new K4. 2025 K4s are expected to arrive in dealerships in the fourth quarter of this year.
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