I Thought That Nothing May 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 Possibility For Patrons To Take into account

I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Having examined the 2025 Honda Civic, I really feel that it’s virtually unbeatable. Notably the hatchback variations. So, when Kia despatched us a brand new K4 to check, that clouded our judgment a bit. How may Kia probably match or prime 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 deal with the issues that differentiate these two nice autos. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Exterior Type and Inside Styling
The nice information for buyers within the sub-$30K automotive market is that nice seems to be are free. Each the Civic and K4 are good-looking automobiles exterior. We significantly just like the coupe-style rear doorways on the K4. Kia’s now signature C-pillar can be a styling factor 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 prime 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 automated transmission have been sufficient 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 possible skip getting a hybrid. 

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

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

Kia K4 – Notable Options
We love that Kia provides a spare tire within the K4. Honda provides 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 provides an impressive infotainment package deal. 

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

Kia K4 – The Drive
We discovered the K4 to have a terrific character. We’d name it “chill” or “mellow.” The K4 GT-Line with its 147 hp engine was simply sufficient, and by no means felt sporty. In order for you extra energy, there’s a GT-Line Turbo with 191 hp out there, however it comes at a meaningfully larger price ticket. We’d in all probability skip the turbo on this automotive, and dwell with the bottom energy score. The dealing with is sweet. It’s at all times satisfying to attempt a low-slung sedan after being in crossovers more often than not.

If efficiency is a precedence for you on this automobile section, see in the event you can stretch the price range to the Mazda3 Turbo. It begins at $34K. 

Kia K4 GT-Line Conclusion
In case you are looking for a sub-$30K automobile, it’s onerous to miss the Kia K4 GT-Line. It provides a terrific look, fashionable inside, loads of house for 4 and even 5 passengers, and plenty of options we predict make it a terrific worth. One factor we actually like concerning 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 underneath $30K, we’d try the Kia K4 earlier than deciding on any of the opposite decisions 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’ll cross-shop? Inform us within the feedback beneath.

All photographs by John Goreham. 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Affiliation member and skilled automobile tester. John accomplished an engineering program with a deal with electrical autos, adopted by twenty years of labor in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive provide chain earlier than turning 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 critiques at American information shops. He’s identified for providing unfiltered opinions on automobile matters. You may join with John on Linkedin and comply with his work on his private X channel or on our X channel. Please be aware 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 technology instruments.