I Thought That Nothing May Rival the Honda Civic Sedan at Its Worth 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 nearly unbeatable. Significantly the hatchback variations. So, when Kia despatched us a brand new K4 to check, that clouded our judgment a bit. How might Kia probably match or prime that new Civic? Properly, they’ve, and relying in your priorities, the K4 could even be a greater possibility. On this unconventional evaluation, we’ll give attention to the issues that differentiate these two nice autos. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Exterior Model and Inside Styling
The good information for consumers within the sub-$30K automobile 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 beloved it. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Powertrains
We examined the K4 GT-Line. Its 2.0-liter engine and variable automated transmission had been satisfactory 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 site visitors, we noticed 42 MPG within the K4. With that sort of mileage, we’d doubtless skip getting a hybrid. 

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Physique Kinds
For 2025, Kia affords the K4 with a trunk, and it has 4 doorways in a sedan structure (with coupe styling). Honda affords 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 affords. That is only one individual’s opinion. The good information is that each manufacturers might 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 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 supplier costs. Honda’s Sport with comparable content material has a value of $27,831. 

Kia K4 – Notable Options
We love that Kia affords a spare tire within the K4. Honda affords a spare on solely sure trims. We additionally beloved how simply we might connect 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 affords an impressive infotainment package deal. 

This is an inventory of all of the top-selling automobiles with spare tires. 

Kia K4 – The Drive
We discovered the K4 to have an excellent character. We’d name it “chill” or “mellow.” The K4 GT-Line with its 147 hp engine was simply satisfactory, and by no means felt sporty. In order for you extra energy, there’s a GT-Line Turbo with 191 hp obtainable, but it surely comes at a meaningfully greater price ticket. We’d most likely skip the turbo on this automobile, and stay with the bottom energy ranking. The dealing with is sweet. It’s at all times gratifying to attempt a low-slung sedan after being in crossovers more often than not.

If efficiency is a precedence for you on this car phase, see in the event you can stretch the finances to the Mazda3 Turbo. It begins at $34K. 

Kia K4 GT-Line Conclusion
In case you are purchasing for a sub-$30K car, it’s exhausting to miss the Kia K4 GT-Line. It affords an excellent look, trendy inside, loads of area for 4 and even 5 passengers, and plenty of options we predict make it an excellent worth. One factor we actually like in regards to the Kia line is its 100,000-mile guarantee for preliminary house owners. That is one space the place Kia objectively beats Honda. If we had been purchasing for a sedan below $30K, we’d take a look at the Kia K4 earlier than deciding on any of the opposite decisions within the market. 

Do you suppose Kia has a viable choice to the Honda Civic in its K4 GT-Line? Is that this a car you’ll cross-shop? Inform us within the feedback beneath.

All photos by John Goreham. 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Affiliation member and professional car tester. John accomplished an engineering program with a give attention to 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 printed 1000’s of articles and opinions at American information retailers. He’s recognized for providing unfiltered opinions on car subjects. You possibly can join with John on Linkedin and observe his work on his private X channel or on our X channel. Please word 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.