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 Possibility For Consumers 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 might Kia presumably match or high that new Civic? Nicely, 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 Type 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 vehicles 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 liked it. 

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

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic – Physique Kinds
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. Nonetheless, 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 shall be providing each choices, so patrons 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 client price of $28,345, together with Kia’s inland freight and dealing with payment, however much less no matter Doc charges your Kia vendor prices. 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 liked how simply we might 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 bundle. 

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

Kia K4 – The Drive
We discovered the K4 to have an amazing persona. 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 accessible, 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 pleasing to strive a low-slung sedan after being in crossovers more often than not.

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

Kia K4 GT-Line Conclusion
If you’re looking for a sub-$30K car, it’s arduous to miss the Kia K4 GT-Line. It presents an amazing look, trendy inside, loads of area for 4 and even 5 passengers, and plenty of options we predict make it an amazing worth. One factor we actually like concerning 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 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 suppose Kia has a viable choice to the Honda Civic in its K4 GT-Line? Is that this a car you’d cross-shop? Inform us within the feedback under.

All photographs by John Goreham. 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Affiliation member and skilled 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 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 printed hundreds of articles and evaluations at American information shops. He’s identified for providing unfiltered opinions on car subjects. You’ll be able to 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 era instruments.