Caraganza First Drive Review 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Not Quite a Cougar, But Close Enough

Simpler times. It’s a phrase we boomers like to use when reminiscing about a world where things just made sense. Cars had names for starters. Falcon, Thunderbird, Cougar — evocative, aspirational, undeniably cool. Even the more humdrum names like Bel-Air or Fury carried an aura of style and purpose. But today? We’re adrift in a sea of numbers and letters, as if the entire industry decided cars should be named by accountants. The latest example? The 2025 Kia K4. It’s a sedan I had a recent week with a name so dull, it makes “Forte” seem exotic by comparison.

But don’t let the uninspired badge fool you. The Kia K4 is actually quite an impressive little sedan. It’s the spiritual successor to the Forte, which Kia has shuffled off to the great automotive retirement home. The K4 slots neatly under the K5 in their lineup, like a younger sibling trying to borrow their older brother’s sneakers. And while it doesn’t have the nostalgic charm of a Cougar or Tornado, it does have something else: a ton of modern tech and sharp styling that may even make you forgive its unremarkable name.

Let’s start with what Kia does best these days: packing value into every square inch of a car. Even the base K4 LX comes standard with a suite of helpful tech features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Rear legroom is generous enough to ferry adults in the back without requiring an emergency chiropractor visit, and the sharp lines of its design look like they belong to something twice the price. The K4 might not have a throaty V8 or tail fins, but it does have a lot going for it.

2025 K4

Now, let’s talk power. Most models of the K4 get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower, which is… adequate. It’ll get you from A to B without drama, but also without excitement. The real fun begins with the top of the lineup GT-Line Turbo, which ups the ante with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This little firecracker pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and brings paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension, and a multi-link rear suspension to the table. It’s not a muscle car, but for a small sedan, it’s got plenty of zip.

The GT-Line trim, which is what my tester was for the week, also add a host of sporty touches that go beyond the mechanical upgrades. Gloss black and satin chrome exterior accents, 18-inch wheels, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat with heated front seats make it feel premium without breaking the bank. And if you splurge for the Premium Package, you get ventilated front seats, SynTex upholstery, and a memory driver’s seat. The Sunroof Package brings — you guessed it — a sunroof with a sunshade, so you can let the sun shine in as you carve up corners.

The GT-Line Turbo also comes with upgraded headlights, a sound-insulated windshield, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Rear passengers get air vents, because why should the driver have all the fun? It’s the kind of spec sheet that would make a car like this unaffordable ten years ago. But Kia, being Kia, has managed to cram it all in while keeping it attainable.

So, where does that leave us? The 2025 Kia K4 is proof that even in today’s alphabet soup of car names, you can still find something with personality — even if it’s hiding beneath a somewhat uninspired badge. It’s practical, stylish, and surprisingly fun in its GT-Line trim. Sure, it’ll never be a Thunderbird or a Fury, but maybe that’s okay. Because for all the nostalgia we cling to about simpler times, the K4 shows that progress isn’t such a bad thing after all.

The 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line
MSRP: $25,190
MSRP(as tested): $28,345
Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, 190 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm, 195 lb-ft torque @ 1,500–4,500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel mileage (EPA): 29 city, 39 highway, 33 combined
Fuel mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 30 mpg
Base curb weight: 3,080 lbs.

Exterior Dimensions
Length: 185.4 in.
Overall width: 72.8
Height: 55.9 in.
Wheelbase: 107.1 in.

Interior Dimensions
Front headroom: 38.0 in.
Front legroom: 42.3 in.
Front shoulder room: 53.3 in.
Rear headroom: 37.0 in.
Rear legroom: 38.0 in.
Rear shoulder room: 51.9 in.
Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 14.6 cu. ft.
Maximum cargo capacity: 14.6 cu. ft.

Warranty
Basic: 5 yr./60,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 10 yr./100,000 mi.
Rust: 5 yr./100,000 mi.
Roadside assistance: 5 yr./60,000 mi.

 

Greg Engle

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