New Kia K4 Revealed Ahead of Debut at New York Auto Show, to Replace Forte

Following a set of teaser images last week, Kia has revealed its new compact sedan for the international market, the K4. The sedan, which is in its second generation, seems to follow the South Korean brand's new design philosophy, dubbed Opposites United. In the K4, the design philosophy is evident through a unique rear pillar. Meanwhile, the front end – which incorporates a tiger nose grille and vertical LED headlamps – closely resembles the larger K5. When viewed from the side, there is a rakish fastback-style roofline, while the rear door handles are integrated into the C-pillar. At the rear, you see L-shaped LED tail lamps, a big windscreen, and an integrated diffuser. 

On the inside, the changes continue on the dashboard, featuring a dual-screen setup, minimal physical controls, and a rotary controller. However, the car gets physical buttons for climate controls, volume settings, maps, and others. Other bits include a head-up display, a two-spoke steering wheel with an offset Kia emblem, multiple USB ports, and four interior colour options – Slate Green, Canyon Brown, Onyx Black, and Medium Gray. 

More on Kia K4

The technical specifications of the refreshed Kia K4 have yet to be made public; however, we do know that the sedan will replace the Kia Forte that comes with two engine options: a 2.0-litre, inline-four, naturally aspirated and a 1.6-litre, inline-four turbocharged engine. 

The Kia K4 will make its global debut on March 27 at the 2024 New York Auto Show. It will likely go on sale in the United States later this year, and upon arrival, it will compete with the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, and Honda Civic. 

Kia Lineup in India

In the Indian market, Kia currently retails the Sonet, the Seltos, Carens, and the EV6 – which has a new rival in the form of the BYD Seal. The prices of the first three models are set to become expensive from April 1. Kia recently announced a hike of 3 per cent across all its models, on the back of the rising commodity prices and supply chain-related inputs.