What's Under The Hood Counts: The 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo

Back in February, I wrote a pretty tough review of the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line. The facts I cited stand, and the review stands. But I'll say this: I wish I had driven this K4 GT-Line instead of that K4 GT-Line first.

That K4 GT-Line was the 2.0-liter non-turbo four-cylinder with 147 horsepower. This K4 GT-Line is the 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder with 190 horsepower.

In the interests of a comprehensive review, I mentioned both engines in the first review---and as I said, on paper, the turbo version misses some competitive benchmarks, ending up heavier and slower than not just the Honda Civic Si, but the Honda Civic Hybrid.

But nobody drives on paper. And I shouldn't have been writing about the on-paper performance of the more powerful version while driving the less powerful version. So, my apologies to you, the reader and to Kia.

The fact is that the K4 GT-Line Turbo feels terrific---and the switch from the non-turbo continuously variable automatic transmission to a proper eight-speed automatic makes a massive difference. The GT-Line Turbo is transformed. There's a four-mpg fuel economy penalty (29 combined city/highway instead of 33), but that's still solid fuel economy for the power.

The base price of the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo is $28,090 ($29,245 including destination). At this writing, tariffs have been announced. The K4 GT-Line Turbo has only 20% domestic content (including its engine), its transmission and other parts (totalling 45%) are from South Korea, and 35% of its content is from Mexico, which is also the final assembly point for the car.

All that is to say that by the time you read this, the price at your local dealer may be considerably higher.

For that money, there's a long list of standard equipment, including a comprehensive suite of active safety features, navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a three-year subscription to Kia Connect, a Harman/Kardon premium audio system, a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, smart key, pushbutton start, remote start, a smart trunk, front and rear USB ports, a wireless phone charger, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth/synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver's seat with power lumbar, GT-Line sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, 18-inch alloy wheels, gloss black exterior accents, LED reflector headlights with automatic on/off, amber LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights, LED rear combination lights, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, a power sunroof with sunshade, alloy sport pedals and rear air vents.

The only extra-cost option on our test vehicle was the $2,200 GT-Line Turbo Technology Package (smartphone digital key, memory driver's seat and outside mirrors, ventilated front seats, rear parking collision avoicdance assist, forward, reverse and side parking distance warning, Highway Driving Assist 2, a surround-view monitor, a blind-spot view monitor and multi-color LED ambient lighting.

That puts the bottom line on the window sticker at $31,445.

That's $3,100 more than the as-tested price of the non-turbo K4 GT-Line, but it's money very well spent. The K4 GT-Line Turbo is a very satisfying car to drive, and that beats measurements on a spreadsheet every single time.