The Kia K4 marks a new chapter for Kia in Australia, replacing the long-loved Cerato after more than two decades of loyal service. Where the Cerato was dependable, affordable, and quietly successful, the K4 looks to step things up with more flair, more technology, and more polish.
Arriving first as a sedan (with a hatch due late in 2025), the K4 launches in four trims; the S, Sport, Sport+, and the flagship GT-Line standing at the top of the tree. The GT-Line is aimed at buyers who want something sportier and more premium than the usual small sedan offerings, but still within reach of mainstream affordability.
And the GT-Line doesn’t just trade on a sharper look. Under the bonnet sits a niftier turbocharged engine, a sportier gearbox with two extra ratios, more advanced suspension, and a classier cabin fitout. So, does it deliver enough to stand out in a market dominated by SUVs and long-established small sedans such as the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, and Mazda3? Here is our take after spending a week with one.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Specifications
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder
Output: 142kW@6000rpm / 265Nm@1700-4750rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×8.0, 235/40
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1433kg
Power-to-weight: 10.09:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 6.7L/100km
Our consumption: 7.7L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 47L/91 RONPower efficiency: 21.19kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.69 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.36 seconds*
60-110km/h: 4.74 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.47 seconds at 151.1km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.618g*
100-0km/h braking: 37.82m in 2.90 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.121g*
Decibel at idle: 39*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 78*
Starting price: $42,900
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: How much does it cost?
The K4 GT-Line sedan tops off the range’s pricing at $42,990 (excluding on-road costs), putting it firmly into the heartland of top-spec small passenger cars. The base S starts the range from $30,590. Compared to its direct rivals, it is priced about 7k above the Toyota Corolla SX hybrid, though it has deleted the higher spec ZR that would have been more in line with feature offerings.
A similarly spec’d Hyundai i30 N Line Premium is about $1500 cheaper, and it sits under the Mazda3 Astina by about $500. That positioning is deliberate we think, so the K4 is perceived as more premium than the Corolla and i30, while undercutting Mazda’s more overtly luxury-focussed image.
Warranty coverage remains one of Kia’s trump cards. Like the rest of the brand’s range, the K4 comes with a 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, giving buyers more peace of mind than Toyota or Mazda’s five-year coverage.
Eight years of free roadside is also offered when servicing is performed at a Kia dealer. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 10,000km, except for the first free check-up at 3000km or 3 months. The first seven services at Kia are capped at $353, $564, $444, $677, $397, $711 and then $696. Over the seven years, the GT-Line will be $512 more expensive to service than the lower three models that run with a 2.0-litre engine.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Interior & packaging
On approach, the K4 wears Kia’s latest design language with confidence. The GT-Line amplifies the sleek fastback silhouette with larger 18-inch wheels, raked rear glass, and more aggressive detailing, including an integrated diffuser and contrasting black lower skirting all round.
The front and rear “Star-Map” LED lighting signature lend it a distinctive nighttime presence, while flush rear door handles emphasise the clean, modern lines. It’s a more striking look than the conservative Corolla or i30 sedan, and Kia’s approach feels sportier than the Mazda3’s elegance-first philosophy.
If the exterior sets the tone, the interior of the K4 GT-Line seals the deal. Kia has borrowed heavily from the design and tech-first approach seen in its halo EV9 SUV, with the sedan adopting a wide-screen, layered dashboard that’s both futuristic and approachable.
Front and centre in the GT-Line is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a 12.3-inch infotainment touch-screen and a dedicated 5.0-inch HVAC display. The separation of the climate controls into its own screen is a neat touch; and importantly, Kia hasn’t gone all-in on touch-based controls. Physical buttons for core functions still sit beneath the screen, giving it a user-friendly balance that’s often lost in the pursuit of minimalism.
Connectivity is a strong suit. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, and the GT-Line adds a wireless charging pad and Harman/Kardon premium 8-speaker audio system. Kia Connect telematics is also included across the board, providing real-time traffic and weather updates, plus remote vehicle functions via a smartphone app. OTA software updates ensure the system stays fresh long after purchase.
The materials and finish in the GT-Line reinforce its more upmarket positioning. You’ll notice ambient lighting, artificial leather trim with embossed GT-Line detailing, two-tone finishes, a sunroof, a sport-themed heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats with position memory.
Cabin space is another area where the K4 shines. Longer and wider than the old Cerato, the sedan feels roomy in both rows, with rear passengers benefitting most from the added wheelbase. Rear legroom has increased by 56mm, which makes a real difference for adults on longer trips.
At 508 litres, the boot size is generous for the class, beating many rivals and giving the K4 strong family-friendly credentials. The Mazda3 sedan measures 444 litres, the Hyundai i30 sedan at 474 litres, and the Toyota Corolla sedan with 470 litres.
Safety has clearly been a focus, and Kia has packed the K4 with a broad suite of tech. Standard kit includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and a centre-side airbag for better occupant protection in side impacts.
All variants except the base S come with Highway Driving Assist 2, which combines adaptive cruise, lane following, and even semi-automated lane changes under the right conditions.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Powertrain & handling
The GT-Line’s 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder is the jewel of the range. Producing 142kW and 265Nm, it’s a familiar engine within the Kia-Hyundai family, but here it feels well matched to the sedan’s proportions.
Curiously, power has dropped by 8kW since the previous model and the i30 cousin. Power is channelled to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic, which shifts smoothly in everyday driving and responds promptly when pushed. It’s great to feel the athleticism that comes from real gear ratios. You simply don’t get that same zest for life in increasingly popular CVT autos.
Compared with the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre MPI found in lower K4 trims, the turbocharged engine transforms the character of the car. There’s noticeably more urgency on take-off and when overtaking or merging onto motorways; and in Sport mode, the gearbox is happy to hold gears longer for a livelier response. We timed 0-100km/h in 7.36 seconds.
Kia quotes a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.7L/100km, which is about average against the turbocharged equivalents. Though, our week worth of testing brought on a higher average of 7.7L/100km. That figure is starting to stand out as the market is growing with hybrid alternatives. At least it tolerates the lower grade 91 RON petrol.
Perhaps more impressive than the engine is the suspension tuning. Kia Australia’s local ride and handling team, as usual, has refined the car for Australian roads. The GT-Line features a multi-link rear suspension setup, giving it a sharper, more composed feel than a torsion-beam arrangement.
We do find it a smidge softer than the previous generation. On urban streets, the K4 rides with a compliance that absorbs most bumps with ease, while still keeping the body nicely controlled. Out on twisting backroads, the sedan feels agile and confident, with steering that’s direct and well weighted. It doesn’t pretend to be a hot sedan – this isn’t a Civic Type R rival – but it does deliver a level of polish and athleticism that makes it one of the more engaging mainstream sedans to drive every day.
Kia explains that noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been improved compared to the Cerato, thanks to better insulation and use of high-strength steel. On coarse-chip country roads, some tyre roar still comes through, but overall refinement is in line with the class leaders.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Re-invented striking new design: Inside and out, the K4 looks and feels more premium than its price tag suggests.
- Flagship tech package: With large twin 12.3-inch screens in line, OTA updates, and high-end safety systems, this set-up is sure to stay in date for a long time yet.
- Spacious interior: Excellent rear-seat comfort and one of the largest boots in the class – 508 litres.
- GT-Line is not just a label, you actually get a mechanical upgrade: The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, 8-speed auto, and multi-link rear suspension deliver more satisfying performance.
- Ownership costs: Kia’s 7-year warranty and servicing costs advertised upfront make it a steady car to own long-term.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Key considerations before you buy
- Sedan-only (for now): The hatchback doesn’t arrive until late 2025.
- Slight decrease in power: Why are we going backwards from 150kW to 142kW over the previous-gen Cerato GT? It’s not to achieve a tougher emission standard (still Euro 5), and there is virtually no improvement in fuel consumption.
- Fuel efficiency starting to stand out: With the market flooding with hybrid alternatives, 6.7L/100km is beginning to slip above industry standards.
- Price creep: The previous-gen Cerato GT sedan retailed from $36,860. Now $42,990, that is a 15 per cent increase. As it goes, a new model means a higher price.
- Driver monitoring more overbearing than others: Kia and Hyundai’s driver monitoring alerts more persistent and annoying than others. The result is, we end up turning it off anyway. In the long term, our screen would have three wear marks at the button locations you need to keep pressing to turn it off every time you turn the car on.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
The Kia K4 GT-Line sedan proves Kia isn’t just replacing the Cerato – it’s moving the small sedan game forward. With an immense external redesign, strong feature set, and a carefully honed ride tuned for Australian conditions, it feels like a segment benchmark in the making. For buyers seeking a mix of style, safety, and performance that is liveable for the everyday grind, the K4 is well worth a look.
