KIA’S K4 GT-LINE TURBO – RIO GRANDE

KIA’S K4 GT-LINE TURBO

RIO GRANDE

For your consideration, ladies and gentlemen, I give you the small sedan. As I’ve written previously, on these shores there aren’t many left, and virtually none from our domestic nameplates. The Asians have stayed in the game, finding both customers and (presumably) profit in offering 4-door confections and a trunk. And Volkswagen execs – Gott bless ‘em – continue to find a market for the Jetta in both base and GLI trim. Among those Asians, this year Kia brings a brand-new moniker to what had been its Rio and Forte franchises. The subcompact Rio nameplate was sold, uh…down the river, while the compact Forte has evolved into the alphanumeric K4. Think of this new K4 as a Rio Grande…

This newest Kia – I gotta’ say – has its work cut out for it. Competing in a segment dominated by Honda’s Civic and Toyota’s Corolla, the K4 distinguishes itself not only from the competition but also the earlier Forte with its angular, almost high fashion sensibility. It’s not quite a Cybertruck in that angularity, but a straightedge was sitting somewhat close to the drafting tables. With that, the walk-up is pleasant – and pleasantly interesting. And you get the impression those shopping for their first new car will like it. 

Inside, the interior offers real space for four real adults. Our top-of-the-line GT-Line Turbo (got that?) places you and your family or friends on leather-like perforated SynTex, which is as comfortable and supportive as the platform requires. Not only is there generous leg and headroom, but shoulders – for those of you with shoulders – are also given adequate space. This isn’t a crossover, so there’s no pretense of having to climb up into the cabin, but neither is the K4 so low that you’re having to climb in. For Uber drivers – and their fares – this would be just about perfect.

Fronting the driver is a steering wheel that is almost rectangular, a distinctive design feature that obviously offers some ergonomic sensibility, until you go searching for the HVAC controls. Obviously, as an owner you’ll know where they are and won’t have to find them. As a reviewer, however, I’m on a learning curve, and on the first day of the test in which I needed A/C, finding the appropriate interface was a voyage of discovery…easier to lower the g*dd*mn window! And while appreciating all that goes into almost 25-inches of continuous screen, I still prefer the more traditional gauges and infotainment interface. If it can no longer be dials and buttons, at least let there be some visual separation between your vehicular info and what’s streaming. 

Under the hood, Kia offers two drivetrains. The base 2.0 liter, normally aspirated four is for those wanting to keep their investment around $25K…and enjoy napping behind the wheel. We have higher hopes for Kia’s 1.6 Turbo four, with 190 horsepower and a healthy 195 lb-ft of torque (at 1700 rpm!), but when connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission the result is well short of explosive. This is an engine we’ve enjoyed on any number of Kia and Hyundai platforms, including Kia’s own Seltos, but the visceral connection seems to have been dropped from the product team’s to-do list. 

That same visceral connection also went missing between the steering wheel and road. The ride/handling balance almost seems French, and while that’s not a bad thing if vacationing in Provence, it’s less attractive – I think – in Pittsburgh or Pasadena. Part of the intrinsic appeal of a smallish platform is its ability to cut-and-thrust, and soft suspension tuning undermines the K4’s athleticism. I’m confident the aftermarket could provide a connection, but at a window sticker of $30K, why is that needed?

At the end of the day I think you’ll find – on Kia’s own showroom – better ways of spending your $30K. I’d go for a comparably equipped Seltos, giving you a semblance of utility, more (if memory serves) connectivity to the road and roughly the same outlay. And if you want to take a nap while driving, Kia’s Niro hybrid will provide the restful atmosphere, along with efficiency well north of the K4’s 26 city/36 highway EPA estimate.

While the new K4 is a sedan with a traditional trunk (and a noteworthy 15 cubic feet of space), a well-executed hatchback is rumored. Adding the utility of a hatch with a more involved driving experience would be just the ticket for my $500/month. Still holding on – thank you! – to the audacity of hope…