No one who buys a Kia K4 goes to provide a rattling about the way it drives, however if you happen to’re a sicko like me (which I believe you might be), you are still going to be curious. Properly, it drives like room-temperature oatmeal. It is advantageousbut it surely’s by no means going to gentle a hearth in your stomach. It isn’t alleged to. Kia very clearly had zero sporting ambitions when it designed the K4. Perhaps the turbocharged mannequin is totally different, however I’ve solely pushed the naturally aspirated K4.
The engine is sweet sufficient, however equally uninspiring. It is a little bit 2.0-liter inline-4 that places out an adequate-at-best 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. All of that energy is routed via a constantly variable automated transmission to each entrance wheels. Enthralling, I do know. It is nonetheless sufficient energy to get this 2,987-pound sedan from zero to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. That is not quick by any stretch of the creativeness, but it surely’s sufficient to get you happening a freeway on-ramp for positive.
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The freeway is actually the place the K4 excels since it is very clearly arrange for cruising somewhat than driving enjoyable. Within the corners, it is very wallowy and gentle, which actually is what you need in a easy commuter automotive like this. It actually does not really feel sloppy, however there’s not a lot engagement. Steering really feel is just about the identical story. You are not getting a lot out of it, and also you should not count on it, anyway. The CVT does a very good job of creating the motor fall to the background, and it nonetheless has eight pretend gears if you happen to’re a weirdo who’s into that form of factor.
You’d suppose that little four-cylinder could be noisy on the freeway, however the CVT and sound deadening within the cabin maintain each engine and street noise in test. It looks like a much more costly automotive when it comes to refinement than it truly is, and the K4 actually has a leg up on different class rivals just like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra in that regard.
Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
The freeway can be the place you should use the K4’s wonderful adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help methods. Positive, this is likely one of the least expensive Kias you should buy, however the Korean automaker did not decontent its greatest piece of software program for price range consumers, making these options commonplace on each trim. It is little issues like that which actually set the K4 aside from all the things else — even automobiles in increased lessons.
You additionally get Hyundai’s wonderful security suite that comes with the entire assists, radar methods and alerts you possibly can need out of a automotive that prices three or 4 occasions as a lot as this mid-level Kia. It is meant to make driving extra enjoyable, similar to the sound deadening that retains the surface, nicely, outdoors.
