The Kia K4 has made its global debut at the 2024 New York International Auto Show. With the Civic-rivalling K4, the Cerato and Forte moniker will no longer be used.

In line with Kia's "Opposites United" design principle, the K4 features a sleek profile with angular elements. Employing "Twist Logic," the design incorporates vertical D-pillars and prominent wheel haunches.

L-shaped head- and taillights intersect with the front and rear bumpers, while LED daytime running lights form Kia's signature "Tiger Face" grille. The wide L-shaped taillight graphics also lead into the Kia badge on the boot lid.

GT-Line variants feature gloss black accents, satin chrome beltline, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The GT-Line Turbo variant adds small cube LED projection headlights, LED fog lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin, a widescreen display panel dominates the dashboard as per Kia's latest designs, including a small section dedicated for climate control which is obscured by the steering wheel from the driver’s seat.

The upside is that physical controls for basic infotainment functions like volume and audio source remain.

The Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system offers seamless integration and intuitive controls, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all models.

At launch in the US, powering the K4 are two available powertrains: a 2.0-litre engine paired to a CVT (which Kia calls intelligently variable transmission - IVT) and a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The former delivers a power output of 149 PS and torque of 179 Nm, while the turbocharged engine offers 193 PS and torque of 264 Nm.

Standard driver assistance features include Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC w/ S&G).

The Forward Collision Avoidance 1.5 (FCA-1.5) system detects and prevents collisions under various conditions, including detecting vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists ahead, as well as oncoming vehicles during intersections.

Optional on higher rung variants, the Forward Collision Avoidance 2 (FCA-2) offers enhanced functionality, including detecting crossing vehicles at intersections and providing braking or steering assistance to prevent collisions.

The Kia K4 is set to go on sale in the U.S. market in the second half of 2024 and will be covered by Kia America's 10-year/100,000-mile limited warranty.