2026 Kia K4

small car / 4-door hatchback

2026 Kia K4 4-door hatchback

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front
G
Moderate overlap front: updated test
M
Side: updated test
G

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
A
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Standard system
A
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system
G

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
Seat belt reminders
A

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention
  • Optional rear automatic braking

Key

GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 LXS 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall driver-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2413
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 3
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 1
Lower instrument panel (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2413
Head
HIC-15 261
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 35
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.52
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.7
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 51
Right 84

Passenger-side

Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 EX 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall passenger-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2416
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Footrest (cm) 7
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 7
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 5
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 5

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2416
Head
HIC-15 193
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.42
Right 0.58
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 38

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2416
Head
HIC-15 95
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 36
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.37
Right 0.26
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 23
Right 42

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Tested vehicle: 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo 4-door
Rating applies to 2026 models

The Kia K4 hatchback was introduced in the 2026 model year. These ratings do no apply to the sedan variant of the K4.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Thigh/hip
G
Leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
A
Thigh
G
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
M
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test IDCEF2612
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)6
Left (cm)9
Center (cm)8
Right (cm)6
Brake pedal (cm)4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)0
Right (cm)1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)-2
Rearward (cm)-4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)0

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test IDCEF2612
Head
HIC-15340
Peak gs at hard contactnegligible
Neck
Tension (kN)0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)15
Maximum Nij0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm)35
Femur (kN)
Left1.7
Right0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left1
Right0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left0
Right0
Maximum tibia index
Left0.26
Right0.50
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left1.8
Right3.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left45
Right64

Rear passenger injury measures

Test IDCEF2612
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contactno contact
Neck
Tension (kN)1.3
Compression (kN)0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index39
Shoulder belt tension (kN)3.6
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression0.1
Right femur compression0.1

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis
A
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2421
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -17.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2421
Head
HIC-15 253
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) -0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 32
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 40
Average deflection (mm) 36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.97
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.65
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.4

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2421
Head
HIC-15 187
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) -0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 51
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 29
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.82
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.64
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.0

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

(1) Trim level(s): GT-Line Turbo trim

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • GT-Line Turbo trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2025-26 models
A
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 78.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 55.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 62.3 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 40.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 48.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 168.3 m
Straightaway left edge 161.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 72.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

(2) Trim level(s): EX trim, GT-Line trim

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • EX trim
  • GT-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2025-26 models
A
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 95.2 m 30.9%
Straightaway left edge 63.8 m 30.9%
250m radius right curve, right edge 80.2 m 9.1%
250m radius left curve, left edge 64.5 m 3.5%
150m radius right curve, right edge 61.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 52.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.0 m
Straightaway left edge 115.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 86.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 72.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 65.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0

System details

  • standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist & Junction Turning Detection
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Passenger car target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
43 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided

Motorcycle target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centered2 mph
43 mph/target off-centerAutobrake not tested

Semitrailer

Only warning is tested with the semitrailer.

Test runTimely warning?
31 mph/target centered
37 mph/target centered
43 mph/target centered

About the front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

System details

  • standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Includes high-beam assist credit
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 15 mph.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision and a warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2025-26 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
None
Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 50 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 64 dB
Difference between background and signal 14.6 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 54 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 64 dB
Difference between background and signal 10.4 dB
Dominant audio frequency 1750 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation