While SUV sales remain strong, two brands known for their excellent sedans, Kia and Toyota, remain steadfast in their commitment to the 4-door car segment.
The 2025 Kia K4 and Toyota Corolla demonstrate the effort each brand puts into their sedan offerings, each laden with compelling technology, good performance, and appealing exterior styling.
Let’s check out the Kia K4 and Toyota Corolla.
2025 Kia K4
The K4 debuts this year as Kia’s entry-level model. It continues the company’s trend toward producing aggressively styled sedans, like the K5, that punch above their weight class in terms of exterior looks and interior feel.
Inside, the K4 feels more stereotypically German than its predecessor, the Forte. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and it has plenty of technology. Even though it’s smaller than its K5 sibling, it feels about the same once you’re settled into the seats.
Under the hood, the base K4 comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder putting out 147 horsepower, but if you move up to the GT-Line Turbo, you get a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder putting out 190 hp. If you can get the bigger powerplant, you must do so — you won’t be disappointed.
Kia K4 Highlights
Digital help: The K4 comes with a digital assistant that allows the driver to control the cabin temperature and audio functions with voice commands. The system is activated by saying — you guessed it — “Hey Kia.” Of course, if you want to talk to your car, you can always use the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Great gas mileage: While it’s true all of the vehicles in this class are pretty good on gas, the K4 is a standout, getting 30 mpg city/40 highway/34 combined. At the end of the day, it’s a nice place to be that doesn’t make many demands on your wallet.
Strong warranty: The K4 comes standard with the industry’s best warranty: a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the K4 models for sale near you.
2025 Toyota Corolla
The 2025 Corolla continues Toyota’s legacy as a top builder of inexpensive but good-quality sedans. The current version offers good looks, excellent mileage, and lots of technology at a great price. Not only that, if a sedan isn’t your thing, you can slide over to the hatchback, and if 35 mpg combined isn’t good enough, you can move up to the Corolla Hybrid and its 47 mpg combined fuel economy rating.
The Corolla is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, putting out 169 hp. That is more than acceptable power, considering you’re more likely to be concerned with its fuel economy, which is impressive at 32 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined.
The sedan comes in four trim levels: LE, SE, XSE, and FX, which replaces the Nightshade package for 2025. Each offers more options as you move up the ladder.
Toyota Corolla Highlights
Safety first: The Corolla comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams.
Fashionable look: Toyota ditched its Nightshade appearance package in favor of the FX trim. Based on the Corolla FX16 from years ago, it gives the blacked-out treatment to the 18-inch wheels, badges, accents, roof, and rear spoiler to complete the sporty look.
Intelligent Assistant: A feature typically found on much more expensive vehicles, the available tech package allows you to simply utter “Hey Toyota,” and you ask for directions, turn up the radio volume, change the cabin temperature, and more.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Corolla models for sale near you.
Similarities
The K4 and Corolla are affordable, quality offerings in a segment where the buyers need reliability and affordability more than any other trait.
Pricing
New 2025 Kia K4 Prices
|
$23,165 |
$21,962 |
|||
|
$24,165 |
$23,002 |
|||
|
$25,165 |
$24,007 |
|||
|
$26,365 |
$25,104 |
|||
|
$29,265 |
$27,860 |
New 2025 Toyota Corolla Prices
|
$23,460 |
$21,834 |
|||
|
$25,900 |
$24,263 |
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|
$27,785 |
$25,759 |
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|
$29,175 |
$27,392 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia K4 vehicles and New 2025 Toyota Corolla vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Kia K4 | 2025 Toyota Corolla | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 169 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 151 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 30 city/40 highway/34 combined mpg | 32 city/41 highway/35 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic | Hybrid, hatchback |
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 107.1 inches | 106.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 185.4 inches | 182.5 inches |
| Width | 72.8 inches | 70.1 inches |
| Height | 55.9 inches | 56.5 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.2 feet | 35.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.0 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.3 inches | 37.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.3 inches | 42.0 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.0 inches | 34.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.5 inches | 54.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.7 inches | 51.7 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 14.6 cubic feet | 13.1 cubic feet |
Conclusion
These two sedans are comparable in many ways, but the K4 is just head-and-shoulders better-looking than the Corolla. However, don’t be shallow! Drive each one, and decide which one meets your needs — then buy the K4.