2025 KIA K4

KIA UPDATES  ITS SEDAN LINEUP WITH REPLACEMENT FOR OUTDATED FORTE

With production of its Forte small sedan ending with the 2024 model, Kia introduces the K4 sedan for 2025.

With a sleek roofline accenting its sporty appearance, such features as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and budget pricing that starts in the $20,000 bracket, the 2025 Kia K4 is a major step up from the Forte it replaces.

The two top trims, dubbed GT-Line and GT-Liine Turbo, outfit the 2025 Kia K4 with an impressive list of standard features and still keep the starting price below $30,000 before extras are added on.

As is typical among vehicles provided to car reviewers, my test car was the top-of-the-line 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo. Outfitted with an optional $2,200 technology package, it ventured into the low $30,000 range at $31,445.

But you get not only an expanded list of standard features but a more powerful drivetrain in the GT-Line Turbo. It includes an 8-speed automatic transmission in place of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the other trims.

The 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine in the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo is rated at 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque significantly over the 147/132 in the normally aspirated 4-cylinder engine in the other four trims.

That doesn’t make the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo a dragster, but a reported zero-to-60 time of 7.1 seconds (Motor Trend magazine)  is about a second quicker than that for the non-turbo K4.

For the most part, in my time in the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo at no point did I get the feeling of sluggish performance.

Fuel efficiency figures for the 2025 Kia K4 don’t lead the segment but are competitive for a small sedan. The GT-Line Turbo is rated at 26 miles-per-gallon city, 36 highway, and 29 combined. The base LX trim is rated at 30/40/34.

The interior of the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo really stands out.  It is spacious with 42.3 inches of legroom up front and 38.0 in back and has an overall upscale feel. The driver’s seat offers lumbar support. Heated front seats are standard while ventilated seats are optional.

A 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation provides access to infotainment features with hard keys providing short cuts to screen commands. Volume for the Harmon Kardon premium sound system (included at no cost) is adjusted either on the steering wheel or by a small cylinder below the touchscreen.

Other standard features on the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Auto Hold (prevents creeping when stopped), front and rear USB chargers, and Bluetooth hands-free communications,

Safety features on the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo include navigation-based Smart (adaptive) cruise control, blind-spot collision avoidance,, lane-keeping and lane following assist, and forward collision avoidance assist.

My test 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Tukbo had several no charge extras as well. They included a power sunroof with shade, LED projector headlights, fog lights, and taillights, Syntex (artificial leather) seat coverings, a Harmon Kardon premium sound system, alloy pedals, and rear air vents.

The optional technology package on my test 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo added Smartphone digital key, memory driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, parking distance collision avoidance and warning, a surround-view monitor, and turn-signal activated blind spot view monitor. The surround-view monitor alone is with the extra $2,200 charge.

What all that adds up to is a vehicle that gives Kia a stronger competitor in a segment headed by the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla and includes its colleague competitor the Hyundai Elantra.

A hatchback version of the Kia K4 is coming for 2026 with models expected in showrooms later this year for those looking for more hauling capacity.

What I liked about the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo: Though the lowest priced Kia model, the K4 offers an impressive list of  standard features on the GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. Most operate off a good-sized touchscreen, but there are hard buttons as well to get to basic functions like the navigation map and audio. A/C controls have their own separate screen. The cabin is roomy. The GT-Line Turbo gets a signifiant boost in horsepower and torque over base models. It has a distinctive, low roofline that gives it a rakish look. Cargo capacity good for its segment.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo: The GT-Line Turbo flirts with the $30,000 mark when it comes to MSRP.  Designers went a bit overboard in hiding the rear door handles in the rear pillars. 

Would I buy the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo? You’ll have to pay a bit more but if you can stretch your budget, the GT-Line Turbo is worth it.

 

2026 CADILLAC VISTIQ

CADILLAC EXPANDS ELECTRIC OPTIONS

WITH ADDITION OF VISTIQ SUV FOR 2026

Cadillac continues to expand its fleet of all-electric SUVs with the introduction of the Vistiq for 2026.

Taking over for the gas-powered XT6 in the U.S. market, the Vistiq offers the convenience of six-passenger seating in a package that is both smaller in size and price tag than Cadillac’s massive Escalade.

It joins the entry-level Optiq, Lyriq, Lyriq V, and Escalade IQ and IQL in giving Cadillac not only an impressive portfolio of the latest in technology but also awesome Scrabble scores as well

The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq comes in four trim levels all with a 102-kilowat-hour battery pack that feeds dual motors that provide over 300 miles of driving range.

The Luxury trim serves as the entry level model with a base MSRP of $78,790 including the destination and delivery charge. Next up is Sport ($79,590). This review is based on the Premium Luxury trim with a base price that jumps to $93,190. 

Cadillac also launched a Platinum trim ($98,190) this past summer.

“With the addition of Vistiq, Cadillac will be one of the only brands to offer an EV entry in every luxury SUV segment,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac, in a company release.

Such features as a premium AKG 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos, Cadillac’s hands-free driving system Super Cruise, and all-wheel drive are standard across the line.

The dual electric motors deliver 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque and will move the Vistiq’s 3-plus ton curb weight from zero-to-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, according to Cadillac timers.

Selectable driver mode settings (Tour or Normal, Sport, Snow/Ice, and My Mode allow you to customize your experience. As an all-electric vehicle, one-pedal driving for regenerative braking also is available.

Active rear steering and adaptive air-ride suspension are among standard features offered on the Premium Luxury trim of the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq.

Cadillac also relieves you of the burden of pushing a button to start the car. You activate the motor the minute when you get in behind the steering wheel and step on the brake pedal, assuming you haven’t left the key behind. You do have to push a button on the spacious 33-inch display screen to turn off the motor.

The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq also has a hands-free power liftgate that will open if you have the key fob with you. Simply approach the vehicle from a distance of 10 feet and as soon as you get within 3 feet it rises up. It may just have been this my particular vehicle but that system was a bit overly sensitive and opened on its own several times as I simply walked by it.

Standard luxury and convenience features on the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury edition include heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, a heated steering wheel, wireless charger with dual front pads, seven USB ports, rain-sensing wipers, a rear camera mirror, 6-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof with sunshade, a head-up display and heated second-row seats.

Cadillac’s night vision system that alerts you to pedestrians, animals, or other objects beyond your headlights in low-light conditions also is included in Premium Luxury features.

With second-row bench seats you get seven-passenger capacity as opposed to six with second row captain’s chairs.

Standard safety features in addition to Nigh Vision and HD surround vision include blind spot and side cyclist warning, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, forward collision alert,  rear cross-traffic breaking, enhanced automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian and cyclist braking, and reverse automatic braking.

As noted pricing for the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury edition starts at $93,190. My test model came with special trim 23-inch wheels as the only option, running the final total to $94,290.

What I liked about the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury: The luxurious interior is Cadillac at its best, roomy, quiet, and premium materials. Driving range is over 300 miles and charging times are workable (45 minutes to get from 10 to 80 percent with a fast-charaging outlet). The Vistiq’s size is much more manageable than that of the humongous Escalade IQ EV and much easier on the wallet as well. The third row has enough room to accommodate average size adults at least for short trips. There also is a very usable 15.2 cubic feet of storage space behind that third row expandable to 43 cubic feet with the far back row folded.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury: I rarely use Android Auto (or Apple CarPlay) but the lack of them is an unforgivable omission in today’s tech-focused generation of buyers. There also is no “frunk” for extra storage up front. Infotainment features are easy enough to operate but you do have find the right button on the touchscreen. Speaking of buttons, I’d prefer push-button start.

Would I buy the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Premium Luxury? Considering the price jump, a look at the Luxury or Sport trims might be the better way to go. 

2025 KIA EV6

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KIA GOES ALL-IN ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES

WITH 2025 EV6 CROSSOVER SUV

Although the EV6 isn’t the only electrical vehicle Kia sells, it does hold some distinction in the South Korean automaker’s lineup as the company’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle.

The 2025 Kia EV6 is in its fourth year in U.S. markets after beating the larger EV9 to market by two years. Unlike the Kia Niro, which is also available as a standard gas-electric hybrid as well as a BEV, the EV6 is sold only as a true BEV in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive form.

A cousin to Hyundai’s Ioniq5 EV, the 2025 Kia EV6 offers up to 319 miles in driving range when equipped with the 84.0 kWh long-range battery. Models with the standard 63.0 kWh battery have a range of 232 miles, according to the company, and are more suited for in-town use.

The 2025 Kia EV6 is offered in Light (RWD), Light Long Range (RWD or AWD), Wind (RWD or AWD), GT-Line (RWD or AWD), and GT (AWD) trims. This review is based on the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line Long Range AWD riding on 20-inch wheels instead of the standard 19s.

Performance is outstanding with the larger battery pack. Models with the 63.0 kWh battery are rated at 167 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which is adequate to squire the compact SUV vehicle around town. RWD models with the larger battery produce figures to 225 hp and 258 lb.-ft. 

AWD models combine dual motors to deliver 320 hp and 446 lb.-ft. of torque, while the EV6 GT makes a whopping 601 hp and 545 lb.-ft. of torque. With standard GT mode activated, the GT surges to an impressive 641 hp and 568 lb.-ft. of torque, an increase of 65 horsepower and  23 lb.-ft over the 2024 EV6 GT.

Though still in the early years of its first generation, the 2025 Kia EV6 gets  refreshed front and rear styling and a refined interior that gives it the feel of a premium, high-end vehicle.

Standard comfort and convenience features include a 12.3-inch panoramic touchscreen with navigation, a head-up display, three years of complimentary Kia Connect services that link your car to mobile networks via your Smartphone, Meridien Premium audio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Smart key with push-button start, heated and ventilated front seats, and dual-zone climate control.

Between the navigation touchscreen and the instrument panel display is a separate small screen to operate climate controls, a nice touch so you don’t have to work your way through the navigation or audio screens to adjust your temperature or blower.

The lineup of driver assist features is impressive. They include forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, rear cross-traffic alert, parking distance warning, parking collision avoidance, a surround-view monitor, ‘Smart (adaptive) cruise control, and remote Smart parking assist.that actually will park your vehicle ,either parallel or perpendicular, for you.

Other standard features on the 2025 Kia EV7 GT-Line include a power sunroof, a Smart power liftgate, a rear privacy glass, rear spoiler, and a pre-wired towing package.

Starting MSRP for the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line is $60,375 including destination and delivery charges. My test 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line came with several extras at no charge. They were a dual electric motor that boosted horsepower and torque to 320 hp and 446 pound-feet over the 225/258,, respectively, in the standard single motor, a heat pump, heated steering wheel, and heated rear outboard seats.

Carpeted floor mats and a cargo cover ran the final total to $60,740, which is on the high end of the EV SUV segment, but not extraordinarily so.

Though tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles have expired, the final assembly  point for the 2025 Kia EV6 is the company’s plant in West Point, Ga., which means it escapes tariff charges on imported vehicles.

What I liked about the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line: As is typical of electric vehicles, it has great acceleration and is fun to drive. The cabin is comfortable and roomy both front and back and filled with lots of tech and driver-assistance features. Driving range is impressive with the long-range battery. When engaged by pushing a convenient button, an auto-hold function prevents creeping while idling at intersections. Separating climate control functions to a dedicated screen between the two major screens is a nice touch.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line: The infotainment system overall is user-friendly enough but there are some quirks you have to work through to get to some functions and no knobs for audio volume or surfing the radio dial. Rear storage space (24.5 cubic feet with rear seats in place) is not what you would expect from an SUV and not up to that offered by some competitors.

Would I buy the 2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line? I’m still holding back before going all-in on electric vehicles. The inconvenience of finding working public charging outlets makes installing an in-home charger pretty much mandatory if you’re buying an EV. You can access Tesla charging outlets but that requires downloading that company’s app.