- Top Safety Pick+ IIHS rating
- 5-Star NHTSA rating
- Long list of standard safety features
It’s rare when an all-new model hits a home run in its first at bat, but the 2025 Kia K4 has done just that. Kia’s compact sedan features striking looks, an upscale and roomy interior, and a tantalizing starting price of just over $23,000. Even better, the 2025 Kia K4 just earned a spot on our Safest News Cars of 2025 list. Here’s why.
Top Crash-Test Scores
There are two entities in the U.S. that perform crash testing on new cars. There’s the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a private organization funded by the insurance industry. Each uses its own standards, with those of the IIHS stricter and updated more frequently.
The 2025 Kia K4 took the top honors in crash tests from both organizations, scoring the maximum 5 Stars overall from NHTSA and, even more impressively, the Top Safety Pick+ honor from the IIHS.
Standard Safety Equipment
Starting at just $23,185, the K4 is the least expensive sedan in Kia’s lineup. Yet it comes packing all the latest safety technology, and lots of it. The 2025 Kia K4’s standard safety features include:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist & Junction Turning Detection
- Lane-keeping assist and lane-following assist
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Rear Occupant Alert
- Driver Attention Warning
All of these active safety systems are in addition to the K4’s extensive set of passive safety features, such as a full complement of airbags, tire pressure monitoring, child seat anchors, and stability and traction control systems. Optional systems further enhancing the K4’s safety include blind-spot monitoring, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Kia’s slick Blind-Spot View Monitor; front, rear, and side Park Distance Warning; surround-view camera system; Safe Exit Warning; and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control.
Safest Cars List Methodology
In addition to tabulating the scores from IIHS and NHTSA testing, we also consider standard and available safety features. Models are scored higher for having more standard safety features available on all models for no extra charge.
