The compact sedan segment not only offers consumers excellent vehicles at a reasonable price, but also a chance to get something in a style that reflects their personality.
If you want a small 4-door these days, you’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to the overall look, ranging from bland to contemporary to aggressive.
The 2025 Kia K4 and Volkswagen Jetta fit the bill for aggressive and contemporary, respectively. The K4’s athletic look aims to attract younger buyers, while the Jetta is a classic design suitable for anyone looking for an attractive ride.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Kia K4 and Volkswagen Jetta.
2025 Kia K4
Kia rolled out the K4 this year as a replacement for the entry-level Forte. The new compact carries on the company’s design trend of aggressive, athletic-looking 4-doors. Like its larger K5 sibling, it punches above its weight class in terms of exterior looks and interior feel.
Inside, the K4 exudes a more European feel. Its 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 size once you’re settled into the seats.
The base K4 is motivated by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder producing 147 horsepower. However, we recommend upgrading to the GT-Line Turbo to get the turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder putting out 190 hp. 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 that all the vehicles in this class are pretty good on gas, the K4 is a standout. It gets 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 Volkswagen Jetta
With the freshening it received for the 2025 model year, the Jetta remains true to its roots as an affordable, handsome sedan. Even with the tweaks, it retains its classic, clean lines.
Also updated for this year, the cabin is roomy but gets a more modern look. The Jetta features plenty of technology, all of which can be upgraded as you move through its four trim levels: S, Sport, SE, and SEL.
If you need simple transportation, then the base model with its 6-speed manual and good fuel economy should be on your list. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, developing 158 hp. It won’t snap your neck when pulling away from the light, but you won’t fear for your life merging with highway traffic either.
Volkswagen Jetta Highlights
Driver safety: Every Jetta with an automatic transmission comes standard with its IQ.Drive safety technology suite. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, emergency stop assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
Reach out and touch: Touchscreens can be sources of irritation on many vehicles due to their inconsistent nature. However, VW’s haptic-touch control panel is easy to use. The clearly marked icons are spaced far enough apart so you won’t accidentally hit the wrong tab.
Power moves: The K4 GT-Line Turbo certainly looks the part of a compact sports sedan, but for those seeking a bit more performance and engagement, the Jetta GLI model employs a 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which can be wielded with either a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. Expect this sport-tuned sleeper to push the sticker price into $30,000 territory, though.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Jetta models for sale near you.
Similarities
The K4 and Jetta demonstrate it’s possible to get an affordable compact sedan laden with compelling technology, good performance, and appealing exterior styling.
Pricing
New 2025 Kia K4 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (43085)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$23,165 |
$22,157 |
|||
$24,165 |
$23,205 |
|||
$25,165 |
$24,218 |
|||
$26,365 |
$25,326 |
|||
$29,265 |
$28,106 |
New 2025 Volkswagen Jetta Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (43085)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$23,720 |
$22,251 |
|||
$25,000 |
$23,487 |
|||
$26,500 |
$24,878 |
|||
$30,225 |
$28,623 |
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 Volkswagen Jetta 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 Volkswagen Jetta | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 158 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel Economy | 30 city/40 highway/34 combined mpg | 29 city/39 highway/33 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic | |
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 107.1 inches | 105.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 185.4 inches | 186.5 inches |
| Width | 72.8 inches | 70.8 inches |
| Height | 55.9 inches | 57.7 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.2 feet | 36.0 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.0 inches | 38.5 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.3 inches | 37.2 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.3 inches | 41.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.0 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.5 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.7 inches | 54.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 14.6 cubic feet | 14.1 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The Jetta is a stalwart in this class, while the K4 is the new kid on the block. If you like classic styling and a little bit of tradition — or a manual transmission — the Jetta is your choice. However, if you want something a bit edgier — and don’t want to deal with a clutch — then the K4 is probably your pick here.
