Kia Prepping New Forte (K4), Compact Sedan Spied in Europe Looking Like a Four-Door Coupe

Believed to be christened the K4, which would bring it in line with the brand's new naming strategy as it would sit under the mid-size K5, the new Forte was caught doing its thing on the other side of the pond, looking different than its predecessor.

In plain Kia (and Hyundai) fashion, it wears a lot of camouflage that was sprinkled with the occasional fake cladding. However, we can still catch a glimpse of the new lighting units flanking what should be a fresh interpretation of the tiger nose grille.

Kia's new K4 (name unconfirmed) has a sportier profile to the point where it looks like a four-door coupe. Zooming in on the C pillars reveals the new door handles, which will give it a sleeker appearance. The rear license plate is incorporated into the new bumper, and further up, we can see a cleaner-looking trunk lid and a pair of boomerang-shaped taillights that could be joined together by a thin light strip.

It's been reported that it might add a few more inches between the axles, a move that would further separate it from the smaller Rio that might adopt the K3 nameplate. Since our man with the cam couldn't snap a few images of the interior, we're left scratching our heads when it comes to the novelties here. Still, we should expect a new infotainment system and digital dials, perhaps sitting behind a single pane of glass. It will likely get new everything, from the seats and dashboard panel to the door cards, technology gizmos, and safety items.

The engine family might still comprise at least one four-banger fed by gasoline, perhaps joined by a partially electrified unit. The current Forte packs a 2.0L unit in the LX, LSX, and GT-Line trim levels, which produces 147 hp (149 ps/110 kW) and 132 lb-ft (179 Nm) of torque. The GT automatic and manual uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged mill that yanks out 201 hp (204 ps/150 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft (264 Nm) of torque between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.

Kia's 2024 Forte starts at just under $20,000, excluding destination for the base LX, going up to at least $25,390 for the range-topping GT. We expect the new generation to bring elevated prices across the range once it debuts. But when is the all-new Kia Forte/K4 due? The latest unofficial information suggests it might premiere before the end of the year. If that's the case, we believe the first units will arrive at dealers nationwide for the 2025 model year.