Small overlap front
The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.
Driver-side
Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 LXS 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall driver-side evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Hip/thigh | |
| Lower leg/foot | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN2413 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 |
| Parking brake (cm) | |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 1 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 1 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN2413 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 261 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.3 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.6 |
| Right | 0.3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.40 |
| Right | 0.52 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.7 |
| Right | 2.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 51 |
| Right | 84 |
Passenger-side
Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 EX 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall passenger-side evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Hip/thigh | |
| Lower leg/foot | |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Hip/thigh | |
| Lower leg/foot | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP2416 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 5 |
| Footrest (cm) | 7 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 5 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 5 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP2416 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 193 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 16 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 27 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.2 |
| Right | 0.3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.42 |
| Right | 0.58 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.2 |
| Right | 2.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 47 |
| Right | 38 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP2416 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 95 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 36 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.2 |
| Right | 0.3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.37 |
| Right | 0.26 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.7 |
| Right | 0.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 23 |
| Right | 42 |
Side: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
The Kia K4 was introduced in the 2025 model year, replacing the Forte nameplate in the Kia lineup. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 K4 sedan conducted by Hyundai/Kia. These ratings also apply to the K4 hatchback, introduced in the 2026 model year.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| Rear passenger head protection | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2421 |
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | -17.5 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2421 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 253 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.6 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 40 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.97 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.65 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 4.4 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2421 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 187 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.6 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 51 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.82 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.64 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.0 |
Headlights
Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.
(1) Trim level(s): GT-Line Turbo trim
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating | |
| Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: | |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.
The low beams never exceeded glare limits.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.
Technical measurements for this test
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Trim level(s) |
|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating Applies to 2025-26 models |
| LOW BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
Amount glare exceeded threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 78.9 m | None |
| Straightaway left edge | 55.2 m | None |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 62.3 m | None |
| 250m radius left curve, right edge | 40.5 m | None |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 48.9 m | None |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 41.8 m | None |
| HIGH BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 168.3 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 161.4 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 72.8 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 68.4 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 60.5 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 55.2 m |
(2) Trim level(s): EX trim, GT-Line trim
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating | |
| Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: | |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.
The low beams created some glare.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.
Technical measurements for this test
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Trim level(s) |
|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating Applies to 2025-26 models |
| LOW BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
Amount glare exceeded threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 95.2 m | 30.9% |
| Straightaway left edge | 63.8 m | 30.9% |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 80.2 m | 9.1% |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 64.5 m | 3.5% |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 61.8 m | None |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 52.6 m | None |
| HIGH BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 146.0 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 115.7 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 86.4 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 72.7 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 65.0 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 56.6 m |