2026 Kia K4

small car / 4-door hatchback

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
A
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Standard system
A
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system
G

Key

GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

(1) Trim level(s): GT-Line Turbo trim

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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)
  • GT-Line Turbo trim
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
A
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

About the headlight evaluation

(2) Trim level(s): EX trim, GT-Line trim

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

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)
  • EX trim
  • GT-Line trim
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
A
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

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0

System details

  • standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist & Junction Turning Detection
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Passenger car target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
43 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided

Motorcycle target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centered2 mph
43 mph/target off-centerAutobrake not tested

Semitrailer

Only warning is tested with the semitrailer.

Test runTimely warning?
31 mph/target centered
37 mph/target centered
43 mph/target centered

About the front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

System details

  • standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Includes high-beam assist credit
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 15 mph.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision and a warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test