Compare the2025 Kia K4VS 2025 Honda Civic

The K4 GT-Line Turbo offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Civic only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the K4 and Civic have rear cross-traffic warning, but the K4 LXS/EX/GT-Line has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Civic’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the K4 and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available blind spot warning systems.

The K4 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Civic’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K4 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Civic. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Civic ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

The K4 GT-Line Turbo’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (190 vs. 150) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 133) than the Civic’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the K4 LX 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the Civic Hatchback with its standard engine (30 city/40 hwy vs. 30 city/38 hwy).

The K4 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Civic Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (12.4 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the K4 GT-Line Turbo’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Civic:

The K4 stops shorter than the Civic:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K4 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Civic.

The K4 GT-Line Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the Civic Sport Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The K4 GT-Line Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Civic Sport Sedan (26.6 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the K4’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Civic LX/Sport Hybrid’s (35.2 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The K4’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Civic Sport/Sport Touring Hybrid’s (35.2 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The K4 has .2 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the Civic.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the K4’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Civic doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

When two different drivers share the K4 GT-Line, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Civic doesn’t offer a memory system.

The K4 GT-Line’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Civic doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the K4 and the Civic have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the K4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Civic prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The K4’s standard Smart Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Civic only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car. Pushbutton Start is not available on the Civic Sport/Touring.

The K4’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Civic LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The K4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Civic Sport/Sport Touring.

When the K4 GT-Line with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Civic’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the K4 GT-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Civic doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the K4 and the Civic offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the K4 GT-Line Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Civic doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.