Compare the2025 Kia K4VS 2025 Honda Civic

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia K4 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda Civic, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	K4	Civic
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.5 sec	1.1 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia K4 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Civic has not been tested.

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia K4 is safer than the Honda Civic:

	K4	Civic
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	16.7%	30%
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	241 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	147/158 lbs.	189/372 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	349	444
Neck Stress	118 lbs.	189 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	315/48 lbs.	275/164 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia K4 is safer than the Honda Civic:

	K4	Civic
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	196 lbs.	286 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	66 G’s	79 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
HIC	178	260
Spine Acceleration	42 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	693 lbs.	805 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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.

Engine

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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia K4 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda Civic 4 cyl.:

	K4	Civic
Zero to 60 MPH	9.1 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	17 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.3 MPH	84.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the K4 LX 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder CVT 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	K4 GT-Line Turbo	Civic
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.2 inches

The K4 stops shorter than the Civic:

	K4	Civic
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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 Touring Hybrid Sedan pulls only .79 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).

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

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.

Ergonomics

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.

Compared to traditional radio, the Kia K4’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Civic Touring/Sport Touring.

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