The compact sedan Kia Forte is a pleasantly designed and attractively priced alternative to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, among others. However, the car lacks the design flair of some of Kia’s newer models, making it difficult to stand out in its class.
Kia appears to be addressing the shortcoming with the redesigned Forte, a prototype of which has been spotted for the first time.
The prototype hints at a sportier, fastback design for the new Forte. The new generation also seems to be growing in size and we can see that designers have mounted the rear door handles on the C-pillars.
The new Forte will be released later this year as a 2025 model in the US and may be called a K4, similar to how the larger Optima sedan was renamed K5 for the latest generation.
Spy shots of the 2025 Kia K4 (Forte) – Photo credit: Baldauf
The current Forte is sold elsewhere as the K3, but Kia has introduced a separate compact sedan, the K3, in some markets. The K3 is a budget offering aimed at emerging markets, while the K4 should have a more premium design, inside and out.
The switch to the K4 name will also bring the redesigned Forte in line with a planned EV4 electric hatchback, which is also in the works. Last fall, a concept previewed the EV4.
Exhaust tips at the rear of the prototype confirm that the K4 will have an internal combustion engine. Your best bet is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 1.6-liter turbo-4. A hybrid option with the 1.6-liter engine may be possible. The current Forte makes up to 201 horsepower from a 1.6-liter turbo-4.
Stay tuned for updates as development continues.