2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) Safety Rating
Small cars Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) scores 92.1/100, ranking #3 of 16 current small cars and #51 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in the 2026 award cycle.
Results below Good: Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Good; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
- Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after January 2025
Headlights: baseline Acceptable
- Acceptable β (1) Trim level(s): GT-Line Turbo trim
- Acceptable β (2) Trim level(s): LX trim, LXS trim, EX trim, GT-Line trim
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. Rating applies to all 2025-26 models
Vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention 2.0: baseline Acceptable
- Acceptable β standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist & Junction Turning Detection. Rating applies to all 2025-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (53 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after January 2025
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Headlights
Β· (1) Trim level(s): GT-Line Turbo trim
Headlights
Β· (2) Trim level(s): LX trim, LXS trim, EX trim, GT-Line trim
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models Β· standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist & Junction Turning Detection
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models Β· standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 KIA K4 4 DR N/A FWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 LX 4-door
Rating applies to 2025-26 models built after January 2025
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 54 per million registered vehicle-years | Small cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other small cars
Closest-scoring current small cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small car ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | #1 of 16 | TSP | $22,625 | 94.1 | |
| 2026 Nissan Sentra | #2 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,600 | 92.2 | |
| 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) (this page) | #3 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,290 | 92.1 | |
| 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | #4 of 16 | TSP+ | $33,995 | 91.0 | |
| 2026 Mazda 3 (Hatchback) | #5 of 16 | TSP+ | $25,650 | 89.6 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) belongs to the Small cars class. This class has an above-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years, which usually reflects lighter weight and smaller size in multi-vehicle crashes. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Kia K4 (Sedan) earned Top Safety Pick+ in the 2026 award cycle. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Kia K4 (Sedan) earned 3 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Kia or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan)
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
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Questions about the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan)
Is the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) a safe car?
The 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) scores 92.1/100 in our published formula and ranks #3 of 16 current small cars with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
What is the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Acceptable; seat belt reminders = Acceptable; latch ease of use = Acceptable.
Is the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
Yes. The 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) is a IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 award cycle.
What is the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 KIA K4 4 DR N/A FWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4, side 5, rollover 5). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) compare with other small cars?
The class leader is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra at 94.1/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current small cars with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.