Kia K4 earns divergent ANCAP safety evaluations

New Kia K4 Sedan Hits Australian Market with Mixed Safety Ratings

The new Kia K4 sedan has made its debut in Australia, but its safety features have sparked a call for action from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

According to ANCAP, the base K4 S model without the Safety Pack falls short in terms of safety, earning a four-star rating. This is a significant drop compared to the five-star ratings received by the Kia K4 Sport, Sport+, GT-Line, and S variants with the Safety Pack.

The base K4 S's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is incapable of detecting or responding to intersection "T-bone" scenarios, posing a potential risk in certain collision situations. Similarly, its emergency lane-keep assist (ELK) does not identify adjacent vehicles or motorcycles, which could lead to accidents.

These shortcomings have led to a 13 percent reduction in the Safety Assist score for the base K4 S. ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg has expressed concern, stating, "In 2025, safety should not be treated as a 'pay-for' option."

Hoorweg further urged Kia to provide the same standard level of safety across the Kia K4 range, emphasizing, "Consumers should not have to pay extra or compromise when buying a Kia K4 to achieve a budget."

Despite these concerns, the Kia K4 has performed well in terms of "aggressivity," posing a low risk to occupants of other vehicles during a crash. However, ANCAP advises consumers to be cautious about the safety features of the base grade Kia K4 without the Safety Pack.

In light of these safety concerns, ANCAP has called for consumers to pay close attention to specifications when considering a Kia K4. The organisation also encourages consumers to check the ANCAP score for the specific model and variant they are considering before making a purchase.

The Kia K4 is now available across Australia. Most Kia K4 variants have received a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, underscoring the potential for Kia to meet the safety standards expected by consumers.

In a statement, ANCAP reiterated the importance of providing equal safety standards across all Kia K4 variants, saying, "Safety should not be a luxury reserved for certain models or variants. Every consumer deserves the same level of protection."

With this call to action, ANCAP continues to push for automakers to prioritise safety across their entire range of vehicles, ensuring that all consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing a new car.