AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a compact sedan is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.
Specifications
Engine
2.0L I4
Horsepower
147 hp
Torque
132 lb-ft
0–60 mph
7.5 sec
Top speed
127 mph
Drivetrain
FWD
Seats
5
Combined MPG
28 mpg (24 city / 34 hwy)
Range
484 miles
MSRP
$24,990
Body style
Compact Sedan
The verdict
What's good
Sharp, grown-up styling for the price
Roomy back seat for the class
Long warranty coverage included
Big standard touchscreen and tech
What's not
Base engine feels slow merging
Firmer ride on rough roads
Pricier trims lose value edge
Road noise creeps in at speed
The engine
Nu
2.0L I4
An unstressed Atkinson-cycle four tuned for efficiency and smoothness rather than drama, providing steady, economical everyday power in the K4 sedan.
A member of Hyundai-Kia's long-running Nu engine family of 2.0-liter fours that has served across the group's compact lineup for over a decade.
It runs the Atkinson combustion cycle, a fuel-saving strategy more commonly associated with hybrids, to stretch economy to roughly 40 mpg highway.
It uses multi-point port injection with dual continuously variable valve timing rather than the direct injection found on the K4's optional turbo engine.
See the rest in AutoVault
The six sub-scores behind the 80 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value