Kia K4 receives dual ANCAP safety ratings

Usually, the Australian New Car Assessment Protocol (ANCAP) releases a single safety score for any new car it tests. However, sometimes a model requires more than one score in the interest of public awareness. That’s why the  Kia K4 model range has been given a dual safety score.

The following variants of the Kia sedan achieved the full five stars: Sport, Sport+, GT-Line, and S when equipped with the Safety Pack. However, the base S model without the pack lacks critical features, specifically in its AEB system.

Breaking down the safety scores

ANCAP’s assessment of the Kia K4 highlights consistent occupant protection across all variants. However, differences in active safety technology separate the 5-star rated models (Sport, Sport+, GT-Line, and S with Safety Pack) from the 4-star S without Safety Pack.

Adult Occupant Protection – 83% (33.22/40)

All variants of the Kia K4 achieved the same strong result for adult protection. Crash tests showed good performance in side impact and pole oblique tests, while frontal offset results revealed only adequate protection for the driver’s chest and marginal protection for the upper legs. The far-side impact (2.50/4.00) and rear whiplash protection (0.63/3.00) limited the overall score, although the passenger cell maintained stability across all crash scenarios.

Child Occupant Protection – 80% (39.58/49)

Child safety performance was also identical across both ratings. The K4 performed well in dynamic tests (20.77/24) and scored strongly for child restraint installation (11.81/12). Protection for six- and ten-year-old dummies was good overall, with only minor deductions. On-board features, including ISOFIX anchorages and top tether points, contributed to a balanced score.

Vulnerable Road User Protection – 77% (48.54/63) | 73% (46.54/63) [K4 S without Safety Pack]

This category highlighted the first divergence between trims. The 5-star variants delivered slightly better overall results, particularly in AEB tests, whereas the S without Safety Pack returned reduced effectiveness in scenarios involving motorcycles (0.00 vs 2.00 points). Both ratings showed mixed results for pedestrian head impacts and solid protection for legs and knees.

Safety Assist Technologies – 77% (14.02/18) | 64% (11.58/18) [K4 S without Safety Pack]

The most significant gap between the K4 grades’ safety was recorded here. Higher-spec variants are equipped with a more complete suite of driver assistance systems, including stronger AEB junction performance (2.19 vs 1.00 points) and lane support functionality (2.00 vs 1.00). The S without Safety Pack lacks AEB Crossing, reducing its overall effectiveness in intersection scenarios as it cannot handle T-bone intersection scenarios and fails to detect adjacent vehicles or motorcycles in emergency lane-keep modes, leading to a Safety Assist score 13% lower than higher grades. This shortfall was the defining factor in its 4-star result.

Let’s quickly see how the dual scores look for the Kia K4.

Standard safety equipment

All Kia K4 variants, regardless of their ANCAP star rating, come well-equipped with a strong suite of passive and active safety features. Standard equipment includes:

• Dual frontal, side chest-protecting, and side head-protecting airbags
• Centre airbag to protect front seat occupants in side-impact crashes
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road Users, Junctions, Crossings, and Head-On scenarios
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
• Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS) with traffic sign recognition

However, the base Kia K4 S variant without the Safety Pack lacks AEB Crossing functionality, which contributes to its lower Safety Assist score and resulting four-star ANCAP rating. 

What does ANCAP say about this result?

ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg praised the strong crash protection across the K4 lineup but spotlighted the inconsistency in active safety across variants:

“The five-star rating achieved by the majority of K4 variants is encouraging news for private and fleet customers. However, it is important to note that the base grade without the Safety Pack does not provide the same level of safety. In 2025, safety should not be treated as a ‘pay-for’ option.”

She further urged buyers to “check before you buy”, calling on Kia to standardise safety across all models so consumers aren’t forced to compromise safety for affordability. 

Who should consider the Kia K4?

• Budget-conscious buyers seeking crash protection: The base S model offers strong physical crash safety, but you’ll need the Safety Pack to access full five-star-level crash avoidance tech.
• Fleets and businesses: Companies often require five-star safety for fleet vehicles; only the K4 trims with Safety Pack meet this benchmark.
• Safety-focused families and drivers: Opting for the Sport, Sport+, GT-Line, or S with Safety Pack guarantees the highest level of occupant and VRU (Vulnerable Road User) protection.
• Tech-savvy buyers: If advanced AEB functions, like junction and crossing detection, are priorities, it’s best to choose a five-star variant, as the base S model omits key systems.

Final thoughts

The Kia K4 offers solid passive safety across all models, with consistent occupant protection (83% for Adults, 80% for Children). But when it comes to active safety, especially crash avoidance, it pays to upgrade. The difference between four and five stars comes down to a few advanced features. In other words, safety isn’t just about structure; it’s also about technology.