2026 Kia K4 Named MotorWeek Best Family Car

The 2026 Kia K4 was named Best Family Car by MotorWeek in its 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards, citing design, technology, safety features, and overall value. Read more.

The 2026 Kia K4 has been named MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Award winner for Best Family Car, earning recognition for a blend of bold styling, everyday practicality, and a technology-heavy package that continues to define what buyers expect from modern compact sedans.

Kia says the K4 stood out thanks to its fastback-inspired design, a roomy interior layout, and a strong focus on safety and connectivity. Standard equipment includes 11 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), while higher trims can offer as many as 29 available ADAS features. Depending on configuration, drivers can also access upgrades such as a 360° Surround View Monitor.

The K4’s cabin is designed around digital displays, with Kia highlighting nearly 30 inches of combined screen space. That total is made up of a 12.3-inch instrument display, a 5-inch climate display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Additional available features include a Harman Kardon premium audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, and Digital Key 2.0 using Ultra-Wideband technology.

MotorWeek’s team described the Kia K4 as a reminder that sedans still offer meaningful value even as the U.S. market continues to lean heavily toward SUVs and trucks. In their view, the K4 delivers not only comfort and space but also an unusually smooth driving experience, with a level of fun that feels closer to what drivers might expect from a larger sport sedan.

The award also comes as the K4 expands beyond its sedan form. MotorWeek noted that the model is now joined by a hatchback variant, broadening its appeal for buyers who want compact-car efficiency while keeping family-friendly usability at the center of the package.

MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Awards are based on a yearly evaluation of more than 150 vehicles across cars, trucks, and SUVs. Winners are selected in 12 consumer-focused categories, with the judging process weighing driving performance, technology, practicality, fuel efficiency, and overall value.