Compare the2025 Kia K4VS 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Kia K4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the K4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The K4 GT-Line Turbo offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Jetta GLI only offers a rear monitor.

The K4’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the K4 and the Jetta GLI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The K4 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Jetta GLI’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K4 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Jetta GLI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Jetta GLI ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 21 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the K4’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the K4 has a standard 150-amp alternator (160-amp - K4 GT-Line Turbo). The Jetta GLI’s 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 17 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

On the EPA test cycle the K4 gets better mileage than the Jetta GLI:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Jetta GLI requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Kia K4 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Jetta GLI.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Jetta GLI.

The K4 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the K4 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Jetta GLI (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The K4 GT-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta GLI’s 45 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the K4’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Jetta GLI (107.1 inches vs. 105.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K4 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Jetta GLI.

For better maneuverability, the K4’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Jetta GLI’s (35.2 feet vs. 35.8 feet).

The Kia K4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 300 pounds less than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K4 a Mid-size car, while the Jetta GLI is rated a Compact.

The K4 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta GLI (98.7 vs. 94.7).

The K4 has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Jetta GLI.

The front step up height for the K4 is 1.6 inches lower than the Jetta GLI (14.2” vs. 15.8”). The K4’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Jetta GLI’s (14.8” vs. 16”).

The K4 has a larger trunk than the Jetta GLI (14.6 vs. 14.1 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the K4’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The K4 GT-Line’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

On a hot day the K4’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Jetta GLI can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

Both the K4 and the Jetta GLI offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the K4 GT-Line Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Kia K4 outsold the Volkswagen Jetta by almost three to one during 2023.