Head-to-head
2026 Kia K4 vs 2026 Toyota Crown
The Kia K4 edges it, 91.5 to 85.9, on price, tech & comfort. The Toyota Crown is ahead on fuel & range and safety.
A
2026 Kia K4
The 2026 Kia K4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K4 4DR w/ DMS, is EPA-rated at 33 mp…
vs
A2026 Toyota Crown
The 2026 Toyota Crown is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Crown Hybrid AWD, is EPA-ra…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Kia K4
Slight edgeThe Kia K4 edges it, 91.5 to 85.9, on price, tech & comfort. The Toyota Crown is ahead on fuel & range and safety.
Price 2026 Kia K4 leads by 46.2
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota Crown leads by 20.6
Tech & comfort 2026 Kia K4 leads by 18.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Crownoverall 85.9 | 2026 Kia K4overall 91.5 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 53.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 79.4 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 97.3 | 86.4 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 96.1 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 98.1 | 85.2 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 81.6 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 85.9 | 91.5 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Crown: base trim XLE AWD · Kia K4: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia K4 wins
- It starts $19,150 lower ($22,290 against $41,440 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (38 points against 31 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It carries 100 hp per ton against 92.5.
Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 13 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,500 against $1,900).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
50 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,440 | $22,290 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,487 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder | 2.0L I-4, Multi Point Injection (MPI), Atkinson |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 184 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 42 mpg | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 41 mpg | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 41 mpg | 39 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 5.149:1 |
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.8 in | — |
| Overall height | 60.6 in | 55.9 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72.4 in | 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.2 cu-ft | 14.6 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.2 in | 39 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.5 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.1 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 38.9 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,980 lbs | 2,956 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,980 lbs | 2,932 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,020 lbs | 3,924 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with stabilizer bar | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) rack parallel-type | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 38 ft | 17.6 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 328 mm | 280 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 318 mm | 262 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/55R19 | 205/55R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 14.5 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 92 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 12 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.1 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 55.1 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 54.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
156 features · differences first, then sharedSafety45 differ · 50 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, steering remote control | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | — | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | — | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | — | std |
| Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking guidelines | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Auto High Beams | std | — |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) | std | — |
| Brake Hold function | std | — |
| Child Anchor (ISO FIX) | — | std |
| Collision sensors: deactivate high-voltage battery | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, and front and rear curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column | std | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | — | std |
| Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones | std | — |
| Front and rear seat-belt pretensioners and load limiter | — | std |
| Front seatbelt buckle sensor | — | std |
| Front seatbelt Driver's reminder | — | std |
| Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | std | — |
| Haptic Steering Wheel warning | — | std |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | — | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane Tracing Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Parking Brake Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Proactive Driving Assist | std | — |
| Rear Child Safety Door Locks | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | — | std |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Road Sign Assist | std | — |
| Side-impact door beams | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) High line | std | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility | std | — |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription | std | — |
| 12.3-inch Touch screen, ccNC Lite Radio, SXM and HD Radio | — | std |
| 4 speakers | — | std |
| Audio and Bluetooth Hands-free with Steering remote control | — | std |
| CarPlay/Android Auto Wired and Wireless | — | std |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Five USB-C charge ports — two front/two rear/one in console | std | — |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| USB-C charger Front (2 ports, front center console) | — | std |
| USB-C charger Rear (2 ports, rear center console) | — | std |
| Wireless charging | std | — |
Convenience8 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto door lock system with Speed Sensing/Shift Lever Auto Lock, and Impact Sensing Unlock | — | std |
| Front and rear power windows | — | std |
| Inside Handle Override All Doors | — | std |
| One 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet in front console | std | — |
| Power outlet (x1) | — | std |
| Remote Trunk Lid Release Cable operated | — | std |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | — | std |
| Central door lock switch | — | std |
| Smart Key with Remote/Push-button Start | std | std |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | std | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioner Manual | — | std |
| Dual zone automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter, and rear-seat vents | std | — |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support | std | — |
| Heated front seats | std | — |
| Ventilated front seats | std | — |
| Heated rear seats | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Bench fixed seatback folding | — | std |
| Cloth seat trim | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening seats | std | — |
| Driver's seat Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Leather-trimmed front seats with seatback pockets | std | — |
| Passenger side Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Rear center armrest with cup-holder | std | — |
Interior28 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel, with audio, infotainment and driver-assist controls | std | — |
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver | std | — |
| 12.3-inch TFT Cluster | std | — |
| 4-inch TFT Cluster | — | std |
| C/Pad interior trim with Technical Embossing | — | std |
| Covered center console, armrest and storage | std | — |
| Deluxe SynTex Inside Door Armrest | — | std |
| Floor console Armrest with SynTex material | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Center Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Upper Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Glove Box with Damper | — | std |
| Heated, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel, with audio, infotainment and driver-assist controls | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed shift knob | std | — |
| LED front and rear reading lights and cargo area light | std | — |
| LED Map and Room Lamp | — | std |
| Luggage Lamp | — | std |
| Metal Paint Inside Door Handle | — | std |
| Overhead console with maplights and Safety Connect® button | std | — |
| Soft PVC Transmission Gear Shift Knob | — | std |
| Sunvisor Vanity mirror with cover and Driver's Ticket Holder | — | std |
| Two front and two rear cup holders; two front-door and one rear bottle holder | std | — |
| Two-spoke design, Polyurethane Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Inside Rear-view Mirror Day and Night | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Sunvisor Sliding type with LED Illumination | std | — |
| Dual extendable sun visors and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Trip Computer | — | std |
| Front/Rear Inside Door Map Pocket and Bottle Holder | — | std |
Exterior28 differ · 31 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators, puddle lights and power-folding feature | std | — |
| 16-inch steel wheels (Dark Gray cover) | — | std |
| 19-in. multi-spoke machined-finish two-tone alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic Windshield | std | — |
| Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams and auto on/off | std | — |
| Black Belt-line molding | — | std |
| Black bumper | — | std |
| Black Radiator Grille with Metal Paint trim | — | std |
| Black Side Sill | — | std |
| Black Side Window Trim | — | std |
| Bulb type High Mounted Stop Lamp | — | std |
| Color-keyed outside door handles with front door touch-sensor lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Conventional Wiper Blade type | — | std |
| Escort headlights | — | std |
| Full LED Rear Combination Lamps | std | — |
| Heated Back-lite | — | std |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing glass | std | — |
| K4 emblem (left side of trunk) | — | std |
| LED and Bulb type Rear Combination Lamps | — | std |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) Headlights | — | std |
| Outside Mirror with Black Mirror Arm and Body Color Mirror Cap | — | std |
| Single Muffler Hidden Exhaust tips | — | std |
| Trunk Lid Trim Inner cover with inside handle | — | std |
| UV Cut Glass and Solar Glass Windshield with Backlite, Front and Rear door | — | std |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wiper | std | — |
| Auto Light Control System | — | std |
| Rear window defogger | std | — |
| Low Washer Fluid Warning | — | std |
| LED Amber Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Outside Rear-view Mirror Electric adjustable and Heated | std | std |
| Temporary spare tire | std | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive / Full-Time Electronic All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | — | std |
| 2.0L Multi Port Injection (MPI) engine | — | std |
| Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Front McPherson strut with Coil spring | — | std |
| Rear Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) | — | std |
| Shock Absorber Type Gas | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Crown
Safety Signal 94 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 2 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (1), Electrical System (1)
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
Kia K4
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 13 · 6 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (5), Lane Departure (5), Unspecified (5)
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V135000 · 14,870 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Kia K4LX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,440 (base trim) | $22,290 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,440 – $54,990 4 trims | $22,290 – $28,890 8 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Crown Hybrid AWD | K4 4DR w/ DMS |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 41 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,500 | $1,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Kia K4?
The Kia K4 edges it, 91.5 to 85.9, on price, tech & comfort. The Toyota Crown is ahead on fuel & range and safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia K4 scores 91.5 and the 2026 Toyota Crown 85.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Kia K4?
The 2026 Kia K4 starts lower — $22,290 against $41,440, a gap of $19,150 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Kia K4?
2026 Toyota Crown: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Kia K4: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Toyota Crown and the 2026 Kia K4?
Where the 2026 Kia K4 wins: it starts $19,150 lower ($22,290 against $41,440 base MSRP), lists more comfort and tech equipment (38 points against 31 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and carries 100 hp per ton against 92.5. Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 13 filed with NHTSA) and costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,500 against $1,900). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.