2021 Kia K5 review: The one to beat

The Kia K5 — formerly identified as the Optima — arrives on the scene with a new name, a new appear and new powertrain solutions. All of these function to not only differentiate it from its predecessor, but assist it stand out in the crowded crop of competing midsize sedans.

The aesthetic is typically new, but the K5’s proportions are not way too far off individuals of the former Optima. Over-all, the sedan is about two inches longer with a 1.eight-inch longer wheelbase. Cargo and passenger volume are inside a couple cubic inches of final year’s numbers, way too. The roofline is about an inch decrease, which accentuates the extra “Stinger-like” fastback profile. Alongside with the amplified duration, this provides the K5 a much extra planted and menacing appear than the Optima it replaces. Even so, in contrast to the Stinger, the K5 is not a liftback, retaining a trunk divided from the cabin. A chrome accent arcs from the base of the A-pillar all the way back to the rear of the vehicle — a hallmark of the Optima style — but now flows easily into the window graphic fairly than just tapering off to an arbitrary point. 

Up front, the K5’s “tiger nose” grille is flanked by amber LED daytime functioning lights with a zigzag style. The new sedan also ditches the previous one’s fake fender vents for a cleaner appear. At the rear you are going to locate a new entire-width LED taillight assembly that ties the style together nicely, making the sedan appear broader inspite of currently being the same width as before.

My case in point is a midrange GT-Line product, which adds flashes of sporty flair with no the efficiency updates of the extra impressive, entire-on K5 GT. The GT-Line features eighteen-inch alloy wheels, a gloss black rear spoiler and one of a kind front and rear bumpers with LED foglights. Within, you can find a flat-bottomed steering wheel and one of a kind SynTex leatherette upholstery on the seats.

1.6-liter turbo motor

Kia’s 1.6-liter Smartstream turbo motor replaces the previous two.4-liter I4 as the K5’s base motor, making one hundred eighty horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. That is 5 hp fewer than the two.4-liter motor but, most likely extra importantly, a raise of 17 lb-ft, which keeps this motor emotion energetic all over city.

The 1.6T is paired with an 8-velocity automatic transmission that feels like a good match for the motor. With each other, they’re not a supersporty pair — significantly with the GT-Line’s lack of paddle shifters — but they do make an participating duo that balances silent efficiency in the Normal push mode with sleek and ample thrust when flicked to Sport.

Driving the K5 is best described as mild and effortless. From the steering to the throttle reaction, the sedan feels mild on its toes, nimble and not fatiguing. There is certainly fewer suggestions via the wheel than in a Honda Accord or Mazda6, which have much better steering, but the Kia is however responsive. In a class wherever your solutions are ordinarily either numb and detached or overly company and “sport-tuned,” the K5 stands aside as just one of the good ones, a significantly balanced and joyful push.

This 12 months also marks the first time the Optima/K5 is readily available with all-wheel push. Examining this box adds $3,seven hundred to the base line for the reason that it also rolls in a high quality equipment bundle. Of course, optioning all-wheel push nudges the K5 fuel financial state estimates down to 26 miles for each gallon town, 34 mpg freeway and 29 mpg mixed, so if you live in a condition wherever you never need the more grip, look at sticking with the front-wheel push configuration, wherever most K5 designs are good for a stated 27 town, 37 freeway and 31 mixed mpg. Through my week of testing, I averaged 29.9 mpg with FWD. The base K5 LX product stands aside, getting 1-two mpg throughout the board as opposed to the better trims, most likely many thanks to its decrease body weight and less creature comforts. 

If you want a better stage of efficiency, the K5 GT has a extra impressive two.5-liter motor with 290 hp and 311 lb-ft. I will be assessing that soon in a individual overview, so stay tuned.

Excellent driver-assistance tech

The 2021 Kia K5 keeps present with the automaker’s suite of regular protection and driver-support systems, with lane-departure warning, lane-preserving guide, forward precollision warning, pedestrian detection, driver alertness checking and automatic headlamp and significant-beam devices equipped to each and every product. Kia’s car-mild systems are a contact way too sensitive for my preferences, although whilst driving all over in broad daylight, I will catch the headlamps momentarily activating if I move below a dense tree or overpass, producing the map to flick from working day to night time mode, which is distracting. I also locate the automatic significant-beams aggravating, activating even at small speeds on my fairly illuminated residential road. 

On better trim degrees, blind-spot checking and rear cross-targeted traffic inform are included to the feature established, and Kia’s entire-velocity adaptive cruise command comes on the net as optional equipment. The latter is effective nicely, even at prevent-and-go speeds, with no any jerkiness when other automobiles merge into or out of my lane. These higher trim degrees can also up grade the emergency braking guide set up with cyclist detection and junction guide, which assists avert collisions during cross-targeted traffic (left-hand) turns.

Cabin tech: Even larger isn’t usually much better

Kia’s cabin tech is ordinarily fairly straightforward and effortless to have an understanding of, but 2021 adds a couple odd aspects you are going to want to continue to keep an eye on. You can get the K5 with either an eight-inch or a 10.two-inch touchscreen infotainment technique in the dashboard. Both run variations of the automaker’s newest-technology UVO application, based on trim and solutions preferred. Both are neatly structured and effortless to use with features ranging from astonishingly handy (voice memo recorder) to sort of odd (ambient cafe sounds).

Both also feature regular Android Automobile and Apple CarPlay. Even so, whilst the more compact device has wi-fi connectivity for Android and Apple telephones, the 10.25-inch product only connects via USB. For this cause by yourself, I might personally stick with the more compact screen. The difference in visible serious estate isn’t enormous, but the wi-fi phone relationship is extra hassle-free, making for a fewer cluttered cabin with no dangling cables. It also will make the optional wi-fi phone charging slot a extra powerful and handy up grade. 

Of course, if you are scheduling on making use of the onboard application, this is fewer of a nit to choose. Kia’s constructed-in navigation is very good and effortless to use with organic language voice recognition and tackle enter. The menu framework will make sense and is extremely effortless to get all over many thanks to dedicated components shortcut buttons just down below the screen main to each and every main functionality.

Pricing and competitiveness

The 2021 Kia K5 starts at $24,585 for the base LX (which includes $995 for location), an boost of only $100 more than final year’s setting up value. Thinking of the K5 comes with extra regular equipment than the Optima, not to mention the once-optional up grade to the turbocharged motor, I imagine it is worth the more dough. 

While the thriftiest will be tempted by the LX’s decrease value and a bit much better fuel financial state, I imagine the sweet spot in the lineup is probably the front-push GT-Line. It’s a bit extra high-priced, setting up at $26,485, but adds extra regular features, appears to be much better and has a better stage of protection equipment. Take into consideration the optional $1,600 GT-Line Premium Package with its LED headlamps and inside lights, panoramic sunroof, wi-fi phone charger, smarter collision avoidance tech and prevent-and-go adaptive cruise. As examined and so geared up, you are seeking at $28,085 out the doorway. Drivers who need the surefootedness of all-wheel push are seeking at a still-reasonable $30,185 with the Premium pack.

That is about two grand fewer than a comparably geared up Toyota Camry — with or with no all-wheel push — with extra participating efficiency and simpler-to-use tech. Honda’s Accord is only readily available with front-wheel push, yet manages to be extra high-priced than the K5 AWD. The Mazda6 is a bit less costly and extra enjoyment to push, but also offers fewer room for individuals and cargo as nicely as a extra spartan tech. 

The 2021 Kia K5 and the new Hyundai Sonata stand as my major picks in the inexpensive midsize sedan room, the Kia matching its cousin’s tech, protection features, develop high-quality and value. Even so, the K5 pulls ahead on extra subjective metrics, with extra palatable style and sharper efficiency.