2021 Kia K5 Review

+207

The Kia K5 has the style and substance to set it apart from other midsize family sedans. It's incredibly easy to drive and comfortable on longer trips thanks to a great suspension and an exceptionally quiet cabin. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and that's just the beginning of a rich feature list that somehow manages to undercut the competition at every level.

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Kia K5 model years

Kia K5 for Sale

Kia K5 types

Sedan
GT

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2021 Kia K5 Review

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Comfortable and quiet on the highway
Strong turbocharged engine in the GT trim level
Plenty of available technology features
Impressive value

Cons

Sloping roofline can make it a little tricky to get in and out of the back
Powerful GT trim doesn't live up to its performance potential

What's new

An all-new replacement for the Kia Optima sedan
Part of the first K5 generation introduced for 2021

Overview

The K5 is Kia's new midsize sedan formerly known as the Optima. For the past two decades, the Optima has offered attractive styling and fairly good value for money. With this redesigned 2021 model, Kia decided to go all-in and give it a new name too. Highlights include bolder styling, new engine and transmission options, and available all-wheel drive.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia K5 LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$132/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Standard on everything but the GT trim is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower. This is the engine you can get all-wheel drive with. Want more than 180 hp? The K5 GT gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is good for 290 hp. This is a healthy output for a midsize sedan — perhaps too much, as we learned in our testing.

It's one of few drawbacks to the K5, which otherwise stands as an excellent pick for a midsize sedan. It's the Edmunds Top Rated car in that class too. Check out our full evaluation by reading our Expert Rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.3

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the K5 drive? The Kia K5 with its standard 180-horsepower engine won't impress you, but power is more than sufficient for daily use. It matches the Honda Accord in a straight line, taking 8 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph from a stop. Stopping from 60 mph requires a few more feet than average, but otherwise braking is easy and smooth.

The K5's aggressive styling might suggest it's sportier than usual, but that's simply not the case. We'd call the steering and handling par for the course. But perhaps what's more important is the K5 is easy to drive. The transmission shifts pretty seamlessly and is responsive to downshifts when you need to perform a pass.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the K5? This is a big step forward from the Optima. The only minor annoyance was a slight rattle coming from the panoramic sunroof blind. Otherwise, the K5 is as silent on the highway as some luxury sedans. Seriously. The front seats provide decent comfort over several hours, with a good amount of cushioning and moderate support from the side bolsters. The suspension ably soaks up road imperfections while avoiding feeling overly soft.

We're also impressed with the climate control system that features a unique three-mode auto setting that can limit fan speed. Seat ventilation is available on higher trims.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The K5's interior is thoughtfully designed to be user-friendly. Despite the numerous electronic features, there was no need to consult the owner's manual since all the controls are well labeled and logically placed.

The cabin is relatively spacious too, with a modest amount of headroom but an abundance of legroom. Tall adults should have no problem fitting up front, though. Forward visibility is great thanks to unusually narrow front roof pillars. Rear visibility is squeezed a bit by a tall rear decklid, but it doesn't create any notable obstructions.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? The K5 may not look like a tech powerhouse, but it is. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, which is a rarity in any class at the moment. There's also an available wireless charging pad that features a cooling fan and a smart spring-loaded section that keeps your phone in place. The standard system has an 8-inch touchscreen that is easy to use, though it does have a slight delay in responses. This system's physical shortcut buttons are preferred to the upgraded 10.25-inch screen that has capacitive-touch "buttons" that are difficult to locate without looking. Our tester also had a total of four USB charge ports.

The excellent advanced driver aids returned no false alarms. The optional Smart Cruise Control enhances the existing adaptive cruise control by slowing down the K5 when approaching a curve in the road. Collectively, it's one of the best systems in the segment.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Despite the K5's fastback roofline, it's not a hatchback. The traditional trunk has a capacity of 16 cubic feet, which is slightly better than average, and the wide and low opening makes for easy loading of bulky objects. The seatback releases are located in the trunk, making it convenient to load longer items.

The cabin offers plenty of places to store your personal items, including a charging pad, another rubberized phone tray and a big center armrest bin. Fitting a large infant seat should pose no problems, and the anchors are easy to access.

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy estimates are 31 mpg combined (27 city/37 highway), matching the efficiency of most other base-engine sedans in this class. These estimates should be accurate after what we saw on our standard 115-mile evaluation loop. Our route is highway-biased but includes a mix of city and mountain roads as well, and we observed an encouraging 33 mpg.

Value

8.5/10

Is the K5 a good value? The Kia K5 starts under $25K and holds a slight advantage over most sedans when it comes to dollar-per-feature. The price and feature ratio improves with each successive trim level. There are some things missing from the options list such as genuine leather upholstery (the K5 has simulated leather), an auto-dimming mirror or a head-up display, but we're convinced most will look beyond that. A fully loaded K5 will save a few thousand dollars over a comparable Honda Accord.

The K5 is solidly built to boot, using a good amount of quality interior materials that outshine what's in other sedans in the class. There are still hard plastics present, but they're strategically placed to keep up appearances and away from high-touch areas. Kia's warranty coverage is top-notch with 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain and five years/60,000 miles of basic coverage. Only Hyundai offers more.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The exterior styling is a standout in a traditionally dull sedan class. It rivals the Mazda 6 for presence, though it dials up the sporty aggression factor noticeably. It's one of those cars that you could admire for a few seconds before getting in.

We have fairly low expectations for performance and entertainment in the family sedan class, but the K5 represents itself well enough. Is it fun? Not in this trim, but the K5 GT certainly has potential.

Which K5 does Edmunds recommend?

It's rare that we recommend one of the top vehicle trim levels, but the EX is our pick. You get a generous list of standard features, and it's also eligible for some desirable features that you can't get on the lower trim levels.

2021 Kia K5 models

The 2021 Kia K5 is a midsize sedan that is offered in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional the LXS and GT-Line. Highlight features include:

LX
The base LX trim comes with an appealing mix of features, including:

A 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine
Eight-speed automatic transmission
16-inch wheels
LED headlights
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Cloth upholstery
8-inch touchscreen
Wireless AppleCarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
Six-speaker sound system

All K5s also come with these advanced safety features:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)

LXS
Adds the following at a very reasonable price:

Keyless entry with push-button start and remote ignition
60/40-split folding rear seats with a center armrest
Smartphone-based remote monitoring and control
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)
Rear-passenger safe exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into vehicles approaching from behind)

GT-Line
Similar to the LXS but has:

Additional sporty and black exterior treatments
18-inch wheels
Foglights
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Cloth and simulated leather upholstery
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
USB ports for the rear passengers

EX
Forgoes the GT-Line's sporty look but adds a dash of luxury with:

Panoramic sunroof
Heated and ventilated front seats
Climate control vents for rear passengers
Simulated leather upholstery
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Rear parking sensors

GT
Ups the K5's performance with features such as:

A 290-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters
Upgraded brakes
Sport-tuned suspension
Most of the GT-Line's styling flourishes
Sport front seats

The GT goes without the ventilated seats, satellite radio and rear parking sensors, but you can add them back as options. In general, some features on the upper trim levels are available on lower trims as options.

Other key K5 options to look out for:

Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the K5 and the vehicle in front)
Enhanced lane keeping and adaptive cruise control systems
Enhanced front and rear collision avoidance system
10.25-inch touchscreen (includes enhanced voice recognition system but reverts to regular wired smartphone integration)
Premium 12-speaker Bose sound system
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Heated steering wheel

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Kia K5.

5 (61%)

4 (19%)

3 (7%)

2 (4%)

1 (9%)

4.2

74 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Overall nice ride

Aldinero, 08/25/2020

2021 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The 2021 Kia k5 is indeed a very good looking car.I took the ex k5 for a very good test drive.I own a 2017 optima sxl and it has been a great car.The new k5 looks better is lighter in weight and much quieter interior.Great visibility and fairly comfortable front seats.The ex rode a bit hard but being the first test of this car the tires had 46 lbs of air, so with about 12 lbs less air …

Hello K5, Goodbye Accord

Dflprd1, 09/13/2020

2021 Kia K5 GT-Line 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

After driving a Civic EX for 4 years and upgrading to an Accord Coupe, the K5 was a huge leap! When I arrived at the dealership and they saw I was looking to trade my Accord they seemed a bit surprised. They were also very eager to bring me to the Kia side! Truth be told, I had some serious reservations as the Kia had always been a "throw away car". I certainly hadn't set my expectations … too high as I arrived at the dealer. I went in knowing I wanted to look at the K5 GT Line in Passion Red. After a rather lengthy test drive on all different types of roadways I had to eat crow. The K5 was a game changer. I was sold! I asked to look at the Stinger and the K5 EX but much to my surprise the K5 GT Line was much more appealing overall. As I finalized the purchase I was informed that I buying the first K5 GT Line. And almost 6 weeks later I have yet to see any K5 driving around. It's actually nice to pull up to a stop light and not be one of the 8 Accords at the intersection. The K5 truly turns heads as everyone is trying to figure out what it is. I have been approached several times by people asking "is that really a Kia???" As for the car itself, the amount of options for the price point is incredible. Overall, the car is a great ride. Rides smooth at any speed, easy to handle, exceptional acceleration especially in the sport mode, the seats are both comfortable and offer great support. The instrument cluster flows beautifully and the cockpit design with the 8 inch display angled slightly towards the driver is perfect. Very well thought out. The knobs on the stereo and the climate control are solid and an ideal size. The touchscreen is very reactive and easy to navigate. The wireless Apple Car Play is a HUGE plus. The flat bottom steering wheel is strange at first but easy to control. The steering wheel is a nice size and thickness with a nice smooth leather surface. All of the driver assistance features are easily customizable from a button on the steering wheel. The keyless entry is very user friendly. The remote start with the climate setting is a huge plus for the car! As for the appearance from the outside, the car gives the appearance of a hatchback with a huge trunk. The floating roof line really defines the car. The passion red color is brilliant and rich looking without being overly bright. It's a very distinct color. The headlights and fog lights are stylish and very functional. The lighting bolt design front turn signals stand out from all others. The rear LED lights across the entire trunk deck add a stylish and sophisticated touch. The concealed faux dual outlet exhaust also adds uniqueness to the car. The black wheels compliment the Passion Red so nicely. A few cons to the car, the approach lights in the door handle could be a little brighter. The child safety locks on the rear doors are a bit odd in that they require a key or a screwdriver to engage. The front seats could sit a little lower. The audio system is very weak. Needs a lot of improvement. The gear shifter is plastic when a nice leather wrap would have been better. Almost 6 weeks into the car and the only issue I have had so far is that the trunk will unlatch but not raise to the open position every time. Defeats the purpose of the very convenient automatic trunk on approach. The dealer has agreed to fix it when I take the car for its first service. So overall, the K5 is an incredible car with lots to offer at a very affordable price point. It offers style and sophistication with a unique appearance. It certainly stands out from all the other cookie cutter cars in its class. I am always approached with "I cannot believe you traded a Honda for a Kia!!!" Once they see the car they can better appreciate the switch. And as a Honda owner for many years, I can honestly say that so far I have no complaints about the switch. The Kia is as good, if not even better than the Accord. If this Kia is reliable and holds up for five years as good as the Accord, I may just become a loyal Kia owner. So for anyone in the market for a mid sized sedan the K5 should definitely be on your list to consider. It's certainly worth checking out. You wont be disappointed!!!

I really like this car

Big dawg, 11/17/2020

2021 Kia K5 LXS 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Had the pleasure to rent this car and put nearly 1000 miles on it. Seats and seating positions great. Visibility great. Crisp steering. The performance of the engine is incredible. Passing was fun. Car went straight as an arrow in nasty winds. Stereo sounded good. Really a well built car.

Nice Optima upgrade

Luckyguy3122, 03/25/2021

2021 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The car makes rattling noises and squeaking noises all the time, it can get annoying if you let it. upon acceleration the car takes off loud like a mustang GT, maybe its the turbo engine, but it's definitely not refined, smooth or quite like the Optima was. The doors now have this piece of plastic thats raised so that you can pull the door shut, however it digs into the side of your knee …

See all 74 reviews of the Kia K5

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2021 Kia K5 videos

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Sport Sedan Is Best? | Price, Specs & More

In this video, Mark Takahashi takes these two popular midsize family sedans to our test track. But we didn't take just any old Accord or K5. Since this is a "sport" sedan comparison test, we have the sporty versions of the two top midsize sedans: the Kia K5 GT and the Honda Accord…

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Spo...

2021 Kia K5: Edmunds Top Rated Sedan | Edmunds Top Rated Awa...

2021 Kia K5 Test and Review: Goodbye, Kia Optima ― the New K...

2021 K5 Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,590
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$132/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the K5 models:

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a frontal collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and will apply the brakes if you continue to move into the occupied lane to avoid contact.
Lane Keeping Assist: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its marked lane and keeps the car centered within those markings.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2021 Kia K5 Review

2021 Kia K5 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia K5 LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which K5 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Kia K5 models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Kia K5.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Overall nice ride

Hello K5, Goodbye Accord

I really like this car

Nice Optima upgrade

2021 Kia K5 videos

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Sport Sedan Is Best? | Price, Specs & More

2021 K5 Highlights

Safety

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Shop similar models

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Research other models of Kia

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2021 Kia K5 Review

2021 Kia K5 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia K5 LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which K5 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Kia K5 models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Overall nice ride

Hello K5, Goodbye Accord

I really like this car

Nice Optima upgrade

2021 Kia K5 videos

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Sport Sedan Is Best? | Price, Specs & More

2021 K5 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Kia K5 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Kia

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia K5 LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}