It’s bizarre: Just as midsize sedans fall out of vogue, there’s by no means been a greater time to purchase one. Segment leaders just like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are the most effective they’ve ever been, to say nothing of trendy alternate options just like the Hyundai Sonata and Mazda6. Kia’s been a longtime participant on this area with its Optima sedan, but it surely’s poised to make a good greater splash with the launch of that automotive’s substitute. Say hey to the brand new K5.Before I get into the nuts and bolts of Kia’s new four-door, let’s discuss that title. K5 is what the Optima was at all times referred to as in its dwelling market, South Korea, the place Kia makes use of a Kx naming technique for its sedans (our Forte is named the K3, the Cadenza is the K7, the Ok900 is — you guessed it — the K9). “This new car is such a big departure from the outgoing model that we thought it deserved its own name,” a Kia spokesperson tells me. No, this does not essentially imply Kia can be switching to any type of whole-line alphanumeric naming technique within the US, although the identical spokesperson says that is not out of the query if future merchandise “meet this same high standard.”
Never thoughts the title; similar to the Optima, the K5 is numerous automotive for the cash and this mannequin makes a robust assertion proper off the bat. Its design is extra refined than the Hyundai Sonata, although the Kia lacks a few of its kissin’ cousin’s intelligent particulars, together with the Sonata’s daytime working lights that mix into the chrome trim working. Still, the K5 will get numerous issues proper: Its clamshell hood means there is no unpleasant lower line throughout the nostril, the intense roofline accent wraps down under the rear window and the full-width LED taillights are damaged up into segments of various lengths for some rump-end visible curiosity. It’s not good, in fact. All of the the creases come collectively on the corners of the K5’s face and, to my eyes, it appears like somebody carrying poorly fitted pants that bunch up by the crotch, an impression emphasised by the running-light signature that doubles because the flip alerts. Oh, and just about the entire vents are pretend, which is a Hyundai/Kia styling development that can’t die quickly sufficient.
In profile, the K5 nearly appears prefer it must be a liftback — not not like Kia’s bigger Stinger — but it surely’s bought a traditional trunk with 16 cubic toes of area. Base LX fashions experience on puny 16-inch wheels, however the uplevel LXS, GT-Line and EX trims get the enticing 18-inchers seen right here. Speaking of which, you will discover two totally different K5s pictured within the gallery; the grey automotive is an EX, whereas the crimson one is a GT-Line. The latter will get a few distinctive design components together with LED foglights, bigger (pretend) vents on the rear flanks, a small decklid spoiler and a black roof. But do not let these sporty-ish cues idiot you. Underneath the pores and skin, the GT-Line and EX are similar.The K5 LX, LXS, GT-Line and EX fashions share the identical powertrain: a 1.6-liter turbocharged I4, with 180 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque and an eight-speed automated transmission. Front-wheel drive is normal, however the LXS and GT-Line might be had with all-wheel drive — a sensible transfer, contemplating the Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry are actually additionally supplied with this foul-weather functionality.
These taillights are tremendous cool.
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In each the EX and GT-Line, the 1.6T is tuned appropriately. It’s neither notably peppy nor sluggish, with all of its torque delivered from simply 1,500 rpm. That means there’s ample energy for around-town driving and the transmission does not need to kick down a number of gears in an effort to present satisfactory oomph for passing. This additionally helps the engine run as effectively as doable and, to that finish, the K5 posts wonderful EPA-estimated gasoline economic system rankings. A base LX ought to return 29 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 38 mpg freeway and 32 mpg mixed, whereas larger-tired LXS, GT-Line and EX variations are barely much less environment friendly, at 27 metropolis, 37 freeway and 31 mixed. Add the aforementioned all-wheel drive and also you’re taking a look at 26 metropolis, 34 freeway and 29 mixed.
A extra highly effective K5 GT will hit the highway later this 12 months with distinctive chassis tuning, 19-inch wheels and — most significantly — a 2.5-liter turbo I4 engine with 290 hp, 311 lb-ft and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Consider this Kia’s model of the Hyundai Sonata N-Line, a automotive my Roadshow pal Antuan Goodwin drove in prototype kind late final 12 months.Buyers on the lookout for an entertaining midsize sedan will probably wish to await the GT. The normal K5 fashions supply stable on-road manners, however they don’t seem to be what I’d name sporty — not that they must be. The K5 will spend nearly all of its life on commuter obligation and it is properly tuned for that goal. The steering is gentle (if a tad overboosted) within the automotive’s default drive setting, however for those who dial up Sport, a noticeable — and appreciated — little bit of weight is added to the wheel’s motion. Body motions are clean and managed and the K5 handles corners with extra poise than an Altima, Camry or Legacy. I’m additionally joyful to report that the US-spec K5’s brakes are simple to modulate, with progressive preliminary chunk — a lot better than what my different pal Andrew Krok skilled in an early Korean-spec mannequin in Seoul final 12 months.The K5 EX will get comfy leather-based upholstery and open-pore wooden on the sprint.
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Overall, the K5 falls someplace in the course of the category so far as driving dynamics and engagement are involved. The Honda Accord and Mazda6 are extra enjoyable, however I’d somewhat drive the Kia than a Nissan Altima or the aged and irrelevant Chevrolet Malibu, a automotive I fortunately will not have to speak about for for much longer.Where the K5 actually units itself other than the category is inside. Like its Sonata company sibling, the Kia K5 has a trendy cabin that is downright luxurious in larger trims. In my EX tester, tender leatherette seats are met with nice-looking wooden on the sprint and the entire switchgear appears and feels nice. Yeah, there are a number of questionably low-cost bits of plastic trim on the transmission tunnel and door playing cards, but it surely’s nothing too egregious. Weirdly, although, the digital gear selector dial seen within the Korean-spec K5 is not accessible right here — you get a regular PRNDL shifter, however given the inherent ease-of-use issue, that is not a grievance.Front passengers have loads of headroom and the K5 feels open and ethereal, even with the panoramic sunroof shade closed. The rear seats are simply OK, the sloping roofline means taller of us might want to duck to get in or out and the again is not as spacious as a number of the K5’s rivals. The upward slope of the beltline and fastback-style rear window hurts visibility, too, although most individuals simply depend on the usual backup cameras today.You undoubtedly need the 10.2-inch multimedia display screen, even when it means sacrificing wi-fi smartphone connectivity.
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The K5 gives a lot of multimedia tech, however there’s one massive head-scratcher: The normal 8-inch UVO touchscreen infotainment setup options wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But if you need the bigger 10.2-inch display screen with its higher graphics and extra options, you are caught with a wired connection for the smartphone-mirroring tech. Kia acknowledges that that is odd, although the corporate is not providing any type of clarification. Furthermore, Kia says there aren’t any plans to replace the 10.2-inch expertise to incorporate wi-fi connectivity. So it goes. Thankfully, irrespective of the display screen dimension, UVO is tremendous responsive and straightforward to navigate, plus there’s an non-obligatory wi-fi charging pad that is housed in a handy little slot simply forward of the middle console.Driver-assistance tech is in equally excessive provide, although many of the great things is barely accessible by choice packages on larger trims. Forward-collision warning, lane-keeping help and automated excessive beams are normal, however you will need to step as much as the LXS to get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. On the GT-Line, a Premium Package will get you adaptive cruise management, but it surely does not embody lane-keep help. For that, you must get the EX with its Premium Package, which unlocks Kia’s Highway Driving Assistant, bundling full-speed adaptive cruise management with lane-centering tech to make freeway commuting so much simpler.The K5 is among the higher midsize sedans on sale at present.
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A base 2021 Kia K5 LX is available in at $24,445 together with $965 for vacation spot, whereas a totally loaded, front-wheel-drive EX like my tester rings up for $32,355. The GT-Line I additionally sampled, in the meantime, is available in round $28,000. Across the board, the K5 is competitively priced inside its class — even the forthcoming GT will high out slightly below $36,000 with all the choice packing containers checked.The 2021 Kia K5 is not the most effective at anyone factor, but it surely does every little thing a midsize sedan ought to. The Mazda6 is extra enjoyable to drive, the Accord is extra refined and the Hyundai Sonata gives somewhat bit extra in the best way of trick tech. But as a totally baked package deal, the K5 is an enormous step ahead for Kia — an optimized Optima, if you’ll — and that makes it yet one more compelling choice on this more and more neglected class.