Kia K5 Pros And Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision
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In the year 2000, Kia released the Optima in the midsize sedan segment to compete with the likes of the venerable Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. After two decades in the market, Kia has replaced the Optima, or rather rebranded as the Kia K5. The K5 offers distinct styling, engaging ride quality, and high-quality creature comforts, making it a perfect replacement for the Optima.
For the most part, the Kia Optima was a midsize sedan that didn’t exactly impress or disappoint. Kia hopes to change all of that with the new K5. If you’re looking to buy a midsize sedan that’s not an Accord or Camry, you may want to check out the Kia K5. But is it worth all the hype?
For this post, we’ll look at the Kia K5’s pros and cons. What are the selling points of this midsize sedan? On the other hand, what are the potential deal-breakers of the Kia K5? Let’s get to it!
What We Love About the Kia K5
To start this list of the Kia K5’s pros and cons, here are the things we love about this midsize sedan.
Impressive Powertrain Options
Most K5 buyers will likely go for the base 1.6L turbo 4-cylinder engine paired with 8-speed automatic transmission. Fortunately, it’s more than a decent base engine that delivers 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the torque converter automatic transmission, drivers can look forward to a brisk acceleration.
The optional 2.5-liter turbo engine, exclusive to the GT trim, is where it gets interesting. The 2.5L engine produces 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of twist, making it a more energetic option than Honda Accord 2.0T and better torque than the Toyota Camry V6.
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Eye-Catching Style
Midsize sedans aren’t known for attracting neck-breaking stares. But the Kia K5 begs to differ with its bold styling, especially on the front. Compared to the now-defunct Optima, the K5 sits lower and wider and boasts a sportier profile – but the devil is in the details. The “tiger nose” grille, z-shaped daytime lights, and faux air vents all add up to a flashier front exterior.
In addition, the higher trims feature a more striking design without looking too busy. Like it or not, the K5 is easily spotted in a full parking lot.
Drives Better Than the Optima
If you’ve been thinking of buying the Optima, you should pass and go with the K5 instead. One of the main criticisms about the Optima is its bland driving dynamics. Kia worked hard to fix that on the K5 with its precise handling and better cornering. Plus, the K5 handles bumps beautifully and offers luxury-tier road noise at highway speeds.
Sure, the Kia K5’s driving dynamics may not set the world on fire. Still, it’s undoubtedly an upgrade over the old Optima sedan. The range-topping GT trim will impress with its sport-tuned suspensions and more robust overall performance for driving enthusiasts.
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Comfortable, High-Tech Cabin
The Kia K5 offers a comfortable and spacious interior for four adult passengers. Plus, the cargo space is measured at 16 cubic feet, which almost matches the segment leader, Honda Accord. The two lowermost trims have decent quality materials, and more luxury touches are added as you go up the trim levels.
An 8-inch touchscreen comes standard for infotainment and supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and twin USB ports. A larger 10.25-inch touchscreen is available for the GT-Line, EX, and GT trims.
What We Don’t Like About the Kia K5
Can’t have a list of Kia K5 pros and cons without mentioning the negatives. Here are the things we don’t quite appreciate with the Kia K5.
No Hybrid Option
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Kia K5 offers good mpg ratings. However, if you’re looking to get on the hybrid bandwagon, the K5 has nothing for you. Now, this won’t be a problem if hybrid vehicles are not becoming more popular by the day (especially with the ever-increasing gas prices). Plus, many competitors of the K5 have hybrid offerings like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Of course, that may change in next year’s iteration of the K5. But as of this writing, no hybrid K5s for you.
Lack of Manual Gearbox
Unlike the Optima, the K5 doesn’t have an option for manual transmission. Although the interest in manual transmission continues to dwindle, those who may prefer it over automatic are out of luck with the Kia K5. This is quite a shame for driving enthusiasts, especially when the GT trim is borderline a performance sedan with impressive specs. But then again, the Kia K5 may be offered with a manual gearbox in future versions. Who knows?
Baffling Infotainment Upgrade
The standard infotainment system is an 8-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. An available larger 10.25-inch touchscreen works tremendously and offers a crisp display.
The baffling part is that the larger infotainment system doesn’t have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. While it’s not the biggest of deals, we imagine most people would be upset about not having wireless connectivity after upgrading their in-car entertainment system.
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Should You Buy a Kia K5?
That concludes this guide on the Kia K5’s pros and cons, so that leaves us with one question: should you buy a K5?
As you can see from our breakdown, the drawbacks of the K5 don’t quite measure up to the perceived benefits of this midsize sedan. As a new market offering, Kia saw that the K5 isn’t only a worthy replacement for the Optima but can also hang with the likes of the Accord and Camry. Many automotive experts and websites have mostly positive things to say about the K5, including its driving dynamics, bold styling, energetic powertrains, and excellent interior comfort.
The Kia K5 is a fine choice for a midsize sedan unless you’re looking for a manual gearbox or a hybrid powertrain. In that case, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
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