The Kia K5, now you might not be familiar with the name
of this sharp-looking sedan, but you definitely
want to see what's inside.
This is bang for your buck on four wheels, wrapped
in style, so let's unwrap it and see what the K5 is all about.
Hey, everybody.
I'm Desola from Edmonds.
We painstakingly test and review hundreds of cars, trucks,
and SUVs every single year, while CarMax expertly,
appraises, buys, and sells thousands and thousands
of them.
So we thought, wait a minute.
Why don't we combine our car testing knowledge
with CarMax's experience to help you make the right choice
on your next car.
Now before we get into the video,
make sure to like and subscribe to CarMax
to see more videos like this one,
and if you want to know more about the K5 inside and out,
click the link down below for an in-depth article.
So when you hear K5, you might think, what is it, a marathon,
a chocolate bar.
OK, you know it's not a chocolate bar.
It's actually Kia's freshly-redesigned midsize
sedan, and they used to call it the Optima.
But back in 2021, they renamed it the K5,
and I actually think that sounds a lot cooler.
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Now this is a 2021 K5 in the EX trim--
it's the second-highest trim level behind the GT.
Carmax sells 2021 K5s for an average of $31,734.
Now keep in mind that the price does
depend on things like trim level, mileage, options,
and other factors.
So maybe you like the K5, but you're not too sure about it
yet.
Well luckily for you, there are a ton of other options.
The closest to this Kia in our Edmunds rankings
are the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata,
but if you're looking for something a little more fun,
check out the Mazda 6.
Then, of course, there's always the old standard, the Toyota
Camry and the Nissan Altima.
We could talk about these sedans all day and put you to sleep,
or you could just read all the nitty gritty in the article.
So let's get back to the K5 and see what sets it apart
from the competition.
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There's no question about it--
the K5 makes a statement.
It has sharp angles, cool lighting,
and a dramatic roofline with a chrome strip, which actually
gives you more trunk space, but we'll talk about that later.
It's definitely a lot more enticing
than the average sedan, and we actually
think that it's the best looking in the class.
So nearly all K5s have front-wheel drive,
and there's only two trims where you can get all-wheel drive.
So if that's something that you want,
you got to go with the LXS or the GT line.
And that's right, people.
Can you believe that the GT, which
is supposed to be the sportiest of the bunch,
only has front-wheel drive?
I don't know, for me, that's just disappointing.
Here's the full rundown of the K5 trims.
First is the base, LX, the LXS, the cool-looking GT line that
has extra styling that really makes it stand out,
and then there's the EX, which is
what we have right here today.
And finally, there's the turbocharged GT
which is the fastest K5 that you can buy.
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The interior is definitely a high point for the K5.
The design has a certain refinement to it
that you don't really find in the class,
and they actually have the materials to back it up.
There's a lot of soft surfaces, and good looking wood,
and metal accents all around the car for the price point.
Now keep in mind that this is still on the affordable side,
so there are plastics here and there,
but it's actually tastefully done.
It feels like it's the perfect combination between keeping
the costs down, while also delivering value and comfort,
and that's something that Kia has
done a great job at in recent years with it's designs.
Which is a great thing of course,
but I don't really think that it's on the same quality
level as the Accord.
All right, so on to the technology.
An 8-inch touchscreen comes standard on the K5,
but if you decide to go with the GT, EX, or GT line,
you'll get a 10.25-inch screen like we have in here,
and it's actually at the top of the class so that's great.
Apple CarPlay and Android auto also comes standard
on all models, plus in this model,
we have a wireless charger right down here,
so you can wirelessly charge your phone while also
using CarPlay and you don't have to use any annoying cables.
Now with all that said, I got to say that I did experience
some weird issues with CarPlay.
When I first got in the car, it connected fine,
but then it didn't.
And of course, I did try using a cord, and it still didn't work.
And this seems to be a common issue with the K5,
so that's definitely something that Kia
is going to have to figure out.
Every K5 comes standard with forward collision mitigation
and lane keep assist, but if you want additional features
like blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control,
you'll have to opt for a higher trim level than the base model.
Now the great thing is that these drivers aids worked
really well, so tech like lane keep assist is actually
helpful and effective.
And the reason why I say actually
is because it's pretty common for those systems
to be annoying in rival sedans, where they don't really
work as well, you know.
So if you've ever felt adaptive cruise control that
feels abrupt and jerky, you don't
have to worry about that in the K5
because in here, it's nice and smooth.
It's much better than the competition.
So up front, the seats are really comfortable
and there's a lot of adjustment, but it's not really anything
to brag about.
But one thing that they can brag about
is how big the mirror is on the visor.
I'm telling you, guys.
I'm like, man, I love it.
Now there's plenty of space for tall drivers
and I find it comfortable, but it's not really a stand-out
amongst it's competition.
We also really like these thin pillars
because it really helps with forward outward visibility,
which we really like, but in the back,
rear visibility is affected due to the sloping roofline.
That roofline creates an interesting dichotomy.
You have to duck to get into the car, but once you're in,
there's a lot of room, which of course is
great for tall passengers.
Plus, the interior looks really good from the back
because you can see the entire panoramic sunroof.
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So the GT gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter,
four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower,
which is near the top of the class, but that's only the GT.
Every other model, including this EX gets a turbo 1.6-liter,
four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower,
which is near the bottom of the class.
And let's be honest, that's not a lot.
And how does it feel?
It's not fast, but that's not the point.
The point is that it's enough for what the K5 needs,
and a plus is that it really feels smooth on the road
thanks to a silky, eight-speed, automatic transmission.
And listen, I know the outside is thrilling and exciting,
but on the inside, it's calming.
It's a similar story when it comes to steering and handling.
It doesn't really take much effort
to steer the K5 where you want it to go,
and it feels capable of making quick turns and lane changes.
However, it's still not quite at the level of a sports sedan,
so if that's something that's really important to you,
again, we recommend that you check out the Mazda 6.
Now, what I can definitely tell you
is that this is one comfortable ride, honestly.
The K5 has excellent suspension, so when
you do hit bumps, or cracks, or even potholes,
it smooths them out and quickly rebounds
so you can get right back to your pleasant drive.
And believe me when I tell you, that is definitely beneficial,
especially when you're driving in a place like LA
where the roads are literally just potholes.
Now this is a car about driving ease and comfort,
but also confidence.
And in this class, that's a rare combination.
So I got to say, thumbs up to you, Kia.
The K5 is perfect for everyday living.
You get 16 cubic feet of space in the trunk, which
is a little more than average, and that's helped
by the dramatic roofline.
You'll also have plenty of room for groceries
and whatever else you want to carry around.
There's also rear seat levers in the trunk for the seats
to go down, which is very convenient,
plus that adds extra cargo space.
It has a low floor in case you're lifting something heavy,
and it's wide inside, too.
And for all of you parents out there,
there are two sets of child latch systems
in the rear outboard seats.
So what about the pump?
The smaller base engine is rated at an EPA estimated
31 miles per gallon combined for the EX trim,
and that's about average for sedans
of this size, which have base engines
around the same size and power.
And one encouraging note is that in our Edmunds testing,
this engine outperformed its rating
and returned 33 miles per gallon on our 115-mile route,
and that's really helpful because it really
shows that the K5 can replicate its rating in the real world
and possibly exceed it.
So now you know everything that you need to know about the K5,
and hopefully this unique-looking sedan
feels a little less foreign than it did in the beginning.
At its heart, the K5 is just a sensible and comfortable family
sedan, but then again, it does have
small conveniences and helpful features
that really help it stand out.
So that's why we feel like the K5 is just as practical
as competitors like the Camry and the Accord,
but with a little more personality and value.
Does that make it the right car for you?
Let us know in the comments down below.
And of course, thanks for watching.