2023 Kia K5: Specs, Prices, Ratings, and Reviews (2024)

The K5 is offered with a choice of two powertrains. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine generates 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque and is standard on all trims except the GT, where a large 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is fitted that puts out 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The lesser engine is saddled with an eight-speed automatic transmission (with a torque converter) while an eight-speed dual-clutch unit works with the more powerful engine. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is only offered on the GT-Line for $1,700.

The standard front-wheel drive layout achieves an EPA-estimated 27 miles per gallon city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 combined. All-wheel drive reduces those figures to 25, 33, and 28, respectively. The sportier K5 achieves 27 mpg combined which is on par with its sportier competition.

The K5 seats five and stretches to 193.1 inches in length, placing it narrowly between the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Rear headroom is sufficient with 37.8 inches of rear headroom and 35.2 inches of rear legroom, however, its legroom measures three to five inches less than the competition. Cargo volume equals 16 cubic feet and a folding seat back is standard.

An eight-inch touchscreen is featured on the LXS and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while the GT-Line receives a 10.3-inch screen as well as navigation, SiriusXM, and remote services. Sound is generated through six speakers while a Bose sound system is available on the EX and GT trims. All terms include one front and two rear USB charging ports and the GT-Line trim gains a wireless phone charger.

The EX wears similar styling to the LXS trim but gains unique 18-inch wheels, gloss-black exterior trim, wood interior trim, a panoramic sunroof, leather ventilated seats, rear air-conditioning vents, and LED interior lighting.

The EX Premium Package ($3,600) includes the safety features of the GT-Line Premium Package and adds a heated steering wheel, one-touch window control, upgraded audio, driver’s position memory, power-folding mirrors with integrated turn signals, LED rear combination lights, and a surround-view camera system.

The GT trim features 19-inch wheels with wider tires, a sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, more power calipers, and quad exhaust outlets. The seats gain more shape to their side bolsters and the sportier trim gets its own steering wheel touches and paddle shifters.

The GT1 trim captures everything within the EX Premium Package and is priced at $4,200.

Compare K5 Trims Side-By-Side

Avoid the base trim. Having already established that lower-level K5s have underwhelming interiors, we must also point out that they’re hardly luxurious. There’s not much going on in the $26,185 LXS (LX having been dropped for 2023) apart from keyless entry and an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring. Oddly, the bigger 10.3-inch screen on higher trims forces you to hardwire in your Apple or Android device, which is hardly in keeping with the times.

GT-Line models up the ante with acoustic window glass, significantly better cabin materials and a power driver’s seat, while EX introduces synthetic leather and remote start. You can also start having fun with the options list by this point, with available features including a surround-view camera system and a Bose stereo. We’d pass on the ventilated front seats, though – the cooling system creates noticeable ridges compared to standard seats, which might become uncomfortable on long journeys. Those in the rear should have little to complain about thanks to easy access and 35 inches of legroom, while a 16 cubic foot trunk is satisfactory if hardly class-leading.

Avoid the top trim, too. If it feels like we’re steering you toward the two mid-range K5 models, that’s because we are. Flagship GT models might be impressively well-equipped considering their $32,585 sticker price, but they also come with sports seats, sports-tuned suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The combined result is an uncomfortable ride – a high price to pay for impressive performance. The GT can hit 60 in less than six seconds thanks to its 2.5-liter turbocharged gas engine, with an eight-speed dual-clutch auto ‘box directing 290 hp to the front wheels. Keen drivers can also engage a Sport+ driving mode, which affects everything from shift speed and throttle input to – you guessed it – ride quality.

Unless you’re a speed freak, the standard 1.6-liter turbo engine ought to be more than sufficient. It too uses an eight-speed box to achieve impressive standing acceleration, allied to reassuringly prompt braking. It’s also considerably more comfortable, especially on 17-inch wheels. Road holding is good with any wheels fitted, and there’s a pleasing weight to the steering. For its price, the K5 is far more enjoyable to drive than you might expect, while the combined fuel economy of 31 MPG isn’t bad for a turbocharged FWD sedan. Adding the $1,700 AWD to GT-Line models brings this figure down to 28 MPG, which is still better than the GT’s 27.

Impressive safety. Having achieved top marks from America’s two safety agencies, the K5 is clearly a well-designed sedan. It’s safe, too. Every model gets automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, active lane control, and lane follow assist. It’s just a shame that a surround-view camera system is relegated to the options list on EX and GT models since that sloping roofline has a detrimental effect on vision from the driver’s seat.

Final thoughts. There’s so much to like about the K5 that criticizing it seems almost churlish. For $26,000, you can get behind the wheel of a spacious five-seat sedan with impressive performance and road holding, a class-leading five-year warranty, dramatic styling, and excellent safety. Having to accept modest equipment and some scratchy plastics seems a small price to pay. In fact, the best K5s are the mid-range models, where superior internal fitments and better equipment tackle both those drawbacks. It's also advisable to avoid the high-performance GT – there are far more comfortable ways of traveling quickly, and the absence of AWD on a 290 hp sedan is baffling when it’s available on less powerful trims.

There are other negatives, of course. The eight-inch touchscreen is small by modern standards, but its 10.3-inch sibling lacks wireless phone connectivity. The exterior styling could date quickly, there’s no hybrid, and nobody is ever going to be impressed when you tell them you’re driving a Kia K5 (what was wrong with the old Optima name?) Even so, the K5 is a car you’ll be happy to park outside the office. In a sector more commonly associated with bland functionality than character, that’s a significant point of difference.

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