By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(November 22, 2020) People have left the once hugely-popular mid-size sedan segment in droves to purchase crossovers. Times change, tastes change and the SUV hatchback is now making the biggest fashion statement in the automotive industry. But we believe after driving three trim levels of the all-new 2021 Kia K5 sedan that when it comes time to make another purchase don’t miss out on one of the best mainstream vehicles to come down the pike in years. It is simply that good and deserves a test drive.

The K5 replaces the Optima in the Kia lineup improving on a good sedan — one that we have recommended over the years — into a near-great sedan rivaling the Honda Accord, Mazda5 and Toyota Camry for supremacy. Like several Japanese automakers, the South Korean company has not abandoned sedans as have the American companies — and the auto-buying public is the better for it.

The 2021 K5 carries a striking design, comes with an upscale interior, possesses driving refinement usually reserved for the best in the luxury class, and exhibits an incredible attention to detail found in few mainstream vehicles. 

The new K5 has been given aggressive lines inspired by Kia's Stinger sports sedan. Its new platform is wider (73.2 inches), longer (193.1 inches) and lower (56.9 inches) than the Optima it replaces.  Its fastback silhouette stands out within the segment, and the long clamshell hood, Z-shaped daytime running lights, and air vents add a type of sportiness that the Optima lacked. The new "tiger face" has been modernized to include a wide and thin grille, which now includes a "shark skin-inspired" mesh design.

The K5 comes in four trim levels (LX, LXE, GT-Line and EX) and with two engine offerings. The standard engine — what we think most people will purchase — is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque mated to a very smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four makes 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.

We found the 1.6-liter to be a delightful drive with as much performance as most people will ever want or need together with decent gas mileage on regular gas EPA-rated at 27 mpg city, 37 highway and 31 combined. Our GT-Line test car with all-wheel drive carried a rating of 26/34/29. It stacks up well against the current benchmark Honda Accord.

We think the 8-speed makes the 1.6-liter engine feel even better than you might expect, instantly responding to driver commands, and downshifting immediately when needed. Shifts are smooth and always seem to be at the right time. Perhaps this is a big reason the K5 has been clocked from 0-to-60 in just 7.0 seconds with a quarter mile time of 15.5 seconds at 92 mph.



There are four drive modes available — Normal, Smart, Sport and Custom. Sport adds stiffness to the steering, and the transmission holds gears longer. Most of our driving came in the Normal mode, but Sport gave the sedan a taste of "sports car" on our usual winding rural road "test track." Smart is designed to mix things up adding some sportiness at the wheel while maintaining the Normal driving range most of the time.

The windshield is radically angled imparting a sports-car mood to the driving experience. The seating position behind the wheel is spot on, and something we look for these days is adult-sized rear seat space, and in the K5 legroom is generous and the seats are comfortable. Head room might be a bit compromised for very tall passengers because of the raked roofline. Strangely on our GT-Line test car there were no air vents at the back of the center console for rear seat passengers. The interior is as quiet at highway speeds as many luxury sedans.

A 10.3-inch touchscreen is available on some trim levels, but the GT-Line comes with an 8.0-inch screen. (The 10.3 is an option). Both screens are located high up at center dash and are flanked by physical buttons that make switching between functions easy. The instrument panel is well designed, and material quality throughout the cabin is excellent. Apple and Android phone connection is wireless on all models with the standard 8.0-inch infotainment screen, but surprisingly, you'll need a cable if you upgrade to the 10.3-incher. One of the neatest touches is the aircraft-type shift knob.

Our "sporty" GT-Line test car that is distinguished from the other trim levels by its black spoiler, dual chrome exhaust, LED for lights, larger air vents, and a flat bottomed steering wheel.

The K5 starts at $24,455 including destination charge for the LX. The LXS carries a base price of $25,455. We also drove an LXS and found that it should meet the needs of most buyers. It comes with a fair amount of standard safety including blindspot monitoring with cross traffic alert. All-wheel drive is a $2,100 option. The EX 1.6 we drove bottomed out at $32,355 including $3,400 in options. Our GT-Line AWD test car had a base price of $30,055 and a bottom line of $31,300 with a couple of options including an $800 Special Edition package that brought navigation with the larger 10.3-inch touchscreen and adaptive cruise control.

Kia has crafted an excellent sedan with great attention to detail, with a decent base engine, first-class technology, and amazing value. The K5 is one of the best mid-sized sedans we've ever driven. And one more thing — it comes with the usual Kia 10-year, 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

2021 Kia K5

Essentials
Base price: $24,445; as driven, $31,300
Engine: 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 180 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 195 pound-feet @ 1,500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
Length: 193.1 inches
Curb weight: 3,228 pounds
Turning circle: 36 feet
Luggage capacity: 16 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 14.8 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 26 city, 34 highway, 29 combined
0-60: 7.0 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry

The Good
• Cutting edge exterior styling
• Comfortable and quiet interior
• Great driving demeanor
• High level of technology

The Bad
• Sloping roofline makes it tricky to get in and out of back

The Ugly
• Sedan segment is shrinking