2021 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD Review: Sensible Fashions

design , Rest , Technology , Display , the protection , fuel economy , Pricing

kias No stranger to distinctive design. since 2011 optima, the automaker has outfitted every of its autos with distinctive, aggressive visuals that units them aside from their competitors together with its mechanically associated Hyundai cousins. new for 2021 K5 Might substitute the Optima in identify, however it retains its predecessor’s knack for sharp styling and succesful mid-size sedan credentials.

This is extra true of the GT-Line trim, which incorporates a lot of the design aptitude of the sporty K5 GT, although with the bottom automotive’s 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as an alternative of the flagship’s sizzling 2.5-liter mill. With the great thing about its sibling, however with far much less athletic expertise, the K5 GT-Line is a reverse Q-ship that individuals would possibly suppose is quicker than it truly is. But these in search of sharp attractiveness, practicality and an inexpensive worth will nonetheless recognize lots concerning the 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line, particularly if all-wheel drive is a precedence – it is solely obtainable on the much less highly effective automotive.

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• Exterior Colour: Wolf Gray
• Interior Colour: GT-Line Red
• Wheel Size: 18 Inch

2021 Kia K5 differentiates itself from opponents like Toyota Camry And Nissan Altima With a low-slung, fastback design, the roofline that features a lengthy arch from the windshield to the decklid. One stunning component is a chunk of shiny black plastic on the trunk which makes the rear glass look a lot larger than it’s, though this makes me suppose that Kia made a mid-sized four-door hatchback if that is what it seemed for. was going .

Otherwise, it is exhausting guilty the K5’s exterior, with Kia-signature amber daytime operating lights offered in an edgy design, a forward-leaning grille, and dotted-line LED taillights on my GT-Line tester (backside The LX and LX)-S trims get the incandescent tail). The sporty bundle consists of gloss black accents on the aspect mirrors and rear spoiler, extra aggressive entrance and rear bumpers, and machined 18-inch wheels with black accents. Even on this instance’s Wolf Gray (wannabe-nardo) paint, the Kia K5 stands out from the gang.

I had no complaints concerning the inside shade Kia selected for the K5 GT-Line. Red Sin-Tex fake leather-based seat upholstery is a daring alternative within the mid-size sedan section, and it appears and feels nice. If vegan supplies hold feeling and looking so good, conventional leather-based in automotive interiors in all probability would not have a lot of a future. The remainder of the inside is respectably completed with just a few exhausting plastic, and I really like the bizarre “tailfin” on the door’s panel change panel. Other funky styling choices embody a cylindrical deal with for the standard PRND gear selector and “GT-Line” embroidery on the seats.

• Seating Capacity: 5
• Seating Configuration: 2/3
• Cargo Capacity: 16.0 Cubic Feet

The 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line is kind of comfy in most driving situations. The short-displacement engine makes some loud noises at full throttle, and the vast tires generate a good quantity of roar on poor pavement. But the trip is easy even on roads with minor pockmarks, and whereas the sound intrusions are noticeable, they are not terribly annoying.

The entrance seats are properly sized for long-distance driving, with 10-way energy adjustment for the motive force and 6-way energy for the passenger. The rear bench is equally useful, although tall passengers might discover their skulls brushing the sloping roof line a bit. And the Kia K5 lacks a little bit of rear knee room which Honda Accord refugees will certainly discover.

The K5 boasts 38.4 inches of headroom up entrance, the identical because the Toyota Camry, although the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima provide 39.4 and 39.3 inches extra, respectively. At the rear, the K5 has 37.4 inches of headroom, down 0.5 inches on the Altima and 0.1 inches on the Accord and 0.2 inches on the Camry. But whereas the entrance legroom of 46.1 inches is one of the best of a minimum of 2 inches on this bunch, the rear passengers ought to make up with simply 35.2 inches — on the Accord by 5.2 ticks of tape. The 16.0-foot trunk helps issues, because it’s the most important on this class.

• Center Display: 10.3-inch Touchscreen
• Instrument cluster show: 4.2-inch
• Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: No

The Kia K5 GT-Line is an assured mix of know-how and old style user-friendliness, beginning with the gauge cluster. While the performance-oriented K5 GT will get a completely digital sprint, the GT-Line’s quartet of analog gauges is simple to learn, with a 4.2-inch data show monitoring energetic security features, gasoline financial system and automobile warnings. Pixel-addicts might need the reconfigurable look of full digital shows, however functionally, you do not miss out on a lot by going analog right here.

The 10.3-inch middle show is lots au courant, and it is a cinch to navigate. Hyundai, Kia and Genesis all have among the finest infotainment software program within the business, and the K5’s methods are straightforward to function whereas on the go. The wi-fi charging pad is cleverly positioned in a vertical slot close to the middle armrest, which retains the system out of the best way. Unfortunately, the mid-sized four-door lacks wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which require a USB-A twine for smartphone mirroring. If you do not have a kind of (most new telephones now include a USB-C twine), Kia’s good built-in navigation is a considerable comfort prize.

• Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-litre inline-four
• Output: 180 horsepower / 195 pound-feet
• Transmission: Eight-speed computerized

As talked about earlier, the GT-Line takes a few of its design inspiration from the quicker, sportier GT, however it retains the bottom K5K powertrain to maintain costs (and pulses) down. The Kia will get full snaps to present this engine-like 1.6-liter a slick really feel, with greater than sufficient energy down for unsafe left turns and fast freeway merges. And the sedan affords all-wheel drive, one thing that can’t be stated of the Honda Accord or the Hyundai Sonata. Otherwise, nothing concerning the K5 GT-Line encourages apex-clipping or trail-breaking.

The dampers do a considerable job of controlling physique motion and have a secure margin of grip for most traditional driving duties. The brakes may hold issues engaged. But the steering is totally different, the tires begin screaming for covert dealing with too rapidly, and the straight-injected clatter underhood will not induce any efficiency epiphany. The K5 GT-Line is a succesful mid-size sedan wearing a sporty wrapper – no extra, no much less.

• Driver Assistance Level: SAE Level 2 (Hands-on)
• NHTSA Rating: 5 Stars
• IIHS Rating: Top Safety Pick+

With commonplace LED headlights with computerized excessive beam, computerized emergency braking and lane-departure prevention, even the bottom of the Kia K5 has a lot of the big-ticket energetic security options constructed proper into it. The GT-Line additionally will get blind spot monitoring, rear. Cross site visitors help, and secure exit warning. However, adaptive cruise management requires the GT-Line AWD Premium Package, a $1,900 bundle that additionally consists of projector-style headlights, a panoramic moonroof, a heated steering wheel, and navigation-linked Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

Although spending extra to get that characteristic is a cumbersome one—adaptive cruise is commonplace within the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry—I undoubtedly suppose it is price the additional value after spending just a few days on the freeway in my K5. Kia’s adaptive cruise management and HDA are among the many finest Level 2 driver-assistance methods in the marketplace, with easy braking and acceleration inputs and spectacular lane focus to maintain the K5 at a enough distance from surrounding site visitors.

If the worst occurs, the Kia K5 is nicely definitely worth the security of its occupants, with an excellent rating in each IIHS crash take a look at and a five-star ranking from the federal authorities.

• City: 25 mpg
• Highway: 32 mpg
• Combined: 28 mpg

The all-wheel-drive Kia K5 GT-Line will get an EPA ranking of 25 miles per gallon in metropolis, 32 freeway, and 28 mixed. That’s nicely beneath the front-drive mannequin’s 27 metropolis, 37 freeway, and 31 mixed, however it pales compared to different all-wheel-drive opponents. The Toyota Camry XSE AWD will get 28 mpg mixed, whereas the Nissan Altima SR AWD is a shade higher at 29 mixed. The front-drive-only Honda Accord Sport 1.5T scored 29 metropolis, 35 freeway and 32 mixed mpg in EPA testing. All of the above take common gasoline. In my week of combined driving, I noticed an indicated 27 mpg—not dangerous for a traffic-filled Los Angeles.

• Base Price: $23,790
• Trim Base Price: $27,690
• Price as trial: $31,280

Gone are the times when Kia was assured to be the most cost effective automobile in its class. Still, the Kia K5 GT-Line AWD is an effective worth. With a beginning worth of $28,685 (together with $995 vacation spot), my tester included $445 Wolf Gray paint, the aforementioned Premium bundle, a cargo mat, and carpeted ground mats, for a complete worth of $31,280. This is a good quantity of sedan for the cash. My supreme K5 GT-Line would in all probability put on the no-cost sapphire blue paint, bringing the value to $30,835.

Equipped with an non-obligatory heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof, a Toyota Camry XSE AWD calls for $34,955—although that features real leather-based upholstery. The similar possibility as my K5, a Subaru Legacy Sport is on provide for $30,265, whereas the Nissan Altima SR AWD is $30,520.

Of course, neither of these choices have the I-wanna-be-a-Stinger styling or Kia’s impressively built-in driver-assistance know-how. And whereas I personally discover it within the finances to incorporate the extra highly effective, K5 GT and its attendant 291 horses, those that want both extra all-weather functionality or higher gasoline financial system can nonetheless One can see the a part of sports activities sedan. Good worth for the K5 GT-line.

What is Kia K5?

The Kia K5 is the brand new technology of Kia’s midsize sedan, changing the Optima. While it has the identical four-door, fastback styling as its predecessor, the K5 is a model new automobile that makes use of the corporate’s international identify for its mid-size sedan.

Is the Kia K5 a Good Price?

Starting at $23,790 plus $995 vacation spot, the Kia K5 is likely one of the least costly entries within the mid-size sedan section. We drove the K5 GT-Line, which will get sporty styling parts like a bolder physique package, gloss black accents and larger alloy wheels.

Can you get all-wheel drive within the Kia K5?

Yes. Although the base-model K5 LX is front-wheel-drive solely, the all-wheel drive mid-level LXS has an possibility for $1,800 and the fashionable GT-Line for $1,600. Curiously, the nice K5 EX and the flagship K5 GT are front-drive solely.

How quick is the Kia K5 GT-Line?

With a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four underneath the hood, the Kia K5 GT-Line makes 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It’s not almost as sporty as the two.5-liter K5 GT, however the GT-Line continues to be quick sufficient to maintain up with trendy site visitors. Its eight-speed computerized transmission is sportier and extra responsive than the CVT discovered on some opponents.