New, Bold and GT Styling 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line

A perfect daily for the enthusiast driver

K5 prices start at $23,590.00.

Is the KIA k5 the new kia optima?

Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. The K5 is replacing the Optima, the successful predecessor that had a 20-year production run. An all-new name and all-new look – very bold, new look. A mid-size sedan that will demand attention.

Tested kia k5 GT-Line: suggested retail price of $27,435.00, NOt including destination charge

Kia k5 Trim levels

The Kia K5 is offered in a series of trim levels beginning with the:

LX
LXS
GT- Line (as tested)
EX
GT

The GT-Line is the perfect trim for those seeking the GT styling with a more budget focus approach.

What is the Kia K5 warranty?

10 year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
5 year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
5 year/60,000-mile roadside assistance

What engine comes with the kia k5?

1.6L Four-Cylinder (as tested)

LX, LXS, GT-Line, and EX are all powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder with 195 lb.- ft. of torque producing 180 horsepower. It is mated to an 8-Speed Automatic Transmission.

2.5L Turbo Four-Cylinder

The second option is a 2.5L Turbo four-cylinder with 311 lb.- ft torque producing 290 horsepower. It’s mated to an 8- Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission.

The K5 GT- Line, offers more plenty of power for the more style focused driver.

What are the interior features of the Kia K5 GT-Line?

The interior was perhaps my favorite part of the experience. Highly detailed and highly contrasted with the exterior. I like the GT-Line stitched on the two front buckets and also GT-Line on the steering wheel. The panoramic roof gave the car a scenes of space and light. Ergonomically it works and I have enjoyed the experience the K5 offers.

The 8 inch touchscreen monitor that offers Android Auto and Apple Carplay, which I did connect and used throughout the week. For someone who spends a lot of time driving, it is very convenient to have your texts read out loud.

Additional Specific GT-Line features include:
18″ Sport Alloy Wheels, GT-Line Sport Cloth/Leatherette Seats Trim, GT-Line Sport Design Leather Steering Wheel, LED Fog Lights, O/S Mirror LED Turn Signal, LED Rear Combination Lights, Rear Spoiler, Power Driver’s Seat with Power Lumbar, Auto Up/Down Front Passenger Windows, Rear USP Charger Ports.

The car stuck me as a good blend of luxury and sport.

How does the Kia K5 Drive?

I have two perspectives to answer this question:

As a fairly tall, family man, this car was very comfortable. Being 6’3, comfort is an ongoing obstacle in a lot of cars, but legroom and headroom are sufficient. There was enough space for my 5-year-old (in her car seat behind the driver’s seat). The fairly quiet cabin allowed me to ask my daughter how her day was after dance pickup without having to raise my voice.

As a car enthusiast, Having driven both the 1.6L Turbo and the 2.5L Turbo it’s no secret the 2.5L Turbo 390 HP engine is a lot of power, but 1.6L Turbo is no compromise. I can appreciate a car more focused around styling vs. performance because the fact is there is many types of drivers out there. The Wolf Gray color is modern/trendy, the tested car with the red interior popped and actually scored me a few compliments. That’s a cool car in my book.

Final thoughts

The car has styling, comfort, and yes, it still has performance. Not an easy combination with entry level pricing. The G-Line is a car for someone that needs their daily that includes passengers, technology and safety, but also cares very much about how they are going to look doing it. I would categorize the GT-Line as a blend without any major sacrifices on either side.