Her + His Car Reviews
2021 Kia K5 GT-Line
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $28,485 | Just under $30,000 |
| Performance | |
| The all new 2021 K5 may not be the sexiest name but know this: the new model has replaced the Optima and our tester has an extremely powerful 2.5 liter, two-hundred and ninety horsepower engine. That is a M-A-C-H-I-N-E that M-O-V-E-S! for any price, let alone at this MSRP. Whoa, well done Kia. The handling is precise, braking is spot no with upgraded brakes. The impressive GT with its bells and whistles makes it one heck of a contender. Paddle shifters are there for manual fun inspiration.
With gas prices on the rise, this vehicle travels well on gas consumption, which sounds good to most buyers today. |
Power for the K5 GT is a quite lusty, 2.5-liter, 290 horsepower four-cylinder engine that really knocks your socks off when you hit that accelerator pedal. Given the styling and now the powerplant, it is as though Kia has taken us back to the days of the '60's and '70'swhen mid-sized, full sized sedans and coupes known as muscle cars ruled the road. Handling was crisp, power was awesome, cornering was terrific--and all that it offers for under $30,000! Who does that nowadays? This car has unbelievable value as you will see when you get behind the wheel.
By the way, all the other K-5 models get a standard a turbocharged 10 horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. One very important new feature: You now can buy a K5 with all-wheel drive! |
| Fuel Economy | |
| This model is of the top of the line in gas consumption with 32 mpg combined! 29 city miles (wow) and 38 highway. An all-around winner. | Pretty darn good for a car of this size: 29 City / 38 Hwy / 32 Combined Fuel economy. |
| The Car | |
| The new 2021 K5 is a great option for a 5-seater sedan for those buyers considering the category. This vehicle is competing against a sharp 2021 Toyota Camry and the 2021 Honda Accord, which is one of the hottest sedans on the road.
Our model has lots of tech and safety features as it has all the upgrades as well as having 'Kia Value' in it, through and through. Kia prospects know that the brand offers a variety of merit, promise and reliability. And Kia delivers. So, even for a first-year vehicle, it's a sure bet. |
There are no words to describe how far Kia has come with its offerings, and the K-5 has to be one of its crowning achievements. First of course, is that it is gorgeous. We are talking Audi gorgeous. This car looks like it has German bloodlines. I think Kia was going after snazzy, snappiness and sexy.
The K-5 is well-crafted, painstakingly well put together, and with plenty of head-turning pizzazz, the K-5 GT-Line is a pretty stunning product. And in some ways, it's even better than the corporate cohort, the Hyundai Sonata. Kia has pretty much knocked everybody else--except Hyundai--in terms of innovative models, way ahead design, and just introducing new products in such a dizzying pace that I don't think anyone can catch up with this brand that heralds the future. |
| Safety | |
| Though the full safety ratings are not out yet, there is plenty of safety in this model: Dual front Advanced Airbags, Dual front seat mounted side and full-length curtain airbags, Electric stability control. Downhill Brake, Hill start assist control, Forward collision avoidance assist, Blind spot collision warning, Blind spot collision avoidance assist in rear, Rear cross traffic collision warning, and Avoidance assist, Lane keeping assist, and Lane following assist.
And a lot more, including a 5-year, 60,000-mile Roadside Assistance Warranty. See Warranty section. |
While Kia provides the usual safety equipment as standard, there are a lot of other things to accompany those features.
They include forward collision mitigation which notifies you if there is an impending collision. It then applies the brakes in certain scenarios and applies the brakes; a lane keeping system, which involves the car making some minor corrections to keep you in your lane, and not somebody else's. Another standard terrific feature: a driver attention warning system that warns you if you are becoming tired and sleepy behind the wheel. |
| Technology | |
| Easy to use, intuitive infotainment system with vivid, sharp graphics, 8" touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. UVO link with navigation and 10.25" display. Forward collision avoidance assist, Blind spot collision warning, Blind spot collision avoidance assist in rear, Rear cross traffic collision warning, and Avoidance assist, Lane keeping assist, Lane following assist, Lane departure warning, Driver attention warning, High beam assist.
Rear camera with dynamic guidelines. USB Multimedia ports, Heated front seats, Combo Sofino leather and cloth seat trim, Leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Sliding front center armrest and rear seat center armrest, Remote keyless entry, 60/40 split folding and reclining rear seats, Dual level cargo floor. Drivers will enjoy heated exterior mirrors in the winter, including LED turn signal indicators. Bose premium sound connected lighting Sirius XM with 3 month subscription, 7" LED color instrument cluster, Smart cruise control with stop and go. Highway driving assist, Electronic parking brake, 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar, Smart key and push button start, Wireless phone charger, Automatic full temperature control. Rear USB charger port. Cargo cover, Safe exit assist in trunk. |
If you are in the market for a new K-5, you've got a lot of options and models to think about: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional the LXS and GT-Line.
Know that the word "base" means little when talking about the Kia K-5. With all its fabulous and expensive looks and its long list of standard goodies, your friends will think you have spent a fortune on it! The K-5 has a ton of features that are standard equipment. For instance, the LX model has LED headlights, dual zone automatic climate control, an 8" touchscreen, wireless AppleCarPlay and Android auto smartphone connectivity, a six-speaker sound system and a pretty attractive cloth upholstery layout. Sixteen-inch wheels, the 180nhorsepwoer four, and the eight-speed automatic transmission are also standard. The LXS comes with additional standard features yet, including keyless entry with push button start and remote ignition; keyless entry with push-button start and remote ignition; 60/40-split folding rear seats with a center armrest; smartphone-based remote monitoring and control; Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot); rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse); rear-passenger safe exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into vehicles approaching from behind). Our tester was the GT-Line, and, oh boy, it's chock full of all kinds of good standard stuff. It includes: a sportier appearance with black trim and other cool additional exterior goodies; 18-inch wheels; fog lights; power-adjustable driver's seat; cloth and simulated leather upholstery; leather-wrapped steering wheel, and USB ports for the rear passengers. The king of the heap is the GT which has the hot as heck 290-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters; upgraded brakes; sport-tuned suspension; most of the GT-Line's sporty styling glitter; and sport front seats. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The 2021 K5 is a very distinct with its comfortable ride, great acceleration and exceptionally strong and powerful engine. While having lots of bells and whistles and the industry-top warranty, the styling is somewhat lax. Unlike say, the Telluride, which is such a standout, the K5 does little to differentiate itself from the category of sedans that it competes in. I find this odd, since this is really the trademark that Kia designers have been making with their new introductions the past few years. The exterior feels a bit dated, as most of the K 5's rivals have a muscular grills; this one has cool integrated LED light bars. The grill on the K5 has a combination of steel and grille and the 'braces effect' feels older and confusing for a 2021 model.
Supported by 18" alloy wheels, the vehicle's interior has so many features and comfort creatures. However, the room in the second row can be tight depending upon the size of the passengers. It has a countered design which makes getting in and out of that back seat a challenge for taller folks as they can clip their head. Weighing in at 3,150 pounds, the K5 is a substantial vehicle. Also, it does have a compact spare included in the trunk. This is a substantial, as almost one-third of new vehicles today don't have a tire in the trunk. This means vehicles had better come with a Roadside program or entrusts you as a driver to have something liken to triple "A", to assist when a breakdown or flat tire occurs. |
I said it all earlier--top notch, inside and out. The interior is substantial in its looks and its feel, and there are no signs of cheapness or cutting corners--at all. |
| Warranty | |
| 10 Year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty. Five Year/60,000-mile Limited Basic Warranty; Five Year/60,000-mile Roadside Assistance Program. Kia has hands-down the most competitive warranty in the auto business. | 15 years/60,000 miles. 10 years/100,000. |
