2021 Kia K5 Review

Name: 2021 Kia K5
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $15,729 - $24,999

The 2021 Kia K5 has the style and substance to set it apart from other midsize family sedans. It's incredibly easy to drive and comfortable on longer trips thanks to a great suspension and an exceptionally quiet cabin. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and that's just the beginning of a rich feature list that somehow manages to undercut the competition at every level.

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$21,830 avg. price

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Kia K5 model years

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Kia K5 types

Sedan
GT

2021 Kia K5 Review

Pros

Comfortable and quiet on the highway
Strong turbocharged engine in the GT trim level
Plenty of available technology features
Impressive value

Cons

Sloping roofline can make it a little tricky to get in and out of the back
Powerful GT trim doesn't live up to its performance potential

What's new

An all-new replacement for the Kia Optima sedan
Part of the first K5 generation introduced for 2021

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

2/9/2021

The K5 is Kia's new midsize sedan formerly known as the Optima. For the past two decades, the Optima has offered attractive styling and fairly good value for money. With this redesigned 2021 model, Kia decided to go all-in and give it a new name too. Highlights include bolder styling, new engine and transmission options, and available all-wheel drive.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Norfolk, NE

32 listings

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2021 Kia K5
GT-Line Sedan
$24,991
fair price
$570 above market
- 35,100 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, personal use
- 26 City / 34 Hwy MPG
- Sid Dillon Nissan (97 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Lincoln, NE
Come see this 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line before it's too late!*You Can't Beat the Price with These Options *GT-LINE RED INTERIOR PACKAGE , WOLF GRAY, CARPETE...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: Yes
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XXG64J20MG073152
Stock: 4X1537B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-06-2025
New Listing
2021 Kia K5
LXS Sedan
$16,450
- 99,285 miles
- Hail damage reported, 3 owners, personal use only
- 27 City / 37 Hwy MPG
- Unisell Auto (98 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Bellevue, NE
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
31 Combined MPG (27 City/37 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XXG14J21MG046170
Stock: 046170
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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Standard on everything but the GT trim is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower. This is the engine you can get all-wheel drive with. Want more than 180 hp? The K5 GT gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is good for 290 hp. This is a healthy output for a midsize sedan — perhaps too much, as we learned in our testing.

It's one of few drawbacks to the K5, which otherwise stands as an excellent pick for a midsize sedan. It's the Edmunds Top Rated car in that class too. Check out our full evaluation by reading our Expert Rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.3

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Kia K5 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the K5 drive? The Kia K5 with its standard 180-horsepower engine won't impress you, but power is more than sufficient for daily use. It matches the Honda Accord in a straight line, taking 8 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph from a stop. Stopping from 60 mph requires a few more feet than average, but otherwise braking is easy and smooth.

The K5's aggressive styling might suggest it's sportier than usual, but that's simply not the case. We'd call the steering and handling par for the course. But perhaps what's more important is the K5 is easy to drive. The transmission shifts pretty seamlessly and is responsive to downshifts when you need to perform a pass.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the K5? This is a big step forward from the Optima. The only minor annoyance was a slight rattle coming from the panoramic sunroof blind. Otherwise, the K5 is as silent on the highway as some luxury sedans. Seriously. The front seats provide decent comfort over several hours, with a good amount of cushioning and moderate support from the side bolsters. The suspension ably soaks up road imperfections while avoiding feeling overly soft.

We're also impressed with the climate control system that features a unique three-mode auto setting that can limit fan speed. Seat ventilation is available on higher trims.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The K5's interior is thoughtfully designed to be user-friendly. Despite the numerous electronic features, there was no need to consult the owner's manual since all the controls are well labeled and logically placed.

The cabin is relatively spacious too, with a modest amount of headroom but an abundance of legroom. Tall adults should have no problem fitting up front, though. Forward visibility is great thanks to unusually narrow front roof pillars. Rear visibility is squeezed a bit by a tall rear decklid, but it doesn't create any notable obstructions.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? The K5 may not look like a tech powerhouse, but it is. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, which is a rarity in any class at the moment. There's also an available wireless charging pad that features a cooling fan and a smart spring-loaded section that keeps your phone in place. The standard system has an 8-inch touchscreen that is easy to use, though it does have a slight delay in responses. This system's physical shortcut buttons are preferred to the upgraded 10.25-inch screen that has capacitive-touch "buttons" that are difficult to locate without looking. Our tester also had a total of four USB charge ports.

The excellent advanced driver aids returned no false alarms. The optional Smart Cruise Control enhances the existing adaptive cruise control by slowing down the K5 when approaching a curve in the road. Collectively, it's one of the best systems in the segment.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Despite the K5's fastback roofline, it's not a hatchback. The traditional trunk has a capacity of 16 cubic feet, which is slightly better than average, and the wide and low opening makes for easy loading of bulky objects. The seatback releases are located in the trunk, making it convenient to load longer items.

The cabin offers plenty of places to store your personal items, including a charging pad, another rubberized phone tray and a big center armrest bin. Fitting a large infant seat should pose no problems, and the anchors are easy to access.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy estimates are 31 mpg combined (27 city/37 highway), matching the efficiency of most other base-engine sedans in this class. These estimates should be accurate after what we saw on our standard 115-mile evaluation loop. Our route is highway-biased but includes a mix of city and mountain roads as well, and we observed an encouraging 33 mpg.

Value

8.5/10

Is the K5 a good value? The Kia K5 starts under $25K and holds a slight advantage over most sedans when it comes to dollar-per-feature. The price and feature ratio improves with each successive trim level. There are some things missing from the options list such as genuine leather upholstery (the K5 has simulated leather), an auto-dimming mirror or a head-up display, but we're convinced most will look beyond that. A fully loaded K5 will save a few thousand dollars over a comparable Honda Accord.

The K5 is solidly built to boot, using a good amount of quality interior materials that outshine what's in other sedans in the class. There are still hard plastics present, but they're strategically placed to keep up appearances and away from high-touch areas. Kia's warranty coverage is top-notch with 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain and five years/60,000 miles of basic coverage. Only Hyundai offers more.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The exterior styling is a standout in a traditionally dull sedan class. It rivals the Mazda 6 for presence, though it dials up the sporty aggression factor noticeably. It's one of those cars that you could admire for a few seconds before getting in.

We have fairly low expectations for performance and entertainment in the family sedan class, but the K5 represents itself well enough. Is it fun? Not in this trim, but the K5 GT certainly has potential.

2021 Kia K5 trim level differences

The 2021 Kia K5 is a midsize sedan that is offered in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional the LXS and GT-Line. Highlight features include:

Which K5 trim does Edmunds recommend?

It's rare that we recommend one of the top vehicle trim levels, but the EX is our pick. You get a generous list of standard features, and it's also eligible for some desirable features that you can't get on the lower trim levels.

Compare 2021 Kia K5 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Nebraska

$111/mo

$151/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2021 Kia K5 has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

5 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 23V149000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC263
Number of vehicles affected:: 188912
Defect Description:: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Defect Consequence:: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.

Recall Number:: 22V760000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC250
Number of vehicles affected:: 69038
Defect Description:: Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Defect Consequence:: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.

Recall Number:: 21V519000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC214
Number of vehicles affected:: 21575
Defect Description:: Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.

Recall Number:: 21V447000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC213
Number of vehicles affected:: 846
Defect Description:: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L T-GDI engines. The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults. If a communication fault occurs while driving around a curve with Lane Following Assist (LFA) engaged, the steering assist level may not adjust properly, causing a sudden increase in the steering effort required.
Defect Consequence:: A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.

Recall Number:: 21V164000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC207
Number of vehicles affected:: 142
Defect Description:: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Defect Consequence:: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Corrective Action:: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Kia K5 Owner Reviews

4.2

76 reviews

5(61%)

4(18%)

3(8%)

2(4%)

1(9%)

See all 76 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Hello K5, Goodbye Accord

Dflprd1, 09/13/2020

2021 Kia K5 GT-Line 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

After driving a Civic EX for 4 years and upgrading to an Accord Coupe, the K5 was a huge leap! When I arrived at the dealership and they saw I was looking to trade my Accord they seemed a bit surprised. They were also very eager to bring me to the Kia side! Truth be told, I had some serious reservations as the Kia had always been a "throw away car". I certainly hadn't set my expectations … too high as I arrived at the dealer. I went in knowing I wanted to look at the K5 GT Line in Passion Red. After a rather lengthy test drive on all different types of roadways I had to eat crow. The K5 was a game changer. I was sold! I asked to look at the Stinger and the K5 EX but much to my surprise the K5 GT Line was much more appealing overall. As I finalized the purchase I was informed that I buying the first K5 GT Line. And almost 6 weeks later I have yet to see any K5 driving around. It's actually nice to pull up to a stop light and not be one of the 8 Accords at the intersection. The K5 truly turns heads as everyone is trying to figure out what it is. I have been approached several times by people asking "is that really a Kia???" As for the car itself, the amount of options for the price point is incredible. Overall, the car is a great ride. Rides smooth at any speed, easy to handle, exceptional acceleration especially in the sport mode, the seats are both comfortable and offer great support. The instrument cluster flows beautifully and the cockpit design with the 8 inch display angled slightly towards the driver is perfect. Very well thought out. The knobs on the stereo and the climate control are solid and an ideal size. The touchscreen is very reactive and easy to navigate. The wireless Apple Car Play is a HUGE plus. The flat bottom steering wheel is strange at first but easy to control. The steering wheel is a nice size and thickness with a nice smooth leather surface. All of the driver assistance features are easily customizable from a button on the steering wheel. The keyless entry is very user friendly. The remote start with the climate setting is a huge plus for the car! As for the appearance from the outside, the car gives the appearance of a hatchback with a huge trunk. The floating roof line really defines the car. The passion red color is brilliant and rich looking without being overly bright. It's a very distinct color. The headlights and fog lights are stylish and very functional. The lighting bolt design front turn signals stand out from all others. The rear LED lights across the entire trunk deck add a stylish and sophisticated touch. The concealed faux dual outlet exhaust also adds uniqueness to the car. The black wheels compliment the Passion Red so nicely. A few cons to the car, the approach lights in the door handle could be a little brighter. The child safety locks on the rear doors are a bit odd in that they require a key or a screwdriver to engage. The front seats could sit a little lower. The audio system is very weak. Needs a lot of improvement. The gear shifter is plastic when a nice leather wrap would have been better. Almost 6 weeks into the car and the only issue I have had so far is that the trunk will unlatch but not raise to the open position every time. Defeats the purpose of the very convenient automatic trunk on approach. The dealer has agreed to fix it when I take the car for its first service. So overall, the K5 is an incredible car with lots to offer at a very affordable price point. It offers style and sophistication with a unique appearance. It certainly stands out from all the other cookie cutter cars in its class. I am always approached with "I cannot believe you traded a Honda for a Kia!!!" Once they see the car they can better appreciate the switch. And as a Honda owner for many years, I can honestly say that so far I have no complaints about the switch. The Kia is as good, if not even better than the Accord. If this Kia is reliable and holds up for five years as good as the Accord, I may just become a loyal Kia owner. So for anyone in the market for a mid sized sedan the K5 should definitely be on your list to consider. It's certainly worth checking out. You wont be disappointed!!!

Overall nice ride great looking car

Aldinero, 08/25/2020

2021 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The 2021 Kia k5 is indeed a very good looking car.I took the ex k5 for a very good test drive.I own a 2017 optima sxl and it has been a great car.The new k5 looks better is lighter in weight and much quieter interior.Great visibility and fairly comfortable front seats.The ex rode a bit hard but being the first test of this car the tires had 46 lbs of air, so with about 12 lbs less air …

I really like this car

Big dawg, 11/17/2020

2021 Kia K5 LXS 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Had the pleasure to rent this car and put nearly 1000 miles on it. Seats and seating positions great. Visibility great. Crisp steering. The performance of the engine is incredible. Passing was fun. Car went straight as an arrow in nasty winds. Stereo sounded good. Really a well built car.

Nice Optima upgrade

Luckyguy3122, 03/25/2021

2021 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The car makes rattling noises and squeaking noises all the time, it can get annoying if you let it. upon acceleration the car takes off loud like a mustang GT, maybe its the turbo engine, but it's definitely not refined, smooth or quite like the Optima was. The doors now have this piece of plastic thats raised so that you can pull the door shut, however it digs into the side of your knee …

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2021 Kia K5 videos

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Sport Sedan Is Best? | Price, Specs & More

In this video, Mark Takahashi takes these two popular midsize family sedans to our test track. But we didn't take just any old Accord or K5. Since this is a "sport" sedan comparison test, we have the sporty versions of the two top midsize sedans: the Kia K5 GT and the Honda Accord Sport. These sport versions have more performance, power and speed. Can the Kia K5 GT…

2021 K5 Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,590
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$111/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the K5 models:

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a frontal collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and will apply the brakes if you continue to move into the occupied lane to avoid contact.
Lane Keeping Assist: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its marked lane and keeps the car centered within those markings.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2021 Kia K5 Review

Selling or Trading-In?

Price & Payment

2021 Kia K5 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Norfolk, NE

2021 Kia K5GT-Line Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 Kia K5LXS Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Kia K5 trim level differences

Which K5 trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Kia K5 Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Hello K5, Goodbye Accord

Overall nice ride great looking car

I really like this car

Nice Optima upgrade

2021 Kia K5 videos

Honda Accord Sport vs. Kia K5 GT Comparison Test | Which Sport Sedan Is Best? | Price, Specs & More

2021 K5 Highlights

Safety

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