2022 Kia K5 Review

Name: 2022 Kia K5
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $16,998 - $27,998

The 2022 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 smartphone integration is 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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$28,526 avg. price

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2022 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

Newly available surround-view camera system
A few more standard tech features on top trims
Part of the first K5 generation introduced for 2021

Overview

Written by automotive expert Reese Counts

7/13/2021

The 2022 Kia K5 is a midsize sedan that's one of Edmunds' favorite cars on the road today. When it debuted last year as a replacement for the Kia Optima, the K5 impressed with its sharp styling and comfortable and quiet interior. Kia's excellent warranty and a long list of standard and optional features for the money add to the K5's appeal.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Des Moines, IA

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2022 Kia K5
GT-Line Sedan
$21,997
great price
$3,231 below market
- 40,460 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 25 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Napletons River Oaks Kia (309 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Lansing, IL
CARFAX One-Owner. Priced below KBB Fair Purchase Price! Ebony Black 2022 Kia K5 4D Sedan GT-Line I4 AWD Odometer is 20415 miles below market average! ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
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: No
Features and Specs:
28 Combined MPG (25 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XXG64J29NG138338
Stock: K13952A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-05-2025
Price Drop
2022 Kia K5
GT-Line Sedan
$21,997
great price
$2,767 below market
- 35,902 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 27 City / 37 Hwy MPG
- EchoPark Automotive St. Louis (253 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Chestefield, MO
At EchoPark, it’s all about offering you options for a happy experience. We have thousands of new-to-you makes and models that range from sedans to tr...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
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: No
Features and Specs:
31 Combined MPG (27 City/37 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XXG64J24NG116327
Stock: CNG116327
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-21-2025

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The K5 has a sporty and premium feel you can't find in most rivals. Certainly, there are some familiar alternatives here, including the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. There's also the Hyundai Sonata, which is mechanically related to the K5 and shares many of the same qualities. Still, the K5 stands slightly above the competition. Find out exactly how by reading our Expert Rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.3

out of 10

We drove the 2022 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 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 and avoids 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 many 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 smartphone connectivity is 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's 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 and 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. Hard plastics are still present, but they're strategically placed away from high-touch areas to keep up appearances. 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 is this trim, but the K5 GT certainly has potential.

2022 Kia K5 trim level differences

The 2022 Kia K5 is available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional for the LXS and GT-Line. Standard and optional feature highlights include:

Which K5 trim does Edmunds recommend?

We usually suggest going with one of a vehicle's midlevel trims, but in this case we think it's worth stepping up to the K5 EX trim. It comes with plenty of standard features as well as available equipment not offered on lower trims.

Compare 2022 Kia K5 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa

$111/mo

$154/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2022 Kia K5 has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

4 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.

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

4.7

31 reviews

5(87%)

4(7%)

3(0%)

2(3%)

1(3%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Best mid sized sedan for 2022

Tommy, 02/11/2022

2022 Kia K5 GT-Line 4dr Sedan AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I purchased the K5 GT-line in December. My wife and I were initially going to purchase a 2022 Camry, but after stumbling across the K5 on google. The aesthetics of the car peaked my interest, although I was worried that such a good looking car was still a Kia at the end of the day. After a bit a research I was sold, and to be honest the change in the Kia logo was a major determining …

This Car Keeps Surprising Me!

KiaLover76011, 09/01/2021

2022 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I've had this car a little over a month now and I keep finding features that make me fall in love with it all over again! The UVO and remote start are great features to help cool the car before getting in on hot summer days. It's quiet, rides better than my Sportage did and feels upscale. I was leaning more towards the Sonata N-Line, but so glad I decided to check out the K5. Even though …

K5: Easy on the eyes, and a nice place to be.

Ryan S, 02/12/2022

2022 Kia K5 EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Got the EX variant with all the fancy options on board. Exterior looks quite sharp; sporty vibe to it but also mature. Arguably the best looking sedan on the market (for us plebes anyway). The chrome strip that goes along the roofline over the doors and C-pillar is a head-scratching decision but that's the only demerit about it's styling that comes to mind. Aside from that Kia nailed it. … Once inside, the interior's looks keep up. The "aluminum" and dark "wood" trim along the dash and doors give an upscale vibe, and the way the big screen molds to the instrument cluster give you the impression of being in a pricier, well thought out and appointed cabin. The screen is fast, responsive, and user-friendly. The Bose stereo has speakers everywhere and has great clarity and nice depth and range but you're not gonna think you have 12" subs in the back or anything. Adaptive cruise control works well. Lane-keep assist is good, will even handle mild/moderate curves with a little faith and some caution, but even on straight lanes can tend to get a little pinball-y on occasion; weaving left and right (but still inside) in the lane like it had a couple drinks. All the various warnings and cautions rarely ever give false positives so no worry of annoyances there. Plenty of spots to charge electronics, and it's nice the car reminds you your phone's still in the wireless charge slot when you open the door to get out. The fact you have to physically plug your phone in to a specific USB port under the center stack for Android auto or Apple carplay to work is kinda lame though. On the comfort side of things the K5 is pretty good. The driver's seat and surroundings is roomy, and all the buttons and screens are still easily reachable. The seat itself is nice and supportive; comfortable enough to not give you many complaints even on a longer road trip, but it's hard not to shake the feeling that the leatherette material isn't exactly premium, and the center arm rest is too firm for boney elbows. Upon close inspection you will find some cheaper plastics about, but Kia has mostly placed these below your typical line of sight and considering the MSRP, you can expect some cost cutting somewhere. The seating position feels high for a car but I guess that means SUV people won't feel as out of place. For the passengers, they'll be in good company. The back seats have a surprising amount of legroom and are raked back far enough to get your slouch on and chill. When it comes to driving dynamics it's above average but not mind-blowing. The cabin is well insulated from both wind and road noise and the engine sounds and vibration are dampened good too. The standard engine has enough power for your everyday needs and can handle both city and highway acceleration good enough to get you out of trouble or into position, but it ain't gonna throw you back in the seat or impress you. If you have cruise control on and go up a moderate grade, you'll drop a few mph initially until the power catches up. The automatic transmission does a pretty good job; shifts quick and doesn't have to hunt for the right gear, although if you suddenly decide to step on it you'll be waiting a bit for the power to show up, but once it gets the idea it keeps up with your inputs. The steering is light and responsive albeit a little numb in terms of giving feedback of what's going on under the wheels. Body roll is well controlled and the suspension handles bumps and dips decently to give a ride compliant enough to not notice too much and have little complaint from the driver most of the time, but sudden sharp and small bumps will come through just often and mildly enough to remind you this isn't exactly a luxury sedan. The suspension seems like Kia was attempting to set it up as sporty and plush at the same time while falling just short of both; jack-of-all-trades kinda scenario. But 99% of the time for 99% of use cases for 99% of people looking into buying a car like this these complaints aren't of much concern. The suspension and drivetrain as a whole is good, not great but pretty good. Avoid the autocross circuit and fire roads and just let the car do what it does best; take you to work, grab groceries, go on the occasional road trip and you'll be more than happy with the arrangement. All things considered this is a pretty sweet ride. Looks great, drives good, feels nice, and a fair price. Gotta say I am very happy with my purchase and look forward to putting on many miles and memories with it.

One bad a$$ car!!

Chris Dox., 07/26/2021

2022 Kia K5 GT 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)

I bought the 2022 K5GT with the GT1 package in Wolf Grey for my daughter. I couldn’t find one anywhere in my city as they sold as soon as they arrived. If found one on the showroom floor in Cincinati and told them I was on my way. I got there and absolutely fell in love with it. The lines of this car are beautiful! The tech in it match the impressive looks on the outside. The drive home …

See all 31 reviews of the Kia K5

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2022 Kia K5 video

Best & Worst Car Redesigns | Ford Bronco, Nissan Z, HUMMER, Kia K5, Subaru BRZ & More

2022 K5 Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,790
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

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Safety

Our experts like the K5 models:

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a frontal collision is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and applies the brakes if you continue to move into the occupied lane.
Lane Keeping Assist: Alerts you 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
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
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
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2022 Kia K5 Review

Price & Payment

2022 Kia K5 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Des Moines, IA

2022 Kia K5GT-Line Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2022 Kia K5GT-Line Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2022 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

Best mid sized sedan for 2022

This Car Keeps Surprising Me!

K5: Easy on the eyes, and a nice place to be.

One bad a$$ car!!

2022 Kia K5 video

2022 K5 Highlights

Safety

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2022 Kia K5
GT-Line Sedan

2022 Kia K5
GT-Line Sedan