2024 Kia K5 Review: Sleek, Simple, Sexy

Despite the decline of the midsize sedan market, many automakers still offer something just so that they don't miss out on what money is left on the table. For 2024, the Kia K5 is an interesting proposition that tries to bring all the different attractive qualities of the body style together in a single product. This means offering a powerful 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, along with a good list of features and practical dimensions. However, the most appealing aspect of the K5 is probably its extreme styling, which is more on par with a sports sedan than a regular commuter car. This makes it a compelling alternative to the more humdrum Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But whether or not your affair with it will be a whirlwind fling or a long-term commitment is another matter.

New for 2024

The new Kia K5 sedan is essentially the same as the outgoing model, with only the GT-Line getting some new tech in the form of standard heated front seats.

2024 Kia K5 Price: Which One to Buy

Kia is known for building some of the most affordable cars in the world, and despite being one of the more athletic models in the range, the price of the 2024 Kia K5 is quite reasonable. Starting things off is the LXS, the base-level FWD model that sells for $25,390. With the same drivetrain, the GT-Line will cost you $26,890, while the AWD variant adds $1,600 to the bill. The EX and GT are priced at $29,290 and $31,790, respectively. These figures are MSRP and do not include tax, registration, or the $1,125 destination charge.

If we were doing the buying, we'd go with the GT-Line. Unless you need the all-wheel drive setup to deal with snow or iffy road conditions, we'd suggest sticking with the cheaper FWD model. This saves you some cash to spend on the Premium Package, which adds some nice driver-assistance features and stronger LED headlights. The final price still comes in well below $30k. However, if you're buying the K5 for its performance potential, you'll have to get the most expensive GT.

Interior and Features

Starting off as a simple and ergonomic cabin, the interior of the K5 can be upgraded to near-premium levels in terms of materials and features.

The interior of the cabin reflects that of popular European models, with a clean layout, horizontal screens, and plenty of standard features. At this price point, quality isn't quite on par, but it gives the illusion of being more premium than it is. Everything is laid out to be easily accessible, and there is a good mix of touchscreen and physical controls for the driver to interact with. However, some might find the dashboard a little cluttered. The uppermost trim boasts red contrast stitching, and there are even some wood accents. Overall, space is good, with cargo capacity coming close to the pack leaders.

Space

There are five seats inside the K5, and interior space is sufficient for adults in either row. However, taller folks may find the back seats a little lacking in head- and legroom. The seats are comfortable, though, and power-adjustable seats are unlocked once you upgrade the GT-Line. Heating is standard at this level, too. The manually adjustable seats aren't as easy to find a cozy driving position, but the sight lines are generally quite good. Entry and egress are usually easy, but the low roofline on the rear doors will require a little extra crouching.

Cargo

Sedans don't win any awards for their trunk space, but the Kia K5 is one of the more practical cars in the segment. At 16 cubic feet, you should be able to run all your daily errands without too much stress. The rear seats can also be folded in a 60/40 split to open up some extra room, though this function is not available in the LXS.

Around the cabin, there are a pair of cupholders in the front, while all but the LXS have another pair in the rear fold-down middle seat. The front seats have pockets in the back, as do each of the doors, though the low armrests hinder access and storage capacity. The center armrest cubby and glove compartment are your best options for larger items.

Materials and Colors

Cloth is the standard fare in the LXS, available in black only, while the GT-Line trims get a mix of cloth and SynTex with more colors as red joins black. More interior colors open up when you upgrade to the EX and GT, which have pure SynTex upholstery. The EX offers Black and Ash Blue, while the GT gets Chestnut Brown or Black with Red cross-stitching.

The EX has wood graphic trim, while the GT sticks with sportier metal. Lower trims only get cheap plastic.

Features and Infotainment

Few automakers offer the same kind of value as Kia, so even the base-model LXS comes equipped with a good list of features. These include manual front seats, dual-zone climate control, a smart key with push-button and remote start, a 4.2-inch instrument display, and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Audio functions include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth streaming, with six speakers providing the sound. A power-adjustable driver's seat is added to the GT-Line, and both front seats get heating. There is also a wireless phone charger, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. For the EX, there is interior LED lighting, rear air conditioning vents, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The available packages let you add a power-adjustable passenger seat and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Performance

Despite its looks, the K5 only gets truly sporty in its top-tier GT trim, but the lack of AWD and this point is disappointing for a car with such ambitions.

The standard engine for the Kia K5 is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit that develops 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. To get the 2.5-liter turbo-four with 290 hp and 311 lb-ft, you have to choose the most expensive model - the GT. Both engines share the same eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on every model, though the GT-Line allows you to swap it out for AWD. The base engine gets the Kia K5 from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, while the GT can make the same run in 5.2 to 5.7 seconds, according to independent tests. Top speed is set at 132 mph for the base engine or 155 mph for the 2.5L.

You don't need the larger engine to have fun, though, as the K5 is a light and nimble car that knows how to play even with just 180 horses under the hood. It handles quite well, too, especially with an all-wheel drivetrain. It would be nice if the GT offered this since a lot of that extra power goes to waste when you can't put it down where it's needed most. Trying to be all things to all people, the K5 is not quite as comfortable as its competitors, nor is it the most dynamic sedan in this class.

Fuel Efficiency

Most sedans get superior gas mileage when compared to SUVs or trucks, and the Kia K5's mpg figures are on par for the segment. In FWD guise, the 1.6L four-pot manages 27/37/31 mph across the city/highway/combined cycles, while switching to AWD sees a noticeable drop to 25/33/28 mpg. Still, upgrading to the more powerful 2.5L engine returns the lowest figures of 24/32/27 mpg.

The tank has a fuel capacity of 15.8 gallons, which means the maximum range is between 427 miles and 490 miles.

Safety

A long list of standard driver assists and a solid five-star safety rating make the Kia K5 one of the safest commuter sedans.

Kia is known for its near-perfect safety ratings, and the review of the Kia K5 sticks to that trend. It earns five stars overall from the NHTSA, with only rollover and a single front crash test returning four stars. The IIHS hasn't tested the 2024 model, but ratings for the 2023 shoud apply: the IIHs gives the car a score of Good in most areas but Poor in moderate overlap: front. While it won a Top Safety Pick+ award in 2022, it hasn't carried over to later model yearsd

Standard safety features include an impressive nine airbags, ABS, stability control, a rearview camera, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, blind-spot assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional tech is only unlocked once you reach the EX in the form of parking sensors. However, highway driving assist is available from the GT-Line upward.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Reliability

As with most cars from Kia, the K5 gets top reliability reports, but while there have been no recalls issued for 2024, there were a couple last year. Reasons for these included loss of drive power and the possibility that the side curtain airbags might not deploy. J.D. Power gives the car a score of 84 out of 100 for reliability for 2023, and this is likely to carry over to 2024. The warranty for the 2024 Kia K5 is among the best in the market, with 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage, while the basic warranty is valid for five years/60,000 miles.

Warranty

Design

It is usually only sports sedans that draw attention, but the Kia K5 is surprisingly attractive for a run-of-the-mill commuter sedan. The front fascia is sleek and aggressive, with a low and wide tiger grille and dramatic LED daytime running lights. The rear end is almost as sharply styled, with a broad brake light strip, and the trunk lid juts out almost like a spoiler. LED multi-projector headlights are standard, along with 16-inch alloy wheels, while the GT-Line upgrades to 18-inch wheels. At the top of the line, the GT rides on 19 inches, and both the GT and EX come standard with a panoramic sunroof. Both GT models replace the regular grille with a slimmer version to make room for a chunkier front bumper.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Kia K5 A Good car?

The 2024 K5 is a compelling package of great looks, plenty of standard features, a solid safety record, and the possibility of a powerful turbo-four engine. There aren't many bad sedans in the USA, to be fair, but the Kia stands out for being truly exceptional. However, that is not to say that it is perfect. The handling characteristics are not up to par with the power available to the GT, and the rear seats are somewhat cramped. This lack of focus sees it lose out to the Honda Accord in terms of fun and the Toyota Camry in terms of practicality and comfort. But if you can accept the drawbacks, the Kia K5 is a decent jack of all trades that draws attention with its bold styling.