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2025 Kia K5 Review Pricing And Specs Car And Driver

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2025 kia k5 review pricing and specs car and driver

Kia delivers one of the best three-row SUVs with the Telluride, an incredibly well-packaged Carnival minivan, and for those without such a needy space requirement, a compelling mid-size family sedan in the K5. Fighting strong competition from the 10Best-winning Honda Accord, the K5 offers a lot for its price. Most K5s are powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four; front-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive can be added at some trim levels. At the top of the lineup sits the 290-hp K5 GT, which is good, rowdy fun. The K5 and its Hyundai-badged mechanical twin, the Sonata, have a lot in common, but the two offer a slightly different driving experience. Standard features such as LED headlights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as rear cross-traffic alert, give the K5 equipment that buyers will find useful every time they get behind the wheel.

As one of our favorites in its segment, the Kia K5 has also earned a spot on our Editors’ Choice list for 2025. Compare the 2025 Kia K5 with the top vehicles in this segment with our new compare tool. The Kia K5 sedan gets styling updates for 2025. The K5's new headlights and taillights, as well as a major update to its interior, were first debuted on the Korean-market K5. When Kia revealed the U.S.-spec K5 at the Chicago Auto Show, we learned that last year's turbocharged 1.6-liter four has been replaced with a nonturbo 2.5-liter unit that makes slightly more power at 191... Car and Driver calculates your car's value in three free and easy steps - using the same Black Book® data dealers use to appraise vehicles.

For those who don't care about the extra firepower that comes with the GT's 290-hp engine, the GT-Line has a satisfying mix of racy styling elements at a very attractive price. That's the one we'd recommend, and for those who want the all-weather traction of all-wheel drive, it's available for $1600 extra. Otherwise, every GT-Line comes standard with a sportier body kit, 18-inch wheels, a 10-way power driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging. We'd also spring for the Premium package, which brings adaptive cruise control, advanced forward-collision warning, and full LED headlights. Can good looks and a sportier tune make the K5 a winner among heated competition? Kia has done some work over the past few years to make its lineup sportier—and more distinct from its corporate cousin, Hyundai—and the midsize K5 sedan has been something of a case study for...

With its striking modern and angular appearance and a new base powertrain for the 2025 model year, can it keep up that momentum or even build on it? Gaining 11 hp and new dashboard displays is a good start; losing last year’s turbocharger and some torque? Less so. We really want to like the updated K5, as it looks good to most of our judges and Kia is clearly listening to customer feedback to better compete against class juggernauts like the Toyota... It qualifies for this year’s Car of the Year competition by switching to a 2.5-liter non-turbo I-4 good for 191 hp and 182 lb-ft on most of the lineup, save for the more powerful... The 2.5-liter engine packs 11 more hp but a significant 13 lb-ft less torque than the 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 it replaces, and it comes linked exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, the K5 is a pretty nice place to be. The new dual-screen interface looks upscale and is easy to navigate with sharp responses. The packaging is also impressive, with the same trim from the front leading into the rear row of seats—the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry give up plushness the farther back in the cabin you... Against our testing criteria for Car of the Year, the K5 marks high on overall value, with plenty of trim-level choices and some desirable options. However, the K5 falls apart against the rest of our criteria. Its updated design is not really advanced enough beyond the previous face-lift in 2021, which introduced most of the styling language we see today.

Several judges note the K5 is a solid daily driver, but its dynamics can fall apart a bit when you push it truly hard, hindering its ability to score in the performance of intended... The K5’s 2025 freshening brings updated styling and a new base naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which replaces the previous 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Overall, we found the reworked K5 to be a pretty nice-driving midsized sedan that also happens to be quite striking looking. The powertrain isn’t exceptional, although it doesn’t really do anything wrong, and when you factor in the fine balance Kia found between responsive handling and a comfortable ride—along with supportive seats front and rear—it’s... So, looking at the 2025 Kia K5, it stands out as a strong player in the crowded midsize sedan market. It’s got to face off against heavyweights like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata.

This year, Kia’s given the K5 a solid refresh, and it shows they’re serious about keeping it relevant, especially with so many folks leaning towards crossovers and SUVs these days. The sedan scene? Well, it’s definitely changed a lot lately. The Accord is still considered the gold standard, and the Camry has shifted gears to an all-hybrid lineup to boost efficiency. What’s intriguing about the K5 is how it combines style and substance. Unlike the more traditional looks of its rivals, the K5 brings a fresh design to the table, alongside a suite of tech features and a great value across its trims.

Sure, the Sonata shares some parts with it, but it has a different vibe and driving feel. Now, with the current market trends, Kia’s timing with this refresh is pretty spot on. A lot of automakers are cutting back on sedans, but by investing in the K5, Kia is clearly showing they believe there’s still a place for midsize sedans. They’re targeting buyers who want a more engaging drive compared to what crossovers usually offer. The 2025 updates specifically tackle areas where previous models got some flak, like interior tech and engine performance. In 2025, the competition also includes the likes of the Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Altima, and Subaru Legacy, each with their own strengths.

But the K5 sets itself apart with its eye-catching design, a solid set of features, and competitive pricing. Plus, it’s one of the few in this segment to offer a sporty GT model, appealing to both classic sedan shoppers and people who might be eyeing entry-level luxury cars. Looking at the numbers, even though overall sedan sales are dipping, cars that stand out with unique styling and good value are actually holding their own. The K5 is right in line with this trend, boasting looks and features that often go beyond what you’d expect in this class. If it continues to keep its market relevance, it might even push other manufacturers to stay committed to the sedan category. Kia takes one step forward but two steps back with its K5 midsize car.

The 2025 Kia K5 comes in LXS, GT-Line, GT, and EX trim levels, and base prices range from the high $20,000s to the mid-$30,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the... For this K5 review, I test-drove the EX in Southern California. Optional equipment included carpeted floor mats and a trunk mat, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $35,930, including the $1,155 destination charge. Kia provided the vehicle for this K5 review. There's plenty to like about the Kia K5. It offers an appealing design, the latest infotainment and safety technologies, and a great blend of ride and handling.

Plus, you can get the K5 in GT trim, which turns it into a sports sedan making 290 horsepower. And if you live where winter weather is a problem, all-wheel drive is available. I feel it needs a hybrid drivetrain option, however, and some of the changes to the 2025 K5 do it no favors. Kia has made two significant changes to the 2025 K5. The first is a new standard engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. It replaces the previous turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produced 180 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 lb-ft starting at just 1,500 rpm.

Kia spins this as a good thing (more horsepower), but it doesn't feel like an upgrade from behind the steering wheel. See answers to common EV questions, tax incentives, charging maps & more. 8 speed, Automatic w/OD, 8 speed, Auto-Shift Manual w/OD Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4, Regular Unleaded I-4 Formerly called the Kia Optima, the refreshed 2025 K5 midsize sedan tries to keep pace with new iterations of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and the related Hyundai Sonata. Historically, it’s a good value, and this year it comes with more standard safety and convenience features.

Safety has lagged, though. The 2025 K5 earns a TCC Rating of 6.3 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.) The sedan receives some refreshed ends and the interior gets a spritz, but the most notable improvement for Kia fans is a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new daytime running light signature zags between the hood and fenders like Harry Potter’s scar, then an alakazam of amber light shoots out over the LED headlights. Shark teeth bite into the honeycombed lower grille, which is bookended with larger cosmetic intakes.

The wizardly light signature continues around back, dipping low into the fender curve before bridging across a light bar. The GT retains its quad exhaust tips. As it should, considering the top GT carries over its 2.5-liter turbo-4 that makes 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, figures that impress for the mid-size sedan segment. It has an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels only. Changing options in this select field will update the page according to the year selected. Use the chart below to see how much shoppers are paying for each 2025 Kia K5 trim on average.

This will help you determine how much to pay on a lease, financing, or cash basis. Get upfront price offers from Certified Dealers in your area by selecting a trim and following the steps to build your car. Loan payments reflect the national market average, based on the sale prices of similar vehicles and APRs sourced from financial institutions. Shoppers are paying 0.9% less than MSRP. The Kia K5 is refreshed for 2025 with a new standard engine, more tech, and updated looks. It remains one of the top choices in the midsize sedan segment.

The only significant drawback is that it doesn't have an available hybrid variant.

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