2025 Kia K5

Remember when sedans used to be a bit ho-hum? When people would call them vanilla? The Kia K5 is more like pistachio. With sprinkles. From the way it looks to the way it drives, the K5 sparks interest. The good thing is that the K5 has the ability to reward that interest. Here are some thoughts from our owner reviews: “great… fun… amazing… wonderful… comfortable.” Beneath the inimitable style is real substance, backed up by the best warranties in the business.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize sedans, including the Kia K5.

The K5 still looks really fresh to us, but time has a habit of flying. This sedan debuted for the 2021 model year, so Kia has decided to shake it up a little. The front and rear fascias receive subtle revisions, the infotainment system is updated along with a new driver information/touchscreen unit, and the three lower trims gain a new engine.

Rival cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima are priced similarly to the K5. So is the Subaru Legacy, which comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

Before buying a new K5 sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. K5 resale values aren’t as strong as the Accord’s or the Camry’s, but still a little above average. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

Most versions of the 2025 K5 sedan enjoy 191 horsepower, a bump of 11 horses over last year. We liked the old engine well enough, finding it perfectly capable of delivering everything that’s likely to be asked of it. A little more muscle is another step in this positive direction. It also brings the K5 closer to the 192-horsepower Honda Accord and the 225-horsepower 2025 Toyota Camry, which will pack a standard hybrid powertrain.

Don’t think that the Kia K5 is the same as the Hyundai Sonata with a different face. We’ve noticed more poise and immediacy to the way the K5 drives, whereas the Sonata places a greater emphasis on comfort. Not that the K5 is overly firm.

For anyone who liked the idea of the (now discontinued) Kia Stinger but didn’t want to spend Stinger money, the K5 GT has a similar kind of presence and a simmering 290-horsepower turbocharged engine to excite anyone’s inner enthusiast.

Fuel Economy

With a new engine coming into the non-GT K5 variants, we’ve yet to know how fuel economy is affected. For a ballpark, though, last year’s K5 managed 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Subtract 3 mpg with all-wheel drive. For a little context, the base Honda Accord (higher trims have a hybrid drivetrain) achieves 32 mpg, which is typical for the class. The Hyundai Sonata also offers a hybrid version, and the all-new 2025 Camry will be hybrid-only. The K5 GT is rated at 27 mpg combined.

We’ve said it many times before and will no doubt repeat it many times in the future, but Kia interiors feel more like luxury cars than mainstream. The designs, shapes, materials, and build quality all contribute to an excellent overall package. A new dual-display unit comes as standard this year, with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. A smaller panel in the center console with dials and touch sensitivity handles climate control, while the console itself has been revised to house larger cup holders and a wireless charging pad. The 2025 K5 also gains USB-C charging ports front and rear.

We’ve found the seats sufficiently comfortable, but it took some of us a bit more adjusting than usual to find an ideal driving position. The backseat is much roomier than the spec sheet might suggest, with more than enough legroom for taller adults, even. The K5’s 16-cubic foot trunk is also among the roomiest in the class, although they’re all pretty similar in that regard.

Subtly revised headlights and taillights make the exterior distinction between this year’s K5 and last year’s. They enhance the K5’s original sharp looks, though, rather than dilute them. This is arguably the most visually striking midsize sedan and we’re all for it. With sedans becoming more of an individual statement than ever, then making a strong statement with the K5 follows a particular logic.

Infotainment system
Now able to receive over-the-air updates, the 2025 K5’s improved infotainment system looks more high-def, is faster and easier to use, and comes with wireless phone integration as standard, along with a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Parking sensors
Fitted at both ends, these are now standard across the 2025 K5 lineup. We all know what they do and are often grateful they exist.

Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
Most probably, we all know what this feature does as well, but we’ve often found that the driver assistance features from Kia (as well as Hyundai and Genesis) work exceptionally well. This also becomes newly standard in the 2025 K5.

All-wheel drive
Only available with the GT-Line trim, but at least it’s available.

Blind-Spot View Monitor
Better than basic blind-spot monitoring, this shows real-time video of the side of the car in the digital instrument cluster. This is standard in the EX.

Digital Key 2.0
Several people can drive one K5 by using their phone for access. Authorizing another user is as simple as sending a text message.

The main engine in the 2025 K5 lineup is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The top GT variant retains its turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine creating 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. In both cases, an 8-speed automatic transmission is deployed. Front-wheel drive is the standard setup, although the GT-Line (with the 191-horsepower engine) offers the option of all-wheel drive.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Kia’s warranties are among the best available. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first — this includes roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

Although once named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), updated tests have downgraded the Kia K5. It took top marks of Good in most crash-test categories, except for a Poor rating in the front overlap test and a Marginal in the side impact test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to give the K5 its maximum 5-Star overall score. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, and blind-spot monitoring.