2025 Kia K5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Bolder “Star Map” front running lights and taillights don’t look out of place on the dramatically designed Kia K5, and the new front and rear ends help to modernize the car’s appearance. The wheel designs are a mixed bag. Inexplicably, when you order the expensive GT1 Package on the K5 GT, you get black wheels that look like they were stolen off a Sorento X-Pro. No thanks.

The K5 GT is the fun one, but hardly anybody buys it. The base LXS, sporty-looking GT-Line, and upscale EX are the more popular versions of this midsize family car. Prices range from $28,145 to $35,645, including the destination charge. Our K5 EX test car had optional floor mats, so the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) was $35,830.

Everything Kia offers for the 2025 K5 comes standard with EX trim, and if not for the glossy and slippery plastic that covers some interior surfaces, you’d never guess it wasn’t an entry-level luxury car. We’re not fans of Kia’s SynTex synthetic leather upholstery, either, because it feels too sticky and can trap sweat.

New for 2025, the 24-inch Panoramic Display that marries digital instrumentation with a touchscreen infotainment screen is genuinely impressive. However, the new touch-sensing, dual-action control panel underneath it is not. We found it frustratingly easy to accidentally switch from the infotainment and stereo controls to the climate controls, adding a whole bunch of driver distraction and frustration to the drive.

Previously, the Kia K5 had a standard and lively turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that made a lot of torque at low engine revs. That’s gone, replaced by a comparatively lackluster 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes its peak 191 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque at higher engine revs. An eight-speed automatic transmission powers the front wheels, and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is optional with GT-Line trim.

You can solve the power problem by getting the Kia K5 GT. It’s got a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder cranking out a healthy 290 hp and 311 lb-ft, the latter available from just 1,650 rpm. Oddly, it comes only with front-wheel drive (FWD). Upgrade the GT with the GT1 Package, and you get the stuff in the EX trim level, as well as those unappealing wheels we mentioned earlier.

The standard engine swap and loss of the turbo’s swelling wave of torque make the K5 less interesting to drive. The new 2.5-liter four provides adequate acceleration and is reasonably quiet, and Kia calibrates the transmission to make the most of the motive force. The official EPA fuel economy estimate is 29 mpg in combined driving, but our test car averaged 24.9 mpg on our mountainous Southern California testing loop.

Kia puts the EX on 18-inch wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero tires, enhancing the car’s admirable ride and handling qualities. In the city, the K5 EX is quiet, soft, and smooth but resists body float. On the highway, it soaks up the small bumps and ripples in the pavement that can ruin the ride.

Drive a K5 EX with enthusiasm on mountain roads, and it displays some body lean in curves but handles predictably. It will hustle but isn’t engaging whatsoever. In particular, the steering lacks quickness, precision, and feel. On a cool testing day, the brakes resisted fade, remained responsive, and always felt good underfoot.

Again, choosing the K5 GT resolves some of this through a sport-tuned suspension and faster steering ratio. It also features an eight-speed “wet” dual-clutch transmission (DCT), adding more perceptible shifting to the proceedings. Larger brakes are also standard on the GT, but so are neon green brake calipers.

Except for the sticky SynTex upholstery, the Kia K5 is a comfortable car. We’re particularly thankful that all trim levels include a front passenger’s seat height adjuster, ensuring your favorite co-pilot is equally happy with the comfort, support, and ease of entry and exit.

With EX trim, both front seats offer 10-way power adjustment with heating and ventilation. The driver also gets a heated steering wheel, and rear passengers benefit from air conditioning vents on the back panel of the center console. Offering plenty of room for legs, feet, and heads, the K5’s supportive rear seat is comfortable.

One of the changes to the 2025 K5 is a new touch-sensing, dual-action panel under the dashboard’s center air vents. We’ve used this same setup in other Kias, to varying levels of success. This time around, it proved infuriating, though we’ll admit that using the steering wheel controls to operate the stereo volume and tuning would have resolved our frustration.

Interior storage space is generous, and many locations feature a rubber lining to help quell noise and vibration. Kia fits a large bin under the center armrest, bigger cupholders than before, and a tray with a wireless smartphone charger on the K5’s center console. You also get a delightful old-fashioned PRNDL transmission shifter, which imparts a sense of quality to the car every time you use it.

The trunk is practical, too, fully opening when released and offering 15.6 cubic feet of volume. Details like enclosed lid hinges and a grip to swing it shut make it easier to pack.

Every 2025 Kia K5 has a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It equips the car with multi-device Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect services. A navigation system and wireless charging are standard, starting with GT-Line trim, and the EX has a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel (optional on the GT).

It's helpful to have an active Kia Connect subscription. Kia Connect powers features including remote engine starting, cabin pre-conditioning, and a find-my-car function. It also activates the K5’s Amazon Alexa digital assistant feature.

Unfortunately, Kia Connect wasn’t set up in our test car, so using the voice recognition system was unproductive. After consulting the “Command” screen for suggestions, the tech couldn’t even find coffee after modeling a request on a recommended phrase structure and saying: “Go to Starbucks.”

Ultimately, you might not need Kia Connect because pairing an iPhone and using Apple CarPlay proved easy. Siri found things without trouble, and we effortlessly streamed music to the K5 EX’s decent 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Kia offers digital key technology for the K5. It transforms an Apple or Android Auto smartphone or smartwatch into a digital key to unlock, start, and drive the car. It is standard with EX trim and available on the GT.

Kia equips every K5 with a long list of driver-assist features. These include the safety features you expect to find and a few unusual technologies like intersection turn assistance, active blind-spot collision avoidance, and a leading vehicle departure alert when traffic ahead starts moving again.

While the standard collection of features is extensive, the GT-Line adds a Highway Driving Assist system providing hands-on, semi-autonomous acceleration, braking, and steering. This trim’s standard navigation system also allows Kia to add a curve speed reduction system to the adaptive cruise control.

Upgrade to EX trim (or the GT1 Package on the K5 GT), and the car features an outstanding surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, side parking sensors, and an automatic braking feature when you’re reversing during parking.

Undeniably, the K5’s equipment is impressive. However, when using the lane-keeping and lane-centering assist systems without Highway Driving Assist, they’re a significant source of aggravation. Turning them off should be easier, too, because it’s hard to recall which of the several menus buried within the infotainment system contains the exact feature you wish to adjust.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the K5 earns a five-star overall safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the car as we wrote this review. Last year’s K5 performed poorly in new IIHS assessments, so hopefully, Kia has made some unannounced modifications to the car to improve in those areas.

When Americans complain about how expensive new cars are now, what they really mean is big trucks and three-row SUVs. The 2025 Kia K5 is a perfect example demonstrating such beliefs are untrue.

You can get the affordable one (LXS), the sporty-looking one (GT-Line), the fun one (GT), or the fancy one (EX) and still save a minimum of $12,000 compared to the average transaction price for a new vehicle at the end of September 2024. And what you’ll drive home supplies enough room for a family of four and plenty of technology. You can even get AWD for traveling in winter weather.

Where does the Kia K5 fall short? Well, for starters, it could use a hybrid powertrain option. Kia could dial up the driver engagement, too, because people like enjoyable vehicles on the road, even if they’re not driving enthusiasts. The quirky controls and restrictive packaging rules aren’t appealing, either.

Among the dwindling pool of midsize sedans, the Kia’s base price is higher than several rivals. The Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, and Subaru Legacy are available at a lower base price, while the Nissan Altima costs about the same. Only the Hyundai matches the Kia’s warranty and offers a sports sedan equivalent (the N Line version), but the Sonata also provides better ownership benefits.

The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are more expensive than the Kia K5. The Camry justifies its price premium with a standard hybrid powertrain that provides substantially better fuel economy, while the Accord is surprisingly large inside and a real delight to drive.

So, is the 2025 Kia K5 worth it? That’s a decision only you can make.