2021 Kia K5 vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic jellybean-like shape, a design optimized for aerodynamics. Over the years, Toyota made subtle changes to the styling within these constraints, giving the current generation a more sedan-like appearance while maintaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius's futuristic design, especially its centrally located instrumentation and gauges, continued to set it apart. The interior was defined by its unorthodox layout, which had been a hallmark of the Prius for over two decades.

Trim levels for the Prius included L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited. The base L Eco trim came with 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Higher trims like the XLE and Limited added features such as synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen. The 2020 Edition celebrated 20 years of the Prius with unique dark exterior accents and a limited production run.

The 2021 Kia K5, on the other hand, marked a significant departure from Kia's past, symbolizing a fresh identity for the brand. Styled in a fastback form, the K5 resembled the performance-oriented Kia Stinger. The GT-Line trim, with its flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, gave the K5 an Audi A5 Sportback-like appearance. The K5's design was characterized by a long rear window, unique taillights, and a conventional trunk. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions made it look sportier than its predecessor, the Optima.

Inside, the K5's dash was split between driver and passenger, with the center stack angled toward the driver. The GT-Line featured red seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and quality materials throughout. The standard analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen felt upscale, and the interior exuded sportiness and quality. The K5's trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space before folding down the rear seats.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It came with front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, while an all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant, the Prius AWD-e, was also available. The AWD-e employed a second electric motor for the rear wheels, operating at speeds up to 43 mph. The Prius offered smooth acceleration, especially at lower speeds, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power.

The Prius had three drive modes: EV, Eco, and Power. EV mode relied solely on battery power, while Power mode provided quicker acceleration at the cost of increased engine noise. Eco mode offered a balance of performance, efficiency, and quiet operation. The unique shifter design, with its unconventional layout, required some getting used to. The Prius's low center of gravity contributed to sharper handling than expected, and the ride was smooth, making it ideal for commuting.

The 2021 Kia K5's GT-Line trim, despite its aggressive styling, did not deliver the sporty performance suggested by its appearance. The standard 1.6-liter turbo-four engine produced 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5's ride was isolated and balanced, with good brakes and communicative steering. However, the GT-Line's handling fell short, with softer suspension damping and squealing tires in tight turns.

The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. However, this power was fed through the front wheels, and AWD was only available on lower trims. The K5's fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models. The AWD version had slightly lower estimates. Overall, the K5 performed well as a family sedan but did not match the sporty hype of its GT-Line trim.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its space, with deep door pockets, a large tray area between the front seats, and helpful sub-trays around the center console. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, providing ample headroom and legroom. Rear seats also offered plenty of space, though taller passengers needed to watch their heads when getting in and out. The Prius had 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the trim. The hatchback design made loading large items easy.

The 2021 Kia K5 accommodated two adults comfortably in the back, despite its raked profile. Scalloped portions of the roof and front seatbacks provided enough headroom and legroom for six-footers. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior featured hard buttons for climate controls, stereo, and shortcut buttons surrounding the touchscreen, making them easy to use. The wireless charging pad was conveniently located, and the infotainment system was simple and quick to operate. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space before folding down the rear seats.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, featuring a sensible menu layout and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded the infotainment system to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout. The Prius also offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display (HUD), and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel, a defining feature of the Prius, displayed hybrid drivetrain status and other critical readouts.

The 2021 Kia K5 featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. Standard features on the LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, lane-keep assist, and manual seats. The LXS trim added folding rear seats, push-button start, proximity entry, remote start, and Smart Trunk. The GT-Line trim upgraded to 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, a power driver's seat, and auto up/down controls for the front passenger window. The EX trim added heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment system. The GT trim included paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and quad exhaust tips. The K5 also offered adaptive cruise control and semi-automated lane-centering.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front-and-rear parking sensors, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it fell short of the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top scores due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist was standard on LXS and above trims. The GT-Line Premium package added cyclist detection and Junction Turning. Higher trims included rear emergency braking and parking sensors.