2022 Kia K5 vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh, featuring sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The car also had trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and new bumpers for the M Sport Package. The interior retained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and the unusual-looking shifter. Lower trims had SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather. The aluminum trim added a high-end feel, but the sport steering wheel felt out of place.

The 2022 Kia K5 was available in multiple trims, all featuring a turbocharged engine. Our test car, a K5 EX, had front-wheel drive, extra-cost paint, and the EX Premium option package. The K5's design was low, long, and sleek, resembling a luxury sports sedan. The interior featured Ash Blue synthetic leather, matte-finish fake wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The car exuded quality, with solid-feeling controls and a well-constructed cabin. The automatic transmission shifter, door release handles, and steering wheel stalks all had a refined sense of motion, contributing to the car's upscale feel.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M5 boasted 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2022 Kia K5 GT had a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The standard K5 featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The K5's powertrain could be calibrated using Drive Mode Select, offering Normal, Sport, Smart, and Custom settings. The K5 EX returned 29.1 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's 31 mpg estimate. The car allowed too much road noise to penetrate the cabin, and the suspension struggled with small road anomalies. However, wind noise was minimal, and outward visibility was excellent.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. The sedan offered spacious front seats and adequate rear-seat room. The trunk had 14.0 cubic feet of space, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench. The test car had 16-way power front seats with heating and ventilation. Forward visibility was poor due to the long hood, but a surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered comfort with dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and rear air conditioning vents. The panoramic glass sunroof added natural light to the interior. The K5's low-slung design made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, and the SynTex synthetic leather was convincing. Rear passengers had ample room, but hard plastic front seatback panels could be a liability. The K5 had a 16 cubic-foot trunk, expandable with a 60/40-split folding back seat. Storage space was generous, with various bins and trays.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile feel, and voice control responded to "Hey BMW." Gesture controls were available but less precise than traditional controls.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered two infotainment systems. The base system had an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen, requiring a cable for smartphone integration. The K5 included satellite radio, Kia Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Premium package added a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Active Sound Design technology. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system reminded drivers when cars ahead started moving. The K5's voice recognition technology was subpar, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS for the 2020 model, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tests. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. BMW's driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth, with traffic-jam assist and adaptive cruise control performing well.

The 2022 Kia K5 excelled in driver assistance systems, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. The EX Premium package added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a surround-view monitoring system. The K5 achieved a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.