2021 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2022 Kia K5

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was available in standard, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $26,370 to $36,240. The hybrid powertrain added a $1,600 premium, except for the Touring trim, where it represented a $460 savings. The Accord Hybrid was not available in Sport trim. The car's design was praised for its proportion, stance, style, and detailing, with minor front styling changes for 2021, including a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, had a dark undertone that avoided the typical drab brightness of silver metallic paint. The new wheels looked great but were difficult to clean due to gloss black inserts.

Inside, the Accord's cabin looked upscale, with plastic lower panels that didn't feel cheap, simulated matte-finish wood trim, robust controls, and polished metallic accents. However, the hard plastic upper rear door trim was a disappointment. The controls were logically arranged and easy to use, with both a volume knob and a tuning knob for the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Outward visibility was excellent, and the driver could see plenty of the sculpted hood, making parking and maneuvering easier.

The 2022 Kia K5 was offered in LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT trims, all featuring a turbocharged engine. The LXS and GT-Line offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Base prices ranged from $23,790 to $31,190, excluding the destination charge. The test car was a K5 EX with front-wheel drive (FWD), extra-cost paint, the EX Premium option package, and floor mats, with an MSRP of $33,945, including destination. The K5's styling was low, long, and sleek, suggesting a luxury sports sedan rather than a practical family sedan. The test car's Glacial White Pearl paint was paired with Ash Blue synthetic leather over a black interior, featuring matte-finish fake wood trim and polished metallic accents. The cabin exuded quality, with solid controls and a refined feel.

The K5's automatic transmission shifter, door release handles, and steering wheel stalks demonstrated a secure, refined sense of motion. The switchgear and air vents operated smoothly, and the cabin lacked panel flex, making the K5 feel bargain-priced but not bargain-sourced.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This system produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with torque available immediately and remaining constant to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid accelerated to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and returned 48 mpg in combined driving for most trims, with the Touring trim earning a 43-mpg rating due to its larger wheels and tires. The powertrain control module determined the appropriate operational mode: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, or Engine Drive. Drivers could also select EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport mode to tailor drivetrain characteristics.

Honda refined the two-motor hybrid powertrain for 2021, improving throttle response and making the car's acceleration sound and feel more natural. The Accord Hybrid Touring averaged 42.8 mpg, matching the EPA's official rating. The car's 19-inch wheels and 235/40 tires provided excellent grip and handling, with a compliant ride. The brake-by-wire regenerative braking system offered excellent feel, modulation, and response. The Accord Hybrid was fun to drive, except when traveling over speed humps, which required a slow approach.

The 2022 Kia K5 GT featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GT was the most expensive and least efficient K5, without AWD. The standard K5 engine was a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic. The torque was available between 1,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, with maximum horsepower at 5,500 rpm, providing linear power delivery with little low-end lag.

Drive Mode Select allowed calibration of the powertrain with Normal, Sport, Smart, and Custom settings. The K5 EX featured Active Sound Control, which could be turned off via the infotainment system. The 1.6-liter turbo engine performed well during the test drive, providing enough power for merging onto freeways and powering out of corners. The K5 EX returned 29.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's 31 mpg estimate.

The K5 EX allowed too much road noise into the cabin, and the suspension struggled with small pavement anomalies, affecting ride quality. However, wind noise was minimal at highway speeds, thanks to the K5's 0.27 coefficient of drag. Outward visibility was excellent, except directly to the back due to the high rear deck. The EX Premium package added a surround-view camera system and bumper sensors, making parking easier. The K5 EX was reasonably capable but not as fun to drive as the Honda Accord.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid offered impressive interior space, competing as a midsize sedan but providing full-size sedan roominess. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and enormous back seat provided good leg support, with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats in the Touring trim. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, a covered compartment with wireless smartphone charging, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's 16.7 cubic-foot trunk was the largest in its segment, with 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2022 Kia K5 provided comfort with dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and front passenger's seat with heating and ventilation. The test vehicle featured a heated steering wheel, rear air conditioning vents, and a panoramic glass sunroof. Entering and exiting the low-slung K5 was harder on the knees and back, but the front seats were comfortable, and the SynTex synthetic leather was convincing. Rear passengers had ample room, though the hard plastic front seatback panels could be a liability if the front seats were reclined too much.

Controls were logically laid out, blending style with utility. Storage space was generous, with a roomy bin under the center armrest, a dedicated smartphone charging slot, a tray forward of the shifter, and hidden trays in the door panel armrests. The K5's 16 cubic-foot trunk offered plenty of cargo space, with 60/40-split folding back seats for added utility. However, the trunk lid lacked an inside handle for closing, and the Smart Trunk feature automatically released the trunk lid when the key fob was nearby.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system became standard, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. EX trim and higher offered wireless connectivity for these platforms, improved USB port access, and quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on EX trim and higher. The EX-L trim featured a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The voice command system required specific prompts and pathways, and the navigation system struggled to locate the nearest hospital.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered two infotainment systems. The standard system for LX and LXS trims included an 8-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. GT-Line trim and higher featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen display but lost the tuning knob and required a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger system included satellite radio, Kia Connect subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and Sounds of Nature ambient noise tracks. A wireless smartphone charger was standard on most trims, and 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 poor, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable.

In 2020, the Honda Accord did not receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) due to its headlights. For 2021, Honda redesigned the LED headlights and made them standard, aiming for the Top Safety Pick+ rating. The Accord Hybrid included a rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system, with the Touring model adding low-speed braking control. The Honda Sensing collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) was refined for smoother operation, but the lane departure warning and low-speed automatic braking needed improvement.

The 2022 Kia K5 excelled in driver assistance systems, bundled within the Kia Drive Wise collection. The test car included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safe Exit Assist. The EX Premium package added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, a surround-view monitoring system, and power rear child locks. The K5 achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).