2021 Kia K5 vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 Kia K5 marked a significant departure from Kia's previous designs, signifying a bold step into the future for the automaker. Sporting a fresh badge that U.S. enthusiasts had been eagerly swapping onto their Optima sedans, the K5 was a rebranding marvel aligned with Kia's new identity. Kia no longer produced the dull or unattractive models like the early Optima and Amanti; the K5 was a finely-crafted sedan, striking and memorable.

When you first saw a K5, its fastback form captured attention, not unlike the performance-oriented Kia Stinger. The GT-Line trim, adorned in flat Wolf Gray paint with red seats, bore a striking resemblance to the Audi A5 Sportback. The designs were no accident; Peter Schreyer, the creative mind behind its design, had previously worked for Audi. Polished black trim, a long ovoid rear window, and unique taillights with dashed LEDs enhanced the vehicle's width, making the K5 a visual delight.

However, some design elements were purely aesthetic, such as the fake air vents and exhaust tips. The overall proportions and sportier dimensions, with a lower and longer stance than the Optima, made the K5 stand out. The front featured Z-shaped amber LED running lights and a honeycomb grille, with the GT-Line showcasing even slimmer, texture-rich grilles and stacked LED fog lights for an aggressive front fascia. The interior complemented the exterior, featuring red seats with black accents, a flat-bottom steering wheel, polished black trim, and quality materials throughout. Even with standard analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen, the interior exuded an upscale feel typical of higher-end sedans. Despite its glamorous look, the base 16-inch wheels didn't do justice to the K5's stylish potential, urging buyers to upgrade for the full experience.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW 5 Series presented a more restrained design approach, eschewing the ostentatious flair of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. For 2021, the 5 Series received a minor refresh that included sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille, though it wasn't as exaggerated as the one on the 7 Series. The redesign extended to modify the trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and refreshed bumpers with the M Sport Package.

The interior remained true to BMW's signature style, characterized by a familiar layout that screamed BMW. The materials varied by trim level, with the entry-level models not featuring real leather, unlike higher trims that offered Dakota or Nappa leather options. The 540i xDrive test model featured luxurious Mocha Nappa leather and aluminum trim with a unique scale pattern. Despite the high-end materials, the interior was understated, with only the oversized, sport-oriented steering wheel feeling slightly out of sync with the general luxury-sport balance.

Under the hood, the 2021 Kia K5 lacked the performance zest that its design seemed to promise. The GT-Line trim, while visually aggressive, lacked paddle shifters and had a more softly damped suspension. Its Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires squealed under pressure, and it didn't deliver the handling expected from a sports sedan. However, the suspension and brakes performed well for a front-wheel-drive (FWD) family sedan. The GT trim, promising a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, offered better specifications on paper. Yet, power was delivered through FWD, potentially challenging its real-world handling.

The standard 1.6-liter turbo-four engine, producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, delivered decent performance for everyday driving. The eight-speed automatic transmission was generally responsive but occasionally lacked smoothness. Fuel economy stood out, with an EPA rating of 27/37/31 mpg for the FWD models, making the K5 an efficient sedan, achieving nearly 36 mpg over 750 highway miles during tests.

Meanwhile, the 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a variety of powertrain options, setting a higher performance bar. The base 530i housed a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i stepped up with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, boosting outputs to 335 horsepower and 362 pound-feet of torque. This configuration reached 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds with xDrive all-wheel drive.

The M550i xDrive took things further with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 532 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the legendary M5 offered 617 horsepower, making it a real "Ultimate Driving Machine" with a 0-60 mph sprint of just 3.1 seconds. Additionally, the 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor, yielding a total output of 288 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds, also offering limited electric-only driving.

The 2021 Kia K5 prioritized rear passenger comfort, catering well even to six-foot adults despite its raked profile. Rear air vents, however, were disappointingly absent. The front seats excelled in long-distance comfort, and the cabin was ergonomically designed with hard buttons for important controls and a well-placed wireless charging pad. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive within its class.

In comparison, the 2021 BMW 5 Series, available only as a sedan in the U.S., also provided ample passenger space, with particularly generous provision for front-seat passengers. The rear seats, though a bit tighter on paper, still offered enough room for comfort. The 540i's 14-cubic-foot trunk was slightly smaller than the K5's, but it compensated with a versatile 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench for longer items. Front seats were highly adjustable with ample support, though forward visibility suffered due to the long hood, mitigated somewhat by a useful surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Kia K5 was a technological feast, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, although some users experienced minor connectivity glitches. The base LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, and dual-zone climate control among other conveniences, but lacked folding rear seats and push-button start. Higher trims like the LXS and GT-Line introduced more advanced features like proximity entry, remote start, fog lights, power driver's seat, and auto up/down controls for the front passenger window. The EX and GT trims included even more luxurious touches, such as heated and ventilated seats, a Bose stereo system, and advanced infotainment with voice command features.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series boasted a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display with the latest iDrive 7 system, complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The infotainment's graphics were excellent, but the instrument cluster's layout could be confusing. BMW offered multiple ways to control the system, including a rotary knob and voice commands, but found the gesture controls less intuitive.

The 2021 Kia K5, although unrated by key safety organizations at launch, came equipped with several standard safety features, projecting confidence for high safety ratings. Standard features included rear side airbags, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitor, and more. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist, cyclist detection, Junction Turning, and even rear emergency braking for top-tier models.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series inherited its high safety standards from the previous model, which received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and performed well in crash tests. Standard safety technology included lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The optional Driving Assistance Plus Package offered advanced features like adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist, showcasing BMW's sophisticated and smooth operating driver-assist technologies.