2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from its past of drab and unattractive sedans. The K5, especially in the GT-Line trim, showcased a fastback form reminiscent of the performance-oriented Kia Stinger. With its flat Wolf Gray paint and fire-engine red seats, the K5 looked like an Audi A5 Sportback, thanks to the design influence of Peter Schreyer. The K5 featured unique taillights with dashed LEDs, a long ovoid-shaped rear window, and a polished black trim, giving it a sporty and stylish appearance. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions and design details made it a standout in its segment.

Inside, the K5 continued to impress with a driver-focused dashboard, red seats with black accents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The materials used in the interior, such as polished black trim and quality vinyl, added to the upscale feel. The K5's interior design included thoughtful details like the instrument panel overlapping the driver's side air vent and a fin rising out of the front door armrests. Overall, the K5 exuded sportiness and quality, making it a significant departure from Kia's past.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, after its 2019 redesign, won the prestigious World Car Design of the Year for 2020. Its bodywork reflected drama and sophistication, with the 4-door sedan offering a more conservative look compared to the aggressive stance of the 5-door hatchback. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo sedan, tested in Premium Plus trim, featured a high-contrast two-tone interior with white leather, bright metallic accents, and a clear and legible set of gauges. The attention to design detail and quality materials aimed to elevate the Mazda3 into premium territory.

Despite the use of hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin, the Mazda3's design and execution were paramount. The asymmetrical Mazda Connect infotainment system seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, and the driver-centric cabin revolved around the person in control. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo's interior, with its supple Nappa leather and thoughtful design, supported Mazda's efforts to position the car as a legitimate entry-luxury vehicle.

The 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line, despite its aggressive styling, did not deliver the sporty performance one might expect. The suspension had softer damping, and the Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires protested during tight turns. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) test car had good brakes and communicative steering, but the GT-Line was primarily an appearance package. The GT trim, however, promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, this power was fed through the front wheels, which could spell disaster without a limited-slip differential.

The K5's standard engine was a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered good fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) version had slightly lower estimates. The K5's eight-speed automatic transmission reacted quickly, though not always smoothly. Overall, the K5 performed well as a family sedan but fell short of its sporty trim's hype.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo, on the other hand, delivered a transformative performance. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet with 87-octane. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda's i-Activ AWD system, the Mazda3 Turbo offered stunning speed and smooth, predictable performance. The G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC+) software improved turn-in when cornering, and the car's dynamic tuning provided maximum driving pleasure.

The Mazda3 Turbo's steering feel and response were improved, and the stiffer front suspension handled the added weight over the car's nose. The brakes were identical to non-turbo models, and the Turbo sat on 18-inch wheels with Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires. Despite the lack of a summer tire option, the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo was delicately calibrated for driving enjoyment. The car's engine note, enhanced by the speakers, added to the driving experience, making it a car that drivers could trust and enjoy.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered comfortable seating for two adults in the back, despite its raked profile. The scalloped portions of the roof and front seatbacks provided enough headroom and legroom for six-footers. However, rear air vents were missing, which should have been standard. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The hard buttons for climate controls, stereo, and touchscreen shortcuts were easy to use, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently located. The infotainment system was simple and quick to operate, with an optional 10-inch display. Trunk space measured 16 cubic feet before folding down the rear seats.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior, lined in Nappa leather, felt and smelled like a luxury car. However, it lacked some premium features, such as ventilation for the front seats and air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for the rear seats. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger's seat did not. In-cabin storage was adequate but limited, and the wireless smartphone charging pad was located at the bottom of the center console bin, reducing storage capacity. Trunk space measured 13.2 cubic feet, competitive with other compact sedans. The hatchback version offered more utility with 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with it folded down.

The 2021 Kia K5 came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. However, there was a minor glitch with Apple CarPlay not restarting on its own after walking out of range with the phone. Standard features on the LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, lane-keep assist, and an acoustic laminated windshield. 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 included heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment system. The GT trim added paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and quad exhaust tips. The K5's adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist provided semi-automated driving capabilities.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. A WiFi hotspot was available, and the MyMazda smartphone app provided remote operation of the car's door locks and engine. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, and the voice-recognition technology was subpar. The system's controls were not intuitive, causing frustration. The Mazda3 Turbo came with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which sounded better than most at this price point. The Active Driving Display (HUD) was standard and remained visible with polarized sunglasses, showing current speed, posted speed limit, and safety technology status.

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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, while the EX trim included rear emergency braking and parking sensors.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3's i-ActiveSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) was designed to keep the driver engaged and step in to prevent collisions. The adaptive cruise control provided stop-and-go capability, and the automatic high-beam LED headlights featured an Adaptive Front Lighting System. The Premium Plus trim added a high-definition surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 excelled in crash tests, earning top five-star ratings from the NHTSA in every assessment, including rollover resistance. The IIHS had not yet carried over the Mazda3's "Top Safety Pick+" rating from 2020.