2021 Kia K5 vs 2021 Subaru WRX

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from the drab and unattractive designs of its past. The K5, especially in its 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 bore a striking resemblance to an Audi A5 Sportback. The design was led by Peter Schreyer, a former Volkswagen Group designer, who brought a touch of European flair to the K5. The car featured unique taillights with dashed LEDs, a long ovoid-shaped rear window, and a polished black trim that wrapped around the thick D-pillars. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions made it look sportier, being lower and longer than the outgoing Optima.

Inside, the K5's interior was equally impressive. The dash was split between the driver and passenger, with a center stack angled toward the driver. The GT-Line trim featured red seats with black accents and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The materials used in the interior were of high quality, with polished black trim on the dash and padded door tops. The vinyl seats felt like leather, and the hard plastic in the lower areas had a good grain and finish. The K5's interior exuded sportiness and quality, making it stand out from most GM and Ford interiors.

The 2021 Subaru WRX, on the other hand, had a more adolescent aesthetic, often compared to a car with piercings and tattoos. While the standard WRX looked tamer compared to the racier WRX STI, it still had a wedge-like front end and a very short trunk lid, giving it an appearance of speed even when at rest. The aerodynamic bodywork and functional hood scoop added to its sporty look. Inside, the WRX's cockpit was function-first, with a design that had not changed much since its introduction in 2015. The interior was filled with hard plastics, contributing to its immature reputation compared to the refined cabins of the VW GTI and Honda Civic Si.

The WRX came in three trims: Base, Premium, and Limited. The base model featured 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, manual seats, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Premium trim added 18-inch wheels, fog lights, heated seats, and a larger 7-inch infotainment screen. The range-topping Limited trim included leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, LED fog lights, and adaptive steering-responsive LED headlights. The Limited also offered an options package with navigation, a premium stereo, and additional driver-assistance features.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance did not quite match its aggressive styling. The GT-Line model, with its softer suspension damping and Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires, fell short in handling compared to competitors like the Volkswagen GLI. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) test car had good brakes and communicative steering, but the ride was more isolated and balanced rather than sporty. 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 all-wheel drive (AWD) was only available on the lesser-powered GT-Line and LXS trims.

The K5's standard engine was a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It provided decent acceleration and an eight-speed automatic transmission that reacted quickly, though not always smoothly. 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's sporty trim did not quite live up to the hype, but it performed well as a family sedan.

The 2021 Subaru WRX came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Buyers could choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite being the most powerful among its rivals, the WRX required precise rev management to extract its full potential. The CVT, though not ideal for driving enthusiasts, kept the revs in the powerband effectively.

The manual transmission, however, was a letdown with a vague clutch feel. The WRX STI offered a more precise manual transmission, but it was not available on the standard WRX. The WRX featured Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring, which modulated torque distribution and applied slight braking on the inside wheels in a corner, enhancing its cornering precision. The WRX had well-weighted steering and excelled on winding roads, though its stiff ride was less comfortable compared to the Civic Si and GTI.

The 2021 Kia K5 provided ample interior space despite its raked profile. Two adults could comfortably fit in the back, thanks to scalloped portions of the roof and front seatbacks. However, rear air vents were missing, which was a drawback. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The hard buttons for climate controls, stereo, and shortcut buttons surrounding the touchscreen were easy to use. The wireless charging pad was conveniently located and secure.

The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a 10-inch display available as an option. Trunk space was generous at 16 cubic feet, and the rear seats could fold down for additional cargo space.

The 2021 Subaru WRX had a conventional sedan layout with a trunk offering up to 12 cubic feet of cargo space. While it was more spacious than the Civic Si coupe, it fell short compared to the Civic Si sedan and the VW GTI. The WRX's interior packaging was less clever, with limited in-door bottle holders and center console cupholders that could obstruct shifting with the manual transmission.

The WRX provided a comfortable driving position with excellent visibility. The center console tray and compartment offered decent storage space. The rear seats could accommodate four adults comfortably, making it a practical choice for a compact sedan.

The 2021 Kia K5 came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to set up. However, there were occasional glitches with Apple CarPlay reconnecting. The base 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, turn signals on the mirrors, rear USB ports, a power driver's seat, and auto up/down controls for the front passenger window. The Premium package added a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and triple LED projector headlights. The EX trim included heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment system. The GT trim featured paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, quad exhaust tips, and additional performance hardware.

The 2021 Subaru WRX came standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen running Subaru's Starlink infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. Both screens supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a sensible layout and easy-to-use controls. The Limited trim offered an option package with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium stereo, providing excellent sound quality.

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 Subaru WRX did not come standard with the latest safety features. Subaru's EyeSight system, which included adaptive cruise control, emergency automatic braking, and lane-departure warning, was available on the Premium and Limited trims with the CVT. Adaptive high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking were optional on the Limited trim. All WRX trims came standard with a tire-pressure monitoring system and traction control.