2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI 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 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 appeared similar to 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 look. However, the base 16-inch wheels made it look less appealing compared to the higher trims.

Inside, the K5's interior was designed with a focus on sportiness and quality. The dash was split between the driver and passenger, with a center stack angled towards the driver. The GT-Line trim featured red seats with black accents, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and quality materials throughout. The vinyl seats felt like leather, and the hard plastic areas had a good grain and finish. The K5's interior exuded a level of sportiness and quality that was missing from many other sedans in its class.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the other hand, carried the legacy of the original GTI, which defined the hot hatch genre. The GTI shared most of its basics with the regular Golf but included subtle enhancements to elevate it to the performance category. Red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip connecting the headlights, and painted brake calipers were some of the exterior features that set it apart. The GTI also had a lowered stance, subtle side skirts, and stainless-steel exhaust tips, giving it a sporty look.

Inside, the GTI's interior was enhanced with sporty features like red ambient lighting, illuminated door sills, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel. The instrument cluster was unique to the GTI, and the foot pedals had a shiny aluminum-look surface. Heated front sport seats were standard, with Clark plaid cloth in the S trim and leather in the SE and Autobahn trims. The GTI's interior had a quality feel, with high-quality materials and surfaces that were well-installed.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance did not match the aggressive styling of the GT-Line trim. The suspension had softer damping, and the Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires squealed in tight turns. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) test car had good brakes and communicative steering, but the GT-Line was more of an appearance package than a performance one. 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. The standard engine was a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing good fuel economy at an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, known for its performance, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GTI's handling was a highlight, with four-wheel independent suspension, DCC adaptive damping, and variable-ratio steering. The GTI's performance-oriented handling setup provided a great driving experience on the right roads but resulted in a rough ride on ordinary roads. The GTI's fuel economy was 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined with the dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered good interior space, with enough headroom and legroom for two adults in the back despite its raked profile. The front seats were supportive and firm, making long drives comfortable. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a 10-inch display available as an option. Trunk space was 16 cubic feet before folding down the rear seats.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its hatchback form, was incredibly useful for carrying passengers and cargo. It had a 103.6-inch wheelbase and a tight turning circle of 35.8 feet, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. The GTI offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, which expanded to 24.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The front row provided ample space for taller drivers, while the second row was adequate for two average-sized adults or three juveniles.

The 2021 Kia K5 came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. The GT-Line trim added features like 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, and a power driver's seat. 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 also featured adaptive cruise control and semi-automated lane centering.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system, with the S trim using a 6.5-inch screen and the SE and Autobahn trims using an 8-inch screen with navigation. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. The GTI also offered Volkswagen Car-Net, which included Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals. The GTI came with LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with LED headlights and adaptive front lighting standard on the SE and Autobahn trims.

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or 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. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear emergency braking, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the small overlap front passenger side category and a "Poor" rating for the base Halogen headlights. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and multiple airbags. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control.