2023 Subaru WRX vs 2022 Kia K5

The 2022 Kia K5 was available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT. Each trim came with a turbocharged engine, and the LXS and GT-Line offered an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Base prices ranged from $23,790 to $31,190, excluding the destination charge. The test car for this review was a K5 EX with front-wheel drive (FWD), extra-cost paint, the EX Premium option package, and floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $33,945, including destination. The K5 EX was attractively priced, especially considering the median average transaction price for new vehicles in the U.S.

The K5’s design was striking, with a low, long, and sleek profile that suggested a luxury sports sedan rather than a practical family car. The test car featured Glacial White Pearl paint paired with Ash Blue synthetic leather and a black interior with matte-finish fake wood trim and polished metallic accents. Despite some hard plastic surfaces, the cabin felt upscale. The car exuded quality, with solid controls, a refined transmission shifter, and secure door release handles and steering wheel stalks. The K5’s construction conveyed a sense of care and attention to detail.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, no longer badged as the Impreza WRX, had moved away from its Impreza roots. The WRX featured distinct front and rear styling, wide-body sides, and functional hood scoop feeding air to an intercooler. Base models had 17-inch wheels, while other trims had 18-inch wheels with standard summer tires. The WRX’s exterior styling clearly conveyed its performance capabilities and Subaru heritage, with a tuner aesthetic fitting Subaru's current design theme.

The WRX’s interior was basic but durable. The GT model tested had Recaro Performance Design front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver, red contrast stitching, and Ultrasuede upholstery for the front seats and dashboard cover. The seats were comfortable and supportive, enhancing the mostly black interior. The WRX’s interior was designed for longevity, reflecting Subaru’s focus on practicality and durability.

The 2022 Kia K5 GT was the performance leader in its lineup, featuring a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. However, the GT was the most expensive and least efficient K5 variant and lacked AWD. The standard K5 engine was a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder delivering 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic. Despite modest figures, the engine offered linear power delivery with minimal lag.

The K5 EX test car had a 1.6-liter turbo engine, which performed well in various driving conditions, returning 29.1 mpg in combined driving. The car allowed too much road noise into the cabin and had a suspension that struggled with minor road imperfections. However, it handled speed humps and bumps well, and wind noise was minimal. The K5 EX’s steering feel was average, and its handling was competent but not as engaging as competitors like the Honda Accord.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine producing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The WRX had AWD and offered a six-speed manual transmission or an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT), branded as Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT). The SPT/CVT was standard on the GT trim and provided quick throttle responses, simulating a conventional automatic transmission. The GT model also had electronically controlled dampers and a drive mode select system with multiple settings.

The WRX’s driving experience was well-mannered, quiet, and comfortable, making it a pleasant daily driver. The AWD system and standard summer tires provided excellent grip on twisty roads. However, the driving experience felt muted, with a quiet exhaust, CVT that blunted acceleration, and laid-back steering. The WRX was competent but lacked the exuberance of some competitors.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered comfort with dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and rear air conditioning vents. The panoramic glass sunroof added natural light to the interior. The low-slung design made entry and exit challenging, but the front seats were comfortable, and the rear seats offered ample space. The K5 had a 16 cubic-foot trunk, expandable with a 60/40-split folding back seat, though it lacked a handle for closing the trunk lid.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, as a compact sedan, offered practicality with more front headroom and legroom than a Honda Civic Si, though the Civic had more rear-seat space. The WRX had 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space, less than competitors like the Civic Si and Volkswagen Jetta GLI. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat was standard, but Subaru did not provide a cargo-space number with the seat folded. The WRX had good outward visibility, but lacked a convenient place for a smartphone, with small storage spaces and poorly placed USB ports.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered two infotainment systems. The base system had an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen, requiring a cable for smartphone integration. The larger screen added satellite radio, Kia Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and ambient noise tracks. A wireless smartphone charger and a 12-speaker Bose audio system were available. The K5’s voice recognition was poor, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable.

The 2023 Subaru WRX’s Starlink infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base models had dual 7-inch touchscreens, while higher trims had an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The larger screen was easy to read but lacked physical buttons and knobs. The menus were user-friendly, though SiriusXM satellite radio required multiple steps to operate. The system took a long time to load on startup, delaying music playback.

The 2022 Kia K5 excelled in safety with the Kia Drive Wise suite, including 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, rear-seat reminder, and Safe Exit Assist. The EX Premium package added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, parking sensors, automatic rear braking, a surround-view camera, and power rear child locks. The K5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured the EyeSight safety system with adaptive cruise control, automated lane-centering, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Other available features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights. The WRX received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.