Honda Civic vs Kia K5

While photographing the 2024 Kia K5 GT-Line in the sophisticated Passion Red Tint Coat, the vehicle drew immediate attention from passing cyclists who were clearly impressed with its striking appearance. One cyclist even inquired about the model, mistaking it for a new Kia release, despite the K5 having been on the market since 2021. Though the name has yet to become widely recognized in the consumer market, the K5's strong visual appeal in Southern California turned heads and commanded attention. The GT-Line, slotted between the base LXS and the upscale EX trim, offers budget sports sedan features. It was tested with an MSRP of $30,530, including extras like a Passion Red finish, Premium Package, Panoramic Sunroof Package, floor mats, and a carpeted trunk mat. The K5 provides an excellent value given today's rising car prices. However, despite the appealing price, the cabin's quality could not match its exterior allure. The interior does include touches like textured metallic trim and a robust transmission shifter that suggests greater refinement. Yet, the prevalence of hard, glossy plastic surfaces underscored its budget-friendly nature. In comparison, the 2024 Honda Civic Si beautifully balances sportiness and subtlety. Its styling hearkens back to the original stealth-mode ethos of performance sedans, avoiding overly aggressive cues. The Civic Si features LED headlights, a unique grille, a gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch matte-black wheels. It also comes in a variety of colors, from vivid hues to more understated tones. Inside, the Civic Si was designed to be expressive but not overstated. Red seat and door panel inserts, metal mesh trim, gloss black surfaces, polished metal detailing, and straightforward digital instrumentation combine for a cohesive and engaging interior. The aluminum pedal covers and shift knob add the final touch of performance styling. The price for all this starts at $29,100, rising slightly to $30,650 with the Blazing Orange paint option.

The 2024 Kia K5 offers two engine choices. Most models come equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. The GT-Line trim also offers an all-wheel-drive option. For those seeking more power, the K5 GT boasts a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, but only drives the front wheels. Modes such as Smart, Normal, Sport, Custom, and, in AWD configurations, Snow mode, offer varying driving experiences. The GT also features Sport+ mode with launch control, and benefits from a sport-tuned suspension, quicker steering, bigger brakes, and larger wheels with aggressive tires. While the GT-Line is tuned primarily for efficiency, boasting an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined (28 mpg with AWD), real-world testing showed less impressive results, with an average fuel economy of 24.5 mpg. Nonetheless, the turbocharged engine offered sufficient torque for enjoyable driving. The 2024 Honda Civic Si packs a high-output version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in other Civic trims, yielding 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Unique to the Si, this engine is paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission featuring a downshift rev-matching function, which can be toggled off for those who prefer traditional heel-and-toe techniques. The Si utilizes a single-mass flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential, allowing for better power delivery and cornering performance. Additional enhancements include larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and an Si-only dual-pinion, variable-ratio steering system. Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes adjust powertrain behavior, adding to the driving excitement. In both urban and highway settings, the Civic Si was adept and engaging. Its turbocharged engine provided quick bursts of power, and its precise handling shone on twisty roads like the Mulholland Highway. However, the braking system showed limitations during intensive driving sessions, an issue not encountered in everyday use. Regarding fuel economy, the Civic Si matches up well with the K5 GT-Line, delivering an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in combined driving. During testing, it returned an average of 29.5 mpg.

The 2024 Kia K5 excels in comfort and utility. The GT-Line trim features SynTex artificial leather with cloth seat inserts, although the material could be tricky to slide in and out of when wearing jeans. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, with adjustable height for the front passenger seat as well. Higher trims add more luxurious touches like ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, and the panoramic glass sunroof enhances the driving experience. However, rear air conditioning vents are only available on the higher EX and GT trims, which might be a drawback for some. With a sizable 16 cubic feet of cargo space, the K5 proves practical. The Smart Trunk function is convenient, enabling the trunk to pop open simply by standing behind the vehicle with the key fob. The 2024 Honda Civic Si prioritizes functionality without skimping on performance elements. It has sport-bolstered cloth seats that secure passengers effectively during spirited driving, although the lower seating may make ingress and egress challenging for some. Single-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, and heated exterior mirrors are standard features, but it lacks heated seats and steering wheel options, which could be a disadvantage in colder climates. Despite the compact nature of the car, rear seats are surprisingly roomy, providing ample legroom and comfort. The Civic Si offers 14.4 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than the K5, but still supports the storage of full-size suitcases and includes a 60/40-split folding rear seat for additional utility.

The Kia K5 features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base LXS trim, with other trims equipped with a 10.25-inch screen. Interesting to note, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in the LXS, but higher trims require a wired connection. The larger infotainment system also features navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect services, while all models come with Bluetooth support. Notably, the GT-Line trim comes with wireless phone charging and can be upgraded to a 12-speaker Bose audio system in higher trims. However, the voice recognition system left much to be desired, making the use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto almost necessary for better functionality. The 2024 Honda Civic Si comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and a simple version of HondaLink connected services. It includes physical knobs and buttons for essential functions, making it user-friendly. While it lacks built-in navigation, it compensates with effective integration with smartphone apps. A 12-speaker Bose audio system is standard and highly optimized for the Civic’s interior, making for an impressive auditory experience. Overall, the Civic Si’s tech offerings are straightforward yet effective, providing a satisfying user experience.

The 2024 Kia K5 came equipped with Kia Drive Wise, a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. These included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot monitoring, active rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a safe exit warning system. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Optional safety features included cyclist detection, automatic intersection braking, front and rear parking sensors, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system provided a semi-autonomous highway driving aid. The K5 received high marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, in updated tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the K5 received low scores in the moderate overlap frontal-impact and side-impact tests. The 2024 Honda Civic Si also featured a robust suite of safety technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included a driver monitoring system, traffic sign recognition, and a rear seat reminder system. However, during testing, the Honda Sensing suite proved less user-friendly, with lane-keeping and lane-centering assists being particularly intrusive. Adaptive cruise control was slow to respond to changing traffic conditions, and the lane-departure warning system caused the steering wheel to wobble, which was less preferred. The 2023 Honda Civic sedan earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with updated tests showing an Acceptable rating in moderate overlap frontal-impact and side-impact collisions. The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Civic sedan an overall five-star safety rating.