2021 Kia K5 | A Less Venomous Stinger

Not long ago, the family sedan was the standard-bearer of the auto industry. It's where we Americans turn for our next ride and the competition was fierce. But as cars continue crossing over into SUVs, the significance of the midsize sedan has been greatly diminished. Yet for those who have kept the candle burning, the choices may have been reduced but the vehicles themselves are better than ever. Case in point, the car formerly known as the Optima, this is the all-new Kia K5. When it comes to actual cars, a few automakers have you covered quite like Kia – Rio, Forte, Stinger, Cadenza, K900 and now K5. From $16k to $60k there's something in there for everyone. And this one here is the middle child. You could think of it as a front-wheel drive Stinger if you will with its similar sports sedan look and feel. Long gone are the days of boring in this class. Now you've got to bring it both in style and drive. The K5 is offered in 5 trim levels and I've got the 2 most interesting here, at least until the racier GT arrives later this fall. The GT line is characterized by its sporty appearance, legit performance tires and optional all-wheel drive. It's definitely the K5 with the most attitude with a starting price of $26,355. Meanwhile, this K5 EX takes on a more luxurious, mature persona with a standard panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, sat radio, an optional 12-speaker Bose audio system and a wireless device charger. It starts at just under $29,000. As is the new normal during the pandemic, product launches are done in a hit-it-and-quit-it style on your home turf for 24 hours. So I'm driving both of these K5s to explore their unique flavors with a tropical storm thrown in just for fun. But frankly, they're not as different as you might think. Mechanically, these 2 are identical right down to the Pirelli rubber. So though the GT line likes to flaunt its stuff, it doesn't possess any superpowers. There's not even any paddle shifters in this model, a rare Kia misstep. Both are powered by a Hyundai-Kia staple, the energetic 1.6-liter turbo-4 made into an 8-speed auto producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The Sonata's base 2.5-liter engine is not on the menu over a Kia. And I mention the Sonata because it is this car's corporate twin but the K5 is much more attractive than the new Sonata and offers some goodies that the Hyundai doesn't and vice versa such as all-wheel drive and wireless Apple CarPlay. As for a hybrid variant, Hyundai has the exclusive at least for now. The most notable difference between this K5 and the Hyundai Sonata Limited I tested earlier this year lies where the rubber meets the road. The Sonata came equipped with Michelin Grand Touring tires while this Kia comes with Pirelli Ultra High Performance all-seasons. This leads to a more athletic drive with improved steering feel without any degradation to the ride quality or cabin quietness. The handling is actually quite impressive for a front-drive car making it a lot of fun to drive. This is a beautiful drive with quick-hitting torque, smart and sport drive modes and reactive gear changes. It's a delight to take on your favorite back road without ever feeling overdone. If you indeed want some of that, the Stinger will gladly oblige. The K5 feels composed, premium and sophisticated in all situations. Kia has long since been really good at ergonomics. They know just how to make you comfortable and do a perfect job of integrating their vast features in a simple and intuitive manner. And this K5 EX is just another example of that with all of the controls exactly where you'd expect them and electronics that work without having to reach for the owner's manual. Now, the only oddity here and it is a disappointment, you can't get wireless Apple CarPlay with the Premium Package and this bigger screen. It only comes with the smaller screen. And I was kind of expecting to see a heads-up display here. This EX has memory settings, a power passenger seat, HVAC vents in the rear, a heated steering wheel and more robust safety tech. And the big touchscreen offers a deeper dive into electronic features including these mood settings which I'm a real sucker for. On both cars, I really like the placement and design of the wireless phone charger but the Sonata's Surround View Monitor is absent. Another thing Kia likes to do that gives their vehicles an advantage is to upsize them. So even though the K5 plays in the midsize class, it has large car rear seat legroom and trunk space. At 16 cubic feet, this is as big as Kia's trunks get and both cars have Smart Trunk as standard. As usual for Kia, the feature content is very high with both the GT line and EX punching well above their weight, never leaving you feeling like you're missing something you want while putting your neighbor's Lexus to shame, at least in terms of modernity. Personally, I prefer the GT line. I really like its more assertive styling, the red interior and this upcharge Wolf Gray paint looks amazing. Plus I could live without the handful of goodies it lacks when compared with the EX trim. And this one here has wireless Apple CarPlay…one of my favorite features. As tested with the premium packages on both, this GT line checks in at a very palatable $28,400 while the EX adds more of the good stuff for $32,355. Gas mileage is rated at 31mpg in combined driving and an eye-opening 38mpg on the highway. So the K5 comes out of the gate with a new name, spunkier attitude and more polish. It's said you never get a second chance to make a first impression and this one has been stellar. And that full-fledged GT model coming in November should be a real treat.