The Optima has been replaced by the current generation of Kia’s midsize sedan, the K5. The K5 is a brand-new car that uses the company’s global moniker for its mid-size sedan despite having comparable four-door, fastback appearance as its predecessor.
The Kia K5 is one of the more affordable options available in the mid-size sedan market, with prices starting at $23,790 plus $995 destination. We drove the K5 GT-Line, which has more aggressive body kit, gloss black accents, and larger alloy wheels as well as sportier aesthetic features.
Yes. Front-wheel drive is the only option for the K5 LX base model, but all-wheel drive is available as a $1,800 option for the mid-level LXS and a $1,600 option for the sporty GT-Line. Curiously, only front-drive is available in the opulent K5 EX and K5 GT.
The Kia K5 GT-Line sports a 1.6-liter inline-four turbocharged engine that produces 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter K5 GT is far more sporty, but the GT-Line is still swift enough to keep up with contemporary traffic. Compared to some competitors’ CVTs, its eight-speed automatic transmission is sportier and more responsive.
In This Article...
The Kia K5 GT line AWD is how quick?
The 2022 Kia K5 GT is incredibly quick. With a top speed of 155 mph, it is quicker than the majority of German luxury vehicles now on the market and costs at least $10,000 more. While various independent tests have shown that the K5 GT can reach 60 mph in as little as 5.2 seconds, the official time for acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is only 5.7 seconds.
Not only that. In independent testing approved by AMCI Testing, the Kia K5 establishes faster acceleration and better overall handling performance than the BMW 330i Sedan, demonstrating its status as a real sports sedan. Given its best-in-class 311 lb.-ft. of torque and responsive 8-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission, the K5 GT outperformed the BMW 330i Sedan by 0.28 seconds at 060 acceleration.
Additionally, it outperforms the BMW 330i Sedan at quarter-mile top speed, achieving a terminal speed of 103.3 mph and completing the race in just 14.2 seconds. The K5 GT’s all-new chassis, Pirelli P-ZEROTM All-Season Tires, and sports-tuned suspension allow the vehicle achieve a superior overall handling performance and a maximum dry cornering G-force capability. The K5 GT also boasts higher handling performance in both wet and dry circumstances.
The Kia K5 GT has FWD, so why?
The brand-new 2021 K5, which brings North America in line with a global naming convention, is positioned in the same lineup as the Optima and is comparable in size and price. Even yet, a shared lineage is still present because it is categorized as a fifth-generation model.
The K5’s powertrains are also standardized because it is constructed on the same new Hyundai Motor Group N3 chassis as other family cars like the Hyundai Sonata. Both the 1.6-liter and 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engines in the Sonata are mated with either an eight-speed automatic or eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. These engines provide 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque each.
The K5 is now a gas-only vehicle, but someday electric versions are probably going to be available. LX, EX, GT-Line, and GT are the four levels available in Canada. The 1.6 turbo in the first three models is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.5 turbo in the GT is mated to an eight-speed DCT. Drive layout is a distinction between new and old that is worth mentioning. The GT is solely front-wheel drive, in contrast to the Optima’s all-wheel drive configuration; the bottom three K5 grades are all-wheel drive exclusively.
Because Kia offers the Stinger in its portfolio, the K5 GT is essentially FWD. Kia intended to further distinguish the K5 GT from the Stinger, which was just updated for 2022 and costs just over $50K in Canada with a standard 368-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and AWD.
Although the K5 GT boasts 45 more horsepower and 51 more pound-feet of torque than the previous Optima SX and a new wet-clutch DCT, the primary reason for FWD, in my opinion, is cost. I believe Kia’s product strategists aimed to keep the K5 GT under $40K, and they (barely) succeeded in doing so in Canada.
The K5 GT would have been competitive with the Stinger if AWD had been chosen, pushing the MSRP over that mark. The ultimate fuel consumption figures would have been impacted by the weight of an AWD system. FWD thereby reduces the margin to roughly $10,000 while increasing the K5 GT’s fuel economy. From such angles, the decision is sensible.
Anyway, let’s talk about the car itself. The exterior of my test car is Pacific Blue, and the interior is Black Sofino faux leather. The K5 GT has a ton of stuff, as one might expect. The extensive list of standard equipment on this vehicle also includes 19-inch wheels, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, a Bose premium audio system, and many other features.
The photographs clearly show how different the K5 is from the Optima in terms of appearance. Although the K5 has a similar overall shape to its predecessors and is somewhat longer (+51 mm) and has a lower roofline (23 mm), it has more aggressive and high-tech appearance.
These eyes find the LED lighting signature to be the most striking. The powerful “heartbeat”-shaped daytime running lights that also serve as amber turn signal indicators on the angled and recessed headlights make the Optima appear subdued in comparison. Similar things happen towards the back, where LED “dashes” span the deck lid’s width to give the K5 a more appealing appearance, especially at night.
Other distinguishing design features include the chrome trim that extends from the A-pillars and wraps around the base of the rear window, the chrome-tipped quad exhaust outlets integrated into a prominent rear diffuser, and Kia’s updated “tiger face” grille with a mesh design inspired by shark skin.
The multimedia interface and the instrument cluster’s big digital panels make up the majority of the K5’s interior, at least in terms of the GT. Both include comprehensive features, razor-sharp resolution, and a variety of customizing options. I particularly appreciate how the drive mode selector setting affects how the gauge cluster looks. Noteworthy is the fact that both are standard kit exclusively for the GT grade. Except for GT Line, which also has a 10.25-inch screen, other versions have smaller screens (4.2-inch instrument cluster, 8-inch multimedia). Only the larger multimedia screen comes with included navigation, although all grades include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
The K5’s interior, aside from the screens, is rather traditional. I don’t mean that in a disparaging way because I actually enjoy many trim finishes and the appearance they produce. The red contrast stitching is a stylish finishing touch, and the synthetic leather seating is cozy and pleasant to the touch. Although it is largely found on the edges, the lower dash panel, door trims, and center console do contain cheap, hard plastic, which is disappointing for a $40K vehicle.
I believe there is a lot to enjoy about this overall. The cabin is roomy, there is a ton of information, and everything looks good, but nothing really strikes out as particularly novel or fresh. And it must be acknowledged that many modern cars now come equipped with sizable digital screens. Although they function well and look fantastic in the K5, their deployment at this point feels a little routine.
In general, quite well. Although I can only speculate how handling would be improved with a rear biased AWD system, this setup is good. Once more, as with all of my road testing, I drew my conclusions by using public roads. I really want to push the K5 GT hard on a closed circuit, but that will have to wait until another time.
What I can say is that the 2.5-liter turbo delivers a lot of pull off the line, particularly in sport and sport plus modes, the latter of which turns off traction control. I occasionally noticed some lag, but it’s nothing a modulating throttle application can’t take care of. Put another way, making speedy getaways is simple when you have 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque at your disposal. The GT’s 0-60 mph (97 km/h) pace, according to Kia, is 5.8 seconds.
When you put the family sedan into sport or sport plus, use the rev bump, re-mapped wet-clutch DCT, and paddle shifters to spice up the drive home, it provides a stimulating driving experience. Throughout my test, I repeatedly did this and found it to be pretty interesting. The general handling is balanced and acute, and the steering feels light and responsive. But if that’s not your thing, alternative driving modes (normal, smart, and bespoke) are available for everyday driving with added fuel savings.
Overall, the K5 GT offers excellent value for the money. It will take some time to get acclimated to the new name, but given how much has changed, it makes sense. The K5 undoubtedly opens a new chapter, particularly from the outside. Although optional (or standard) AWD and a more ambitious interior design would be good, they are not deal-breakers for me.
Overall, I’m happy that sedans are still around. We are fortunate that a car as appealing as the K5 GT is among those that are still around, despite the fact that their numbers are dwindling with each passing year.
The company gave the author access to the vehicle. Evaluations of the content and vehicles were not subject to approval.
Which K5 has AWD?
Drive in any weather K5 LXS and GT-Line from Kia With the Kia K5, which is the only midsize sedan with a turbo engine and AWD as standard equipment, Kia has established a new standard. The pleasant driving experience made possible by the engaging K5’s spirited performance will be appreciated by drivers.
The Kia K5 GT Line has front-wheel drive.
The GT level only comes with front-wheel drive, but the GT-Line offers all-wheel drive as an option. The GT-Line has both a front-wheel drive model with a starting MSRP of $26,090 and an all-wheel drive model with a starting MSRP of $27,690.
Will the Kia K5 GT feature AWD in 2022?
The K5 makes a comeback in 2022 with a heaping serving of additional amenities on its higher trims following a facelift and name change for 2021. All-wheel drive is an option on the LXS and GT-Line and is available on the LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT trim levels of the K5. A 360-degree camera system, more wireless chargers, and standard navigation are added to the K5 GT-Line, EX, and GT for 2022.
GT-Line AWD Premium Package
By adding a new AWD Premium Package, which costs $1,900, Kia beefs up its mid-range GT-Line model. This package includes a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, LED projector headlights, and additional driver-assistance features like Highway Driving Assist and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. None of these features are brand-new for the 2022 K5 GT-Line; some were either standard with AWD or part of another optional package; nevertheless, they have been rearranged for the new GT-Line AWD Premium Package.
Engine Options
A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pounds-feet of torque powers every 2022 K5 save the top-of-the-line GT. Only a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pounds-feet of torque is offered for the GT.
Pricing and Competition
The starting price of the K5 is $24,685 (all prices include destination), which is a slight $100 increase over the price of the 2021 LX FWD. As a result of items that were previously included as standard with the GT-$3,700 Line’s AWD option being divided into the new GT-Line AWD Premium Package, which costs $1,900, the GT-Line AWD’s starting price of $28,685 is $1,500 less than it was in 2021.
The price of the 2022 K5 is comparable to that of the 2021 mid-size sedan class. The Honda Accord ($25,965 beginning price), Hyundai Sonata ($24,955), Nissan Altima ($25,400), and Toyota Camry ($26,040) are frequently contrasted with it. Additionally available now, the base price of the 2022 Subaru Legacy is $23,955.
- LX FWD: $24,685
- FWD LXS: $25,685
- AWD LXS: $27,485
- FWD GT-Line: $27,085
- AWD GT-Line: $28,685
- EX FWD: $29,585
- GT FWD: $32,085
Does Kia offer AWD vehicles?
AWD is an option on more than just Kia crossovers and SUVs. When it was introduced in 2018, the Kia Stinger became the first AWD sedan in the series. It continues to combine AWD and performance with a 365-hp, 3.3L twin-turbo V6 that is capable of 376 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph pace of in 4.7 seconds.
What distinguishes the GT Line from the GT Line S?
One of the sportier trim choices, the GT-Line resembles the top-of-the-line GT hot hatch. The vehicle sports 17-inch alloy wheels, darker privacy glass for the back windows, a larger rear bumper, and two exhaust pipes as a result. With the addition of LED headlights, the GT-Line S comes standard with wider 18-inch alloy wheels. The end result is a stylish five-door hatchback in both variations that is far more attractive than less expensive Ceed models.
Why does GT line exist?
Grand tourer, often known as a gran tourer, is a class of vehicle built with both long-distance travel and high speeds in mind. These cars often blend luxury and performance features, and they frequently have a 2+2 seating arrangement.