Kia has one of the lowest recall rates in the industry. These are cars that you can count on. The tradeoff? These vehicles do tend to be a little basic. But that’s not to say that they don’t occasionally release something fun to drive, like the 2021 Kia K5.
What are some 2021 Kia K5 specs you should know of?
Here are the the big ones:
- Turbocharged 1.6L (98 ci) GDI I engine delivers a little more kick than you expect from a Kia
- Totally redesigned, roomier, and lower-to-the-ground chassis from previous models
- Gets up to 38 miles to the gallon in the right conditions
If you’re thinking of buying a 2021 Kia K5 and seeing for yourself, here’s what you need to know first.
Isn’t It Called an Optima?
If you know your Kias, you know that the K5 and the Optima are the same car. K5 is the South Korean name, and Optima is the American name. So why are we calling it the K5? Because Kia is swapping the names in both regions. For some reason.
This might be an attempt at rebranding over disappointing sales figures, seeing as the Optima will actually be discontinued in Europe for that reason.
This is just speculation, of course, but the car sold 96,623 units in the US in 2019 and 39,668 in South Korea. A decent showing, but total sales have been down every year since they sold 308,683 worldwide in 2015.
Then again, maybe they just wanted to shake things up.
Not-So-Basic Performance
The beating heart of the 2021 Kia K5 is the 1.6L Turbo GDI I engine, producing 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. You can find more powerful cars in this class, sure, but this is a tough, zippy engine to find in a Kia.
The car hits zero to sixty in an impressive 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of around 130 mph. Towing capacity tops out at around 1,500 pounds. But… don’t tow with a K5. The 8-speed automatic transmission doesn’t like having to pull any extra weight.
You can always bet on a Kia getting great mileage. In perfect conditions, the 2021 K5 goes all the way up to 38mpg on the highway. Expect an average of 28/37mpg city/highway for everyday driving.
The 2021 K5 hasn’t been rated by the NHTSA yet, but the 2020 has an almost perfect rating — five stars overall, and five stars across the board with just one exception: four stars for passenger side frontal impact. You can usually count on Kia to deliver a very safe vehicle.
Everything Else That Matters
The turbocharged engine may be why you choose a K5, but you choose a Kia because it’s low-cost, it’s low-maintenance, it’s safe, and it usually boasts a comfy interior. The 2021 K5s specs deliver fully in this regard.
You have all the gauges you need to keep track of how your car is doing. Engine coolant temp, trip odometer, outside temperature gauge, all the basics. There’s a perimeter alarm, full airbags, and Electronic Stability Control. Everything you expect to find in a new Kia.
The entertainment features are fairly basic. HD radio, streaming audio, six speakers and an eight-inch color touchscreen. One nice feature in the 2021 is that the voice-activated radio interface comes standard.
The best part of the interior may just be how comfortable the front bucket seats are. The K5’s interior, safety and entertainment features may be basic, but they’re not disappointing.
What Are the Reviews Saying?
To really get an idea of how a car performs, you have to take a look at what reviewers and owners are saying. This is still a new car, so there aren’t a ton of reviews available yet, but we’ve collected a few and noticed some patterns.
Pros:
- The turbocharged engine adds some much-needed power to the basic Kia
- The redesigned body offers more interior space than previous Optimas/K5s
- The car runs lower to the ground than previous models, which lends it a more tactile feel
Cons:
- You’d expect a hybrid model to be in the works, but it hasn’t been announced yet
- The sunroof was a nice thought, but some reviewers say that it cuts into the car’s headroom
- It’s strong for a Kia, but it’s still a Kia. If you didn’t like the 2020 Optima, you probably won’t like the 2021 K5
