It’s been almost a decade since Kia introduced the 2011 Optima in the U.S. and the time has come for a generation swap. Call it a model swap, actually, as the new 2021 Kia K5 mid-size saloon is here to take over from where the Optima left off.
Kia will assemble the K5 next to the crisp-looking Telluride SUV at its plant in West Point, Georgia. Before the first cars roll off the production line, let’s look at what customers will be getting from the 2021 K5 sedan.
2021 Kia K5
- Make: Array
- Model: 2021 Kia K5
- Engine/Motor: inline-4
- Horsepower: 180
- Torque: 195
- Transmission: 8AT
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
2021 Kia K5 - Powertrain
Things look pretty straightforward in the engine-gearbox department. The K5 will be offered in two guises.
The other version is moved by a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo-four rated at 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The mill couples to an eight-speed automatic and as of late 2020, it will be available with an optional all-wheel drive setup that “actively distributes torque between the front and rear wheels” and also sports a Snow mode. Unfortunately, we’re told that there’s no AWD setup in sight for the Kia K5 2.5, at least not for the foreseeable future.
For the sake of the argument, the non-hybrid 2021 Kia Optima has a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine running on gasoline with 178 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, so the power gain for the K5 1.6 is of just two horsepower. The Optima starts at $23,390, so we expect the K5 to come with at least a $24,000 starting sticker.
2021 Kia K5 specifications
|
Type |
1.6L Turbo I-4, Gasoline Direct Injection (T-GDI) GAMMA-II |
2.5L Turbo I-4, Gasoline Direct Injection + Multi Port Injection (T-GDI + MPI) THETA-III |
|---|---|---|
|
Displacement (cc) |
1,598 cc |
2,497 cc |
|
Bore x stroke (mm) |
75.6 mm X 89 mm |
88.5 mm x 101.5 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
10.5:1 |
10.5:1 |
|
Horsepower |
180 HP @ 5,500 rpm |
290 HP @ 5,800 rpm |
|
Torque |
195 lb.-ft @ 1,500 - 4,500 rpm |
311 lb.-ft @ 1,650 - 4,000 rpm |
|
Block |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
|
Head |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
|
Valve System |
DOHC, four valves / cylinder with Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) |
DOHC, four valves / cylinder |
2021 Kia K5 - Exterior
Kia likes its cars to look nice and the K5 makes no exception. There’s a lot of design goodness baked into the sedan’s body and with the right color options and larger wheels, it’s bound to become a looker. For that, you’ll also have to thank the new ‘tiger face’ styling dominating the front end as well as the slick-looking Heart Beat daytime running lights that add just the right touch of elegance on a rather sporty package.
The K5 sits on the N3 architecture, which makes it 193.1 inches long (two inches longer than the outgoing Optima), 73.2 inches wide (one inch over the Optima), and 56.9 inches tall (0.8 inches shorter than the Optima). Wheelbase also takes a 1.8-inch hike and now stretches to 112.2 inches.
2021 Kia K5 - Interior
On top of these, Kia offers voice recognition and ambient calming sounds. On a more material note, customers can opt for red leatherette seat upholstery and an assortment of satin chrome metallic and wood trim bits and bobs. A panoramic sunroof is also on offer, as is the sexy flat-bottomed steering wheel; you can only have the latter on the GT-Line and GT trims, which is a bummer.
The 2021 Kia K5 goes on sale this summer with a lineup marked by four trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, and EX. A GT variant should arrive in fall. No word on pricing yet.