Kia has unveiled the K5, or as previously known, the Optima, for 2021. Starting for a meagre price of $23,490, this midsize sedan has been through a major revamp for the year 2021. With multiple turbocharged units powering it through, the feature-list also changes for the better. With the 2021 Kia K5 having already been unveiled, let’s take a look at some of the note-worthy interior and exterior design cues of this particular midsize sedan.
2021 Kia K5 Highlights:
- Prices start from $23,490 | Prices and Deals
- Added creature comforts | Interior Review
- More powerful GT trim | In-depth Review
The Kia K5 is the lone hope for an already dying midsize sedan industry. With people opting more and more for crossover SUVs and sports coupes, the 2021 Kia K5 is the glimmer of hope for every sedan lover, and even for Kia to restore its place among the best there is in a concrete manner. With brand-new sedan aesthetics never seen before, and a punching performance and handling prowess, courtesy ofa brand-new 1.6L turbocharged engine, the Kia K5 drum rolls into the automotive market with a thrifty selling price and ton-load of features.
Know more about 2021 Kia K5:
- Here is everything that you need to know about the 2021 Kia K5
- You can yourself get a used Kia Optima for about $8,000
- The Kia K5 GT gets a 290hp 2.5L turbo-four
- The Kia K5 is based on the same N3 platform as the Sonata
The Kia K5 is going through a revolution for its 2021 model. The company has ditched the ‘Optima’ nametag and opted for a much snazzier name ‘the Kia K5’. Under this new dawning, the sedan will go through a radical overhaul that includes ferocious styling and a brand-new powertrains under its belt. The Kia K5 will take its basis from thenew N3 platform, as seen on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata,and will integrate an AWD system too for 2021.
At an opening price of $23,490, the Kia K5 appears as the complete sedan with lots of practicality,spacious interiors and high-tech safety and infotainment features. The K5 will come in 5 trims- LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and the new and much powerful, range-topping Kia K5 GT.The luxury and techfeatures will increasewith every trim but the K5 GT will be a lot more about the thrill of driving a sedan.
Exterior Pictures of the 2021 Kia K5
Does the Kia K5 follow in the footsteps of the Optimawith a basic styleor will it look to hit the ball right out of the park with aggressive styling cues? The 2021 Kia K5 looks to pursue the latter route as it hopes to revive the dying midsize sedan market. Have a look at these intriguing images to draw your conclusion.
- The personality of a car lies in its front-end: The Kia K5 settles for a fresher look in the front as was seen in its redesigned concept car. The front fascia looks more aggressive with a brand-new honeycomb grille design that resembles the beak of a hawk, or as Kia calls it the tiger-nose grille and zig-zag-esque LED headlights merging into the front. With more than enough chrome accents around the front-end, the black-mesh grille with the Kia emblem right in front is enough to win anyone over.
- The Kia K5’s side profile: The side profile of the K5 looks immaculate and polished with the door handles matching the exterior color accent. The pricier trims feature illuminated door handles that add to the K5’s charisma. It features clean and sharp lines, that tapers towards the rear so to meet the slightly sloping roofline. The particular design languageis far better than what we've been seeing in this segment for far too long now.
- The backbone of a car lies in its rear: The Kia K5’s rear end is a complete turnaround from its Optima predecessor. The Kia K5 has a large strip that fuses both the taillights into a single wide unit that looks sophisticated. The sides of this strip have a similar zig-zag design like the front and a dotted line in the middle of the strip adds to the style quotient. Kia replaced the older circular exhaust pipes for a sleeker slanted rectangular shape.
- Cherish the colorful palette of the Kia K5: The Kia K5 has a vibrant collection of exterior colors to match your charisma- Glacial White Pearl, Passion Red Tint Coat, Everlasting Silver, Ebony Black, Gravity Gray, Crystal Beige, Wolf Gray, and Sapphire Blue.
- With great power comes great safety responsibility: The Kia K5 ensures a healthy ride in its stylish sedan with numerous active safety features integrated along with its chassis like Dusk sensing headlamps, blind-spot sensors, Tire pressure monitoring, reverse parking sensors and collision avoiding sensors on the front and rear side.
- Your dream on wheels: The Kia K5 sports a set of 16-inch alloy wheels with its base LX model. Customers with a desire for sporty style may opt for the GT-Line trim that equips 18-inch sport alloy wheels. Theflagship 2021 Kia K5 GT trim takes its wheels to the next level of raciness, with its elegant 19-inch machined alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero tires.
- Fall in love with the high-tech windshield: The windshield is a manufacturer’s dream with great outward visibility and noise-reduction technology. The windshield keeps outside elements like sunlight under control with its special quality solar control glass and the variable intermittent windshield wipers help to avoid any smear on the windshield while driving in the rain.
Also Read:
Should you pick the 2021 Kia K5 over the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
These are all the other cars from Kia you can buy
Interior Pictures of the 2021 Kia K5
We love the interior styling cues of the 2021 Kia K5, which makes it look more upscale for a car in its price segment. They stuff the interiors with a lush plethora of cool and tech-savvy features under an economical family sedan pricing. We have some rare exclusive snapshots of this hyped sedan for you, our readers, to savor.
- Longer wheelbase: The Kia K5 features a longer wheelbase than its outgoing model, 1.8 inches longer than usual. This promotes a roomier interior. The front end enjoys it the most, gaining valuable volume points. The K5 has a seating arrangement of 4 adult passengers in absolute comfort much like the 2020 Optima with adequate cargo space and interior passenger volume.
- A peek into the sophisticated dashboard: The dashboard looks elegant and appealing, with high-quality materials like the wood used throughout the cabin. The layout is organized and looks pretty high class for a car of this price. The 2021 K5 has a serene interior build that looks charming and high-tech. Nevertheless, don't get us wrong, apart from it being a sumptuous setup, it also turns out to be one of the most practical interior setups in this segment.
- Feel the comfort of the uptown leather seats: The cabin features some exquisite leather upholstery, including the soft-to-touch interior elements which also include the steering wheel and comfortable synthetic leather seats. The seats are adjustable through a 6-way power per your preference. There is also the bonanza of upscale seat features like heated and ventilated fronts seats and heated rear seats to comfort your spine.
- Clutch the sleek automatic gearbox: The Kia K5 GT comes equipped with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that feels intuitive to control and is a treat to drive on the streets. Kia developed this transmission with its own hands and takes pride in its quick and smooth feedback.
- The Versatility to Carry all your load: The 2021 Kia K5 offers trunk storage of 16.0cubic feet that is enough to fit in most of your luggage. Besides, the rear seats have a split-fold functionality that helps to free up more space. It quite clearly holds the maximum amount of cargo space in the segment.
- The infotainment array: Expect to see a piano-black bezel that houses the infotainment setup. The 2021 K5 has a large 10.25-inch touchscreen for its infotainment purposes. It also has a 10.25-inch information display that has rich graphics and a clear resolution. The infotainment also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system for the ultimate entertainment.
- Kudos to the K5’s connectivity: The Kia K5 is an adequately connected car, with a USB port on the front console and Bluetooth connectivity for voice recognition tech. There is also the convenience of a 12-volt power outlet on the front console to charge your phone.
Final Verdict
The 2021 Kia K5 is a worthy addition to Kia’s 2021 lineup, with top-class features and sleek exterior philosophy that caters to the taste of every car enthusiast. The price range of the K5 is lower than its rivals, like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, and it certainly gives them a tough competition up front.
The Kia K5 has everything, including a robust engine and an all-new transmission and classy features that punch the 2021 Kia K5 above its weight. The new interiors and the exteriors are a refreshing change to the outgoing 2020 Kia Optima. The Kia K5 is one of a top sedan pick for this year and breathes new life into its dying segment.
Also Read:
How has the Kia K5/Optima performed on the sales front?
Is the Kia K5/Optima a reliable offering?
2021 Kia K5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the Kia K5 come in an AWD setup?
Kia Optima used to come in only a FWD setup, but from 2021, the K5, or as previously known as the Optima can be opted with an AWD setup too.
How much will the 2021 Kia K5 cost?
Kia K5 or as earlier known as the Optima starts off at a starting price of $23,490 for the base LX trim, and it goes all the way up to $27,990 for the fully-loaded EX trim. The rest of the trims except the LX and the EX can also be optioned with an AWD setup, which jacks up the base price up by about $2,000.
How big is the infotainment screen, and does it allow Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The 2021 Kia K5 houses a big enough 10.25-inch touchscreen intuitive infotainment system. It also allows Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration.
What cars are comparable to the Kia K5?
In this world of mid-size sedans, the three other best cars which are perfect rivals to the 2021 Kia K5 are the Honda Accord, Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Sonata.
Does the Kia K5 get a whole new rehashed design for 2021?
The Kia K5 has been given a complete overhaul for 2021, with a completely new front and rear fascia, that includes a new aggressive front tiger-nose grille, and a whole new tailight design at the back. The interior also gets a slight makeover, thus making it more sumptuous and functional at the same time.
