The
Motor1.com team tested both the GT-Line and the EX, which came
with an eye-catching blue paint job and 18-inch wheels. They had to admit that
the GT-line looked even better with sporty cues such as a shark skin-inspired
grille mesh, 18-inch wheels, and exhaust tips with aggressive new styling. The
K5 GT-Line also gets a Wolf Gray paint job that some even thinks draws
influences from legendary trackster Porsche. The interior on the GT line is the
only trim that now comes standard with red, faux leather seats, a
flat-bottomed, leather-stitched steering wheel, and a shifter with aluminum
fixtures.
The
EX model seems at first more basic in appearance, but it does offer a few
materials that are more high-quality. There is the addition of standard black
leatherette, soft black plastic on the door panels, aluminum and wood trim on
the dash, and piano black plastic around the touchscreen and instrument cluster
that feels more durable to the Motor1.com team that what is found in the
GT-Line. And thankfully for all of our customers here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, the team here claims that “You can't go wrong with either” when
discerning the two models.
The
K5 has a clean, spacious cabin layout that provides more than enough comfort
for both front and rear passengers, and the exquisite leatherette feels as
close to cowhide as anything as the team had ever been planted in previously.
There are two available touchscreens: the 8.0-inch and optional 10.3-inch. The
response time on the UVO entertainment system is rated as excellent, and
wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect instantly once you hop inside.
Both
models have wireless charging, one of the most useful features of a car when
you just
want
to kick back, not dig for a port, and assure that you are rejuvenating the
juice in your
device.
If you are waiting on the model that is truly like a “mini-Stinger”, the full-fledged
K5 GT with
290 horsepower and all-wheel drive is going to deliver on the promise of a
quick launch off
the line and robust track-ready handling. Cornering is great for its class –
the K5 is flatter and
smoother than rivals like the Subaru Legacy and Nissan Altima. We’ll keep you posted on all-important arrival dates and spec changes, and hope the St Louis
area summer is finding you safely distanced outdoors and soaking up rays
whenever possible!
