The 2021 Kia K5 GT is so stylish and possesses such a capable driving characteristic that you won't want to stop when you reach a sparsely-populated winding strip of the road! The Roadshow staff ranked it head and shoulders above the midsize-sedan crowd, topping the segment in nearly every category.
More fresh and spunky than the late-aged Honda Accord, more interesting than the Subaru Legacy, and boasting more luxury elements inside than the Toyota Camry, the K5 has the well-rounded appeal needed to sway many young professionals and 2nd-time buyers to the exciting sedan side of the fence. The signature tiger-nose grille that everyone always gets excited to see coming has been redesigned, and the example shown here sports an awesome shade of Sapphire Blue paint. From the side, you can pick up slightly on a Volkswagen or new Audi A7 vibe, with a nicely curving roofline that makes for an entirely unique rear stature.
Once inside, the first thing easily noticed about the dashboard is that it has a very deep sculpture, and all of the materials are constructed with excellent quality. The entire center stack is angled nicely toward the driver, so the infotainment screen and climate controls are simple to reach. The gear shifter is surprisingly in the traditional spot and is satisfying to the touch without looking dated in the least. Two infotainment systems are available: one has an 8-inch display and the other has the uplevel-placed 10.3-inch touchscreen.
Both options are not only very user-friendly, but they look awesome, have unique purple neon signs for the home screen, and the radio tuner is displayed as a series of funky and retro-looking tubes. The GT model features a burly 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, which is a fantastic 4-cylinder option cranking out 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Making the absolute most out of the available torque is the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, aiding in the respectable 0-60 mph time of just 5.8 seconds. At the pump, 24 mpg around town and 32 mpg on the highway are where you'll see averages, with 27 mpg combined.
Multiple test drives by the Roadshow team allowed them to finish their journey by claiming that the sedan drives “magically”, and has startlingly amazing chassis performance chops. Once you get to enjoy the stark and pure driving pleasure of straight asphalt, the lane-centering feature works like a charm, enabling you to properly embellish the joy of acceleration. Badging the K5 GT with a score of “9” in all four categories, this is one action-packed and still new-family friendly sedan that will add a taught and punchy touch to the long sprawling days of late summer!
