2025 Kia K5

Overview

2025 Kia K5

Warren Clarke | 

3 min read

Kia

What's New for the 2025 Kia K5

For 2025, Kia gave its K5 midsize sedan both interior and exterior styling updates, in addition to a new base engine with 11 more horsepower than the previous version. The K5 has available all-wheel drive (AWD) and also provides a generous range of safety features, including the addition of front and rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control for 2025.

Pros

• Optional AWD
• Available turbocharged engine
• Lots of safety and driver-assist features

Cons

• Unimpressive crash-test ratings
• No hybrid powertrain

Kia

2025 Kia K5 Trim Levels

Kia K5 buyers can choose from four trim levels: LXS, GT-Line, GT, and EX.

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard with most trim levels. It generates 191 horsepower and is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5 GT upgrades to a 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

All K5 models have standard front-wheel drive (FWD). Kia offers AWD as an upgrade, but only with the GT-Line trim.

• LXS

The LXS comes equipped with 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable front seats, keyless access and engine starting, remote engine starting, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 4.2-inch digital driver display is standard, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, satellite radio, and a six-speaker sound system.

• GT-Line

The GT-Line adds 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, a flat-bottom steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. When equipped with AWD, it also has a heated steering wheel. Additionally, this version of the K5 includes a navigation system, a wireless phone charger, and Kia's Highway Driving Assist system with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist.

• GT

The GT is the sporty model. In addition to the more powerful turbocharged engine, it gets 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, a panoramic sunroof, and LED interior lighting.

• EX

The EX is the loaded model, even though it doesn't have the more powerful engine. It features 18-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, memory for the driver's seat, ventilated front seats, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Tech upgrades include digital key capability, a surround-view camera, side parking assist sensors, and a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system.

Kia

2025 Kia K5 Cargo Capacity

The 2025 Kia K4 provides 15.6 cubic-feet of cargo capacity in its trunk.

2025 Kia K5 Fuel Economy

With the base engine, the K5's fuel economy tops out at 30 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The GT model's turbocharged engine returns 27 mpg.

The K5 doesn't offer a hybrid powertrain. Some rivals in the midsize sedan class do, and that allows them to deliver much better gas mileage than the Kia.

Kia

2025 Kia K5 Safety Ratings and Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2025 Kia K5 an overall rating of five out of five stars for crash protection. It earned four out of five stars in the frontal crash test, five stars in the side crash tests, and four stars in the rollover resistance test.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations, the K5 received a "Good" score (the highest) in the small overlap front crash test and a "Poor" score (the lowest) in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. The car got a "Marginal" score (the second-lowest ranking) in the updated side crash test.

The K5 comes standard with useful advanced driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and front and rear parking sensors. Upper trims include a surround-view camera, a camera-based blind-spot monitor, side parking sensors, and automatic rear braking.

Warren Clarke

Warren Clarke is an automotive journalist who specializes in vehicle reviews and consumer advice, and he loves helping car buyers make informed decisions. In addition to Capital One Auto Navigator, he's written for outlets such as Credit Karma, J.D Power, U.S. News and World Report, and Car and Driver.