The Sedan marketplace has definitely seen better days. However, all the major players in the fight continue to build very refined products. Enjoy this, because this won’t last forever. Remember, VW went out the large sedan business via a boring, uninspiring Passat. So not everyone does the same. However, Kia and Hyundai still offer 3 sizes of sedans plus Kia had the recently departed Stinger. The K5 faces still a formidable set of direct competitors, and has the goods to come on top.
Kia has been getting the better, sleeker designs. The K5 does looks like a close cousin to the Stinger at first glance. The 2021 Kia K5 LXS is a mid-size sedan that offers a sleeker design that its Hyundai Sonata sibling, impressive engine performance from a small and very efficient engine, and an overall pleasant driving experience. In this review, we will break down the car’s features into three categories: Looks & Space, Engine, and Driving. The car has been with us for 3 months already.
Looks and Space:
Kia has truly stepped up its game when it comes to design, and the K5 LXS is no exception. The exterior of the car is sleek and modern, with a bold front grille and sharp headlight lines that give it a sporty look. The car sits low to the ground, which adds to its aggressive appearance. The LED headlights and taillights are a nice touch, and they provide excellent visibility at night. The design mimics a lot the looks of the recently departed Kia Stinger, specially the front and side profile.
Inside the car, the design is just as impressive. The interior is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom for both driver and passengers. The dashboard is uncluttered and easy to navigate, with a large touchscreen display that controls everything from the stereo to the climate control system. There are buttons and dials for ease of use. I love that the center screen is better integrated vs. the typical ‘Tablet thrown at the dashboard’ style of other manufacturers. The seats are supportive and comfortable, with plenty of padding to keep you comfortable on long drives. These are fabric seats, which look fine and feel OK.
The recent complaints from KIA/Hyundai on the dashboard and interior materials have some merits. I am not the kind of driver that fondles the dashboard at all times, but some are. Visually, the interior design looks great and cohesive, but most of the interior plastics are hard to the touch. I don’t like at all the ‘Fisher Price’ shifter that Kia keeps using on these. It belongs on a Base Kia Forte from 2014.
The console finally has some space to charge your phone and 2 USBs already available. It works with both Apple and Android with no extra charges or subscriptions.
The rear heckblende looks at a distance like the one Mercedes Benz is using on its latest cars, like the EQS. While the K5 may look slightly like a hatchback, it has a normal trunk, with tons of space inside.
Engine
Under the hood, the 2021 Kia K5 LXS is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth and responsive shifts. The car has a sport mode that provides a more engaging driving experience, and it really wakes up the engine. The car can go from zero to 60 mph in just over six seconds, which is pretty impressive for a full-size sedan. A full tank will give you nearly 400 miles of range which we found very impressive (our previous daily driver, the 9-5NG Saab Turbo from 2011 could do maybe 280 miles on the same tank) This car with the grown 260HP GT engine would be amazing.
Driving
On the road, the 2021 Kia K5 LXS is a pleasure to drive. The suspension is well-tuned, and it absorbs bumps and potholes with ease. The steering is precise but a little light, wish it provided better feedback because the car is very composed. The steering gets lighter than I like above 65 MPH. The car feels agile and nimble, and it’s easy to maneuver in tight spaces. The brakes are strong and provide plenty of stopping power. Our car came with newish cheap-o tires so I’m not commenting on those. The lower levels of K5 only have one choice of wheels. Better wheels are available on the GT and GT-Line cars.
I love the fact that the LXS does come with a ‘Drive Mode’ dial for Smart, Normal, Custom and Sport and even better, you can actually feel the distinction between the modes, or at least on sport mode. The car throttle gets just more sensitive, the idle engine rumbles just a little louder, and it does accelerate faster than the other modes. You can feel the turbo doing its thing.
Why pick the Kia versus, say a Camry or a Honda? Having driven the last two Honda Accords, this one in Sport mode has way more ‘excitement’ than the Honda, and a larger trunk and a Kia LXS starts at $26,000, the 2023 Toyota Camry base starts at $27,500 and similarly equipped the LXS would be $27,000 vs the Camry’s $29,000. So looks, price and driving dynamics still favor the Kia. Plus, the 1.6T really can do nearly 400 miles on a single tank in Smart mode.
Overall, the 2021 Kia K5 LXS is an excellent mid-size sedan that offers a combination of style, performance, and comfort. The car is well-built and reliable, and it’s packed with features that make it a great value for the money. Whether you’re commuting to work or taking a road trip, the K5 LXS is a car that will keep you comfortable and entertained every step of the way. If you’re in the market for a mid-size sedan, the Kia K5 LXS is definitely worth considering. And the GT version probably kicks some serious ass.
