review .. 2023 Kia K5
The Kia K5 has the style and substance to set it apart from other midsize family sedans. It’s incredibly easy to drive and comfortable on longer trips thanks to a great suspension and an exceptionally quiet cabin. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard, and that’s just the beginning of a rich feature list that somehow manages to undercut the competition at every level.
The K5 is Kia’s midsize sedan that replaced the Optima in 2021 after it received a redesign. As of this writing, it tops our midsize sedan rankings. The Honda Accord, another of our favorite sedans, is ranked just below the K5 but costs more. The K5’s sleek and stylish exterior is a breath of fresh air in a segment that tends to play it safe when it comes to looks. Its interior sports a modern design that borders on luxury-brand levels of refinement in the higher trims. Changes for the 2023 model year will likely be minimal and consist mostly of updates to feature availability.
Besides its standout styling, the K5 is supremely comfortable, boasts loads of value, packs impressive tech and offers a powerful GT model. All-wheel drive is available on certain trims, but not the high-end GT version, meaning you’ll have to make do with front-wheel drive on the most powerful version. Fuel economy is on par with segment leaders, and its trunk is bigger than the Toyota Camry’s.
The K5 is one of the sportiest-looking sedans on the road, but it doesn’t drive the way it looks. Power is sufficient, the transmission is smooth and handling is competent, but the K5 won’t get your heart racing. The top GT trim (not to be confused with the midlevel GT-Line trim) has potential, yet its front-wheel-drive-only configuration holds it back.
Another impressive midsize sedan to consider is the Hyundai Sonata. It’s the K5’s mechanical twin and offers similar features and powertrains, plus a hybrid model. If you want to know what our test team thinks about the Kia K5, check out our in-depth review in the Edmunds’ Expert Rating below.
