Formerly known as Kia Optima, the Kia K5 is a premium mid-size sedan, which is currently in its fifth generation. Originally debuted in 2019, the fifth-generation Kia K5 received its first major facelift in 2023, and it is this version which is currently on sale in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Positioned below the K8 in Kia’s lineup, the K5 is the second-most premium sedan from the Korean carmaker, which is being sold in four variants – LXS, GT-Line, GT and EX.

Kia K5 Pros

Sleek and dynamic exterior design
Premium cabin with loads of features
Comfortable seats and ride quality

Kia K5 Cons

Long turning radius
Limited headroom at the rear
Boot space could have been more

Exterior:

The 2023 facelift job that Kia introduced in the K5 made the sedan more dynamic, sleeker and attention-grabbing than before. The minor tweaks made to the front and rear profiles made the already dynamic-looking K5 even more new-age.

At the front, the Kia K5 has a sleek and horizontally stretched version of Kia’s ‘tiger nose’ grille, which is flanked by sporty-looking LED headlamps and dual-functioning LED DRLs that are shaped like thunderstruck. The grille has wide honeycomb mesh inserts, which extend to the faux air vents on the sides of the sporty-looking front bumper.

The Kia K5 has the persona of a fastback, which is evident by its sloping roofline towards the rear. Riding on 17-inch machined alloy wheels, the Kia K5 gets a unique-looking chrome garnish on the upper edges of the window frames, which extend towards the bottom edge of the rear windscreen in a wraparound manner.

The rear profile of the Kia K5 also looks as bold and dynamic as the front, with the sedan having huge tail lamps with sleek LED inserts that extend to the centre of the boot lid. The K5 is available in colour choices like Aurora Black, Interstellar Grey, Wolf Grey, Steel Matte Grey, Snow White, Runway Red and Yacht Blue.

Interior:

Finished in a dual-tone theme of black and beige, the cabin of the Kia K5 bears a striking resemblance with that of many other new-age Kia offerings. The sedan also gets a flat-bottom multi-functional, tilt and telescopic adjustable and heated steering wheel with a wide, horizontally-laid, curved cockpit behind it. This cockpit has dual 12.3-inch screens for the full-TFT instrument console and touchscreen infotainment system.

The wide-looking lower centre console has a sleek touch-sensitive control panel for the dual-zone automatic climate control while having slim AC vents above it. Wrapped in elegant-looking leather upholstery, the cabin of the K5 also gets ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless charger, 12-speaker BOSE audio system, power-adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Engine and performance:

The Kia K5 lineup in Saudi Arabia is available with the choices of two powertrains – one naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a petrol-electric hybrid engine. The first one is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine, which is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and produces 191 bhp of maximum power and 245 Nm of maximum torque. The more sophisticated and tech-laden hybrid powertrain is a combination of a 2.5-litre petrol engine, an electric motor and a battery. Paired with an e-CVT, the overall system claims 290 bhp of maximum power and 311 Nm of maximum torque.

Comfort and suspension:

With Macpherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, along with anti-roll bars at both front and rear, the Kia K5 excels in ride quality, by delivering a well-cushioned and settled ride at both lower and higher speeds. The steering has decent feedback, with the K5 holding its ground even at high-speed corners. The three drive modes – Eco, Comfort and Sport – further make the driving experience even more fine-tuned.

Braking and safety:

As expected from a modern mid-size sedan, the Kia K5 has a lot of advanced safety features, with the list comprising six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, front and rear collision avoidance assist, blind spot monitoring and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Verdict:

Like the previous generation versions, the Kia K5 succeeds in delivering a premium experience with a comfortable cabin, a well-appointed and kitted interior and a smart exterior presence, all of which have evolved finely in this latest-generation avatar. The hybrid powertrain is a strong addition to its excellence, making the Kia K5 more sophisticated and economical than before.