The all-new Kia K5 has just set wheels on American soil. Customers can order the sedan with a redesigned exterior, new tech, and a larger engine offered as standard. It is probably the swan song of the model on the market of sedans, which has been melting down for the past few years. Kia did it with the Singer and will soon do the same with the Sonata.
Kia introduced the 2025 K5 back in February and the order books are already open now. Customers who want something else except trucks, crossovers, and SUVs can order the mid-size sedan in one of the four trims available: the LXS, GT-Line (with front or all-wheel drive), EX, and GT.
The 2025 Kia K5 starts at $26,990. That is how much customers will have to pay for the entry-level version, the LXS, which is powered by a naturally aspirated engine, good for 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque in a front-wheel drive setup. Going against the downsizing trend, the unit replaces the old 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and brings an extra 11 horsepower.
Upper in the range, the Kia K5 GT-Line starts at $27,990 and is powered by the automaker's same 2.5-liter engine. This version is also available with all-wheel drive.
The EX kicks off at $35,490 and brings a Bose Premium Audio System with Active Sound Design, a ten-way powered driver’s seat with two-way lumbar support, and the Digital Key 2.0 heated steering wheel. The power folding mirrors with integrated LED turn signals are also standard equipment.
Photo: Kia Motors
The single-pane curved display integrates the 12-inch instrument cluster and the new standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, which allows the control of several functions of the car.
The K5 EX is powered by the same 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The GT sits at the top of the Kia K5 lineup and starts at $33,090. Prices do not include the $1,55 destination fee. It comes with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
The unit is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The range-topping version is a front-wheel drive and cannot be ordered with the all-wheel drive.
The 2025 Kia K5 should arrive at dealerships across America in the second quarter of 2024.
The refresh is the model’s swan song, considering the sedan market is shrinking. Kia has already killed the Stinger sports sedan, while the days of the Sonata are numbered. It will step off the stage at the end of the current generation’s life cycle.
The move does make sense. Kia sold 64,772 units last year in the United States, while the Sonata stopped at 45,344 units. America’s favorite sedan sold 290,649 examples in 2023.
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