Body Styles

The Kia K5 is a four-door midsize fastback sedan with a bold and athletic profile. It features a sloping roofline, wide front fascia, and sculpted body panels that give it a near-coupe appearance without compromising practicality. The “tiger face” grille seamlessly integrates with the daytime running lights, which stretch deep into the front fenders like lightning bolts. A strong shoulder line, flared rear fenders, and a full-width LED light bar at the rear emphasize its wide stance. Dual exhaust outlets and black exterior trim in GT models further enhance the performance aesthetic. Despite its aggressive styling, rear headroom and trunk space remain generous due to clever packaging.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

“K5” is the global name for what was previously sold as the Optima in North America. Kia unified the name across markets starting with the 2021 redesign to reflect a new era of cohesive branding and elevated design. The alphanumeric name signals a shift toward a more premium, performance-oriented image for the model, aligning with Kia’s design-led transformation.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The K5 is offered in a sophisticated and expressive color palette. Core hues include Ebony Black, Glacial White Pearl, and Gravity Gray, while more vibrant options like Sapphire Blue, Passion Red Tint Coat, and Wolf Gray offer bold alternatives. The GT trim introduces exclusive finishes like Sporty Blue and gloss-black accents on the mirrors, grille, and rear spoiler. Contrasting black roofs are available on select trims, enhancing the fastback silhouette. LED lighting front and rear, a gloss-black diffuser, and integrated dual exhaust tips add to the car’s sporty identity.

Inside, the K5 boasts a sleek, tech-forward cabin layout. Base trims feature high-quality cloth with satin metallic trim, while GT-Line and EX add SynTex leatherette with red stitching or two-tone color schemes. The GT model upgrades to sport bucket seats with GT embossing, a flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and contrast piping. Dual 10.25-inch displays (one for the instrument cluster and one for infotainment) are available, seamlessly integrated into a curved dash. Ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, and ventilated seats add upscale touches.

Wheels range from 16-inch silver alloys on LX to 18-inch machined-face designs on GT-Line and EX. The GT trim rides on exclusive 19-inch gloss-black multi-spoke alloys with performance all-season tires, filling the arches for a planted, aggressive stance. The wheel design accentuates the K5’s wide track and complements its visual edge, reinforcing its status as a performance-oriented family sedan.

Top Expensive Options

• GT1 Package (HUD, Premium Audio, Navigation, Parking Sensors): $4,000
• 12-Speaker Bose Premium Audio System: $895
• 10.25-inch Touchscreen with Navigation: $800
• Panoramic Sunroof with Power Shade: $1,200
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats with Memory: $850
• Wireless Phone Charging Pad: $350
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go: $650
• LED Projector Headlights and Ambient Lighting Package: $700
• Surround View Monitor (360° Camera): $1,095
• Red Interior Trim and GT Sport Seats: $500

vs Competitors

The K5 competes with stalwarts like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima. While the Accord and Camry lean on refinement and legacy, the K5 brings design excitement and raw turbocharged energy, especially in GT form. Compared to the Sonata N Line (which shares the same engine), the K5 GT offers slightly more traditional handling but a more premium cabin feel. Against the Camry TRD, the K5 GT delivers superior infotainment, better interior quality, and a more refined drivetrain. The K5’s all-wheel-drive availability on lower trims also gives it a winter-friendly advantage over many rivals—though notably, AWD is unavailable on the GT.

Fun Fact

The K5 GT is the most powerful front-wheel-drive sedan Kia has ever produced, delivering more torque than the base BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. It also features an electronically enhanced engine sound piped into the cabin for added drama, and its 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission is derived from performance applications—making it one of the few true sport sedans in the segment at this price point.