First impressions can make all the difference, and it is what makes them so impactful and important. Not only do first impressions practically guide us through instant decision making, but it is one of those things you don’t get a second chance at. First impressions allow us to make quick decisions on what we think of someone, which restaurant we go to, what store we shop at, or what we think of a car.
“This car looks sick dude” said my ski buddies in the most stereotypical way when they first saw this car. Gone is the pretty conservative, though to me handsome in a restrained way, styling of the previous generation Optima. Painted in Wolf Gray with the Red Interior Color Package which adds Red SynTex Leather, this car indeed looks pretty sick. It’s LED headlight and running light signature, sharp lines, full length rear light bar, and black wheels create quite the first impression. Taking the K5 to Lake Tahoe to go skiing, the 1000 miles to and from showed me that this car is a big deal.
Interior Thoughts
So first impressions aside, what about loading up this car with the skis, ski boots, and gear of three adults. First off, thankfully Kia includes 60/40 split seats (although no ski pass through…not that it would’ve fit 3 pairs of ski anyways) so fitting those 3 pairs of skis was a breeze. Trunk size is segment competitive, but one huge drawback are the huge trunk hinges. Sure everyone in the class has these hinges, but when stuffing the trunk they really hamper trunk space and struts would’ve been nice.
The style and design of the interior is great and really exudes a premium feel. The big center screen has clear graphics and is responsive, the gauge cluster is easy to read, I love the flat bottom steering wheel, and with the red interior package, just the whole feel is sporty. This K5 also has the premium package which notably adds a bunch of safety tech, a lovely heated steering wheel, and a gorgeous pano sunroof. CarPlay still doesn’t stretch across the screen but at least Kia gives you options on what to put there like outside temperature or a clock.
One grievance I had were the abundance of hard plastic. Yes all the touch points are soft, but I would’ve liked to see soft touch material on the door panels as well especially considering that the GT-Line AWD is a fairly high trim spec at about $29,000 starting MSRP . Another interior gripe was the stereo. The volume knob is awkwardly placed, although I am glad it still has a knob, and the base stereo is pretty blah. You’ll need an EX Premium Package or GT model to get the Bose audio. The lack of rear A/C vents on this mid-high trim is also a bummer. Not deal breakers, but things that could be better.
Impressive Driver Assist Technology
The inland route via Interstate 5 from my home in Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe is spectacular…ly boring. Thankfully, this Kia with the Premium Package comes with Kia’s excellent radar cruise and highway driving assistance systems (for 2022 all Kia’s come with Lane Keep and Lane Following Assist, but you’ll need an LXS trim or higher for blind spot monitoring, and GT-Line or higher for the Highway Driving Assist and Navigation based Smart Cruise Control) and it made the more menial parts of the drive a breeze. This system worked great and I had complete confidence in the system. I set the cruise for 80 mph and only monitored the steering and did the lane changes, letting the car drive for about 700 of the 1000 miles of the trip. It stayed centered in the lane despite windy conditions, took turns well, and was quick to reactivate after a lane change.
Drives Great, Needs Polish
Whether loaded or unloaded, the K5 is a ride that is as sporty as its looks. While the suspension isn’t uncomfortable, or harsh or crashy, I think that Kia could tone it down a bit. You do feel quite a bit of the road’s bumps, and large imperfections come through the cabin quite clearly as if the wheels are too big or weigh too much. What doesn’t need to be toned down though is the engine. The 1.6 turbo engine has 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque and even with a full load of gear and three adults, never felt out of breath or lacking punchiness. Despite the elevation, the steep grade, and a strong headwind up Interstate 80’s Donner pass, the turbo charger did its thing and the thought that I needed more power never occurred (although more power like the 201 horsepower mill from the Forte GT wouldn’t hurt).
Taking route 89 down into Lake Tahoe, it was me and a SH-AWD Acura carving up this canyon road and the firm damping finally shined. In combination with steering with good feel and excellent weighting and speed, and a strong and firm brake pedal, I was confident attacking the road. With many cars, I wouldn’t feel confident as the additional weight would really hamper their dynamics but not with this car. It’s not a track car by any means as pushed hard it will understeer, but on your favorite road its a willing and solid partner that lives up to its sporty aspirations.
But ARGGGG where are the bleeping paddle shifters!! Being a “GT-Line”, the lack of steering wheel paddles is incredibly disappointing. Strangely, it might be my biggest dislike of this car. And I know they would be good because the 8 speed automatic is lovely. It’s smooth and responsive, with quick upshifts and downshifts, and responsive to the gear levers manual inputs.
One thing that isn’t so much a problem in the city but is hugely annoying on dark canyon roads are the headlights. The LED array puts out a nice spread and are a must have. The design of both the front and rear lighting also looks absolutely fantastic at night. BUT, there is a triangular divot in the drivers side beam just off to the left, which means every time you turn left, that divot is right where you are trying to look. Another gripe is the weak high beams. Something I’ve noticed now with the K5 and Telluride. The high beams don’t really put out all that much more light over the low beams, and I’d say mostly just function as sign illuminators rather than high beams.
Fuel Economy
Let’s talk fuel economy for a bit because it is quite interesting. For 2021 it is rated at 26/34/29 (city, highway, combined), and for 2022 it is rated at 25/33/28. However, its fuel tank size increased to 15.8 gallons from 14.8. My fuel economy figures are below:
- On city freeways going 75 mph, I was able to get 37 mpg, which exceeds the 34 rated highway figure. This was with an empty car, and I’m sure I could’ve hit 39 or higher if I was going 65-70 mph.
- From Los Angeles to Sacramento, I was averaging 28 mpg at 80 mph. This was with a strong headwind, and three adults and a full load of skis and ski gear.
- From Sacramento to Tahoe City, I got 21 mpg. This was with 30 miles or so of uphill grade and headwind, plus a full car.
- From Tahoe to Los Angeles, I got 32 mpg at 80 mph. This time it was with two adults but same amount of gear as going up and little to no headwind.
The figures I achieved are pretty interesting as it shows that unloaded, the K5 is quite efficient but as soon as external factors come in such as weight, speed, wind, and grade they have a large impact on the K5’s fuel economy.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this K5. There’s really a lot to like about this car from its interior and exterior design, fun driving dynamics, excellent technology, and punchy yet efficient turbo engine. It shows that Kia is serious about the midsize sedan segment that other OEM’s have left to make crossovers. Now with AWD, the K5 proves you don’t need a crossover. And if you have three adults with ski’s and gear, the K5 can swallow it up. While in front wheel drive configuration, the competition from notably the Accord and Camry is fierce, in AWD guise, I think this is the best option. AWD competition comes from the Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima and all of these are less stylish, less fun, and genuinely less interesting.
