The 2021 Kia K5 GT is a Muscle Car Family Sedan | MotorWeek Road Test

We weren’t exactly sure what Kia was up to when they set aside years of Optima momentum to rename their midsize sedan the K5. Well it turns out that Kia makes a pretty good family 4-door no matter what name is on it. But, it is also just the start of unexpected things to come from Kia and the K5.
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[@YasssStitch]

I love that MotorWeek still uses cheesy background music to this day since 80s.

[@Barberdan]

Part of the appeal I'm thinking.

[@LoneWolfHustle]

Lol

[@cflip7452]

Lol that’s what does it for me👍

[@Skyla286]

There camera looks like it came from the 80s

[@BigTimeTrucker432]

Just bought one of these 2 weeks ago as my new daily driver. I got a white one with the GT1 package fully loaded. It is really nice. The car defies physics with how much power it has paired with that DCT. Feels like it pulls just about as hard as my Scat Pack pulled. I commute 90 miles round trip to work and back with it and I have actually been averaging 36mpg so they underrated it.

[@dnegel9546]

Get a 93 tune for it. Would probably give the scat a real run then. 🤔

[@beatgawd]

Nice, did you get it for sticker price?

[@kellyaustin7487]

How much did you pay if you don't mind sharing?

[@robertc4826]

The K5 with AWD and the turbo engine would cut into Stinger GT 1 and 2 sales.

[@ForgotToMentionThat]

Hear! Hear!

[@ihaveacoolhat1]

All six of them?

[@doubled8247]

They have a 1.6t awd version.

[@parfumextraitfan7453]

@@doubled8247 They meant an AWD version of the GT

[@upshifter5316]

I know that is indeed Kiyundai’s reasoning, but the reality is that Stinger is not a family sedan. Thus, until Kia can improve the backseat room and comfort of the Stinger (preferably) or add awd to the hi-po K5 (ok fine), they are missing out on 100% of sales to me. And I wonder how many others like me are out there, who would like a comfortable, sporty family hauler that IS NOT an SUV… The Germans have the sporty sedans too, but getting space similar to the Accord/K5 segment means 5 Series & up, $75k+! And I’m at a point in my life where I’m done buying German cars used… ain’t nobody got time for that. …Mmmmmm…. 10 year warranty… 😋😋😋

[@AwesomeNiel]

MotorWeek should bring back the interior noise level at highways speeds

[@2WhiteAndNerdy]

Hey! REAL exhaust tips! Take note, Audi/VW.

[@ohmy7554]

Lol many audis have real exhaust tips. And are true performance cars unlike this Kia that would get smoked by an Audi A6

[@ashton9699]

@@ohmy7554 an A6 isn't in the same price bracket as a K5. What a useless argument.

[@ohmy7554]

@@ashton9699 many used Audi A6 are in the same price point. This Kia k5 is nearly 40k brand new. Just admit it can’t compete

[@arvidsamuelsson7593]

@@ohmy7554 how does that prove your point? U just set yourself up

[@jacobrivasjr]

All I gotta say is EVERYONE in phoenix az has one they are hot over here!

[@bh2155]

I notice a lot of them here in Georgia. They seem to sell better than the Sonata.

[@jacobrivasjr]

@@bh2155 oh yeah for sure it's fresh and younger looking

[@ebodagreat6095]

That’s because they literally build Kia in Georgia

[@nakoete8521]

Kia really struck gold when it got those Audi designers to start working for them. It’s really cool that you’ve got Kia with the muscle car look, or the Hyundai Sonata with a smoother, more European look and that they can both come with the same engines.

[@pbjracing14yearsago49]

Those amber drls look incredible

[@marcussimmons2708]

I actually like the way this looks more than the Stinger. 👍🏾!

[@ricoe3288]

Imagine if my SHO had this hp back in 94 🤔

[@gregorypappas766]

70 more hp? Would be far quicker than this car I'd imagine...

[@ricoe3288]

@@gregorypappas766 We can only imagine ☺

[@27Zangle]

@@gregorypappas766 - Would need more than 70 more HP, at least I would think. The modern transmission is more efficient and quicker, additionally, modern tires play a huge difference.

[@Leah006]

0 to 60 in 5.3 sec is very impressive for a kia

[@farangatang]

Stinger does it in 4.2 seconds, faster than any sport sedan in its category 🤷

[@springcbas2290]

Good to see mr davis still reviewing cars. Original car reviewer.

[@ForgotToMentionThat]

Good show as always.

[@RealAnthonyJones]

2.5 liter, i wonder if that block would be a sensible upgrade for a street evo x?

[@dnegel9546]

This car with a 93 tune and bolt ons. 😬 stock 392 should approach with caution.

[@dragon81heart]

Real exhaust tips, and an actual gear lever instead of those ridiculous buttons or knobs? Kia is definitely paying attention to what people actually want in a vehicle! Way to go! 😃 Now if we can only get the rest of the automakers out there to follow suit instead of eating glue sticks like they have been as of late. Seriously I haven’t met a single person, not a single person, that actually likes these stupid knobs and buttons for shifters that so many have been trying to cram down our throats. Thank you Kia for paying attention! (Hmm, while you are listening to what people ACTUALLY want, can we throw all of those terrible electric parking brakes in the bin as well please and thank you. And that piano black trim that collects fingerprints faster than CSI as well? You would really make soooo many drivers days much better if you did)

[@stuntmanroy]

How about a car that isn't going to start on fire or one that has piston rings that don't fall apart. I think that would be a couple of things that people would ACTUALLY want. I could be wrong though.

[@neemanon]

@@stuntmanroy are you talking about Ford, BMW, Toyota, or something else?

[@adamtrombino106]

If this thing came with a 6 speed manual, I'd definitely consider it!

[@nathanpowell5941]

I have one. The DCT shifts faster than you can and takes care of the downshifts well, including a nice throttle blip. I don't see the need for the manual

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! THE TOTAL FAMILY CRUISER!!!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

[@SportsMusicCars]

Davis on camera voice is great, you can work on your tonality to get it tuned like this.

[@robray7106]

I can dig the 80s vibe with these videos. The K5 GT sounds like a riot!

[@BlazinNSoul]

I was supposed to get the EX with the premium package didn't get that however. Since I needed an all-wheel drive. So I traded it in for the GT-Line which does but be careful. It's actually a bit of a step down from the EX. But you make up for it in other areas but it's just always good to know what you're getting. It's a great car though no complaints as KiA has really stepped up their game here. However this isn't going to replace the Stinger. Sad considering the GT-2 will be the last one made. KiA's biggest problem for the Stinger was it's price point. It definitely drove like a $50,000 car. But for that price point people arn't used to seeing a KiA but instead an Audi, BMW, or Lexus. Having driven the Stinger myself it's a great car and it's really sad it's not going to have a future. R.I.P. 💀

[@dean2663]

I will look at this when my BMW 330i lease ends next May!

[@mikehawk120]

Great review!

[@SlipFitGarage]

This road test review video of the 2021 K5 came out JUST in time for the new 2022 K5 models to hit dealer lots.

[@chuckwalla2967]

4:02 Super laggy screen. Theirs used to be one of the snappiest before.

[@BobC777]

The video says the engine is DFI which I assume is Direct Fuel Injection (aka Gasoline Direct Injection - GDI). BUT, in fact, this engine as both Multi-Port AND GDI so there should not be the GDI-only problem of carbon build up and expensive walnut blasting.

[@geepeezee5030]

"but ultimately it doesn't feel as much like a sports sedan as it does a 90's fwd tuner car with a cranked up tuner engine" A sonata nline i test drove felt reasonable good on some tight on/off ramps at speed. One is not going to be railing through the corners on a race track with this, but the for the occasional get away out into the country back roads this should be quite good.

[@laurenceholland8465]

Have you figured out what the All Weather Drive adds?

[@bam3vo]

no AWD for the GT, just the GT Line.

[@pokerfred68]

There hasn’t been snow in months. This was held in the can for that long?

[@blairbrown4812]

COVID,probably. More likely that the track is out-of-town.

[@dohc1067]

Pretty much the level of performance in the new k5 has made it a bargain alternative to the Stinger and as you approach the price of the Stinger, if you can buy a Telluride.

[@sportsMike87]

Strange they didn't put awd in this version

[@LTJohn]

The 5 is referring to it's slogan, nokia meaning it's unlike any previous Kia..

[@danc1197]

Optima name was only used in the U.S. it has always been named K5 everywhere else.

[@FJTabb]

Wow how have the times changed. To get that kind of performance stock out of a four banger. This car is about as fast as a 5.7 V8 Dodge Hemi 😳

[@oldtwinsna8347]

actually it's on Sam's channel and the Kia smoked it consistently.

[@FinneyGames]

Faster sadly lol

[@tots16]

It's no muscle car, but it's a sweet little car!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I think kia got something here! Nice! 👌

[@joshlara8237]

Looks good

[@noseefood1943]

This car reminds me of SHO or impala SS

[@stevemt3422]

This car has to much torque for front wheel drive. You'll be spinning the tires easily from a stop take off🤪

[@george.giannop]

@Allen Tokyo so are Hondas lol

[@stuffandjunkandthings364]

it's actually not bad. if you use sport mode, the traction control doesn't let things get out of hand. Sport+ (or as I call it "stupid+"), however lets the tires be incinerated at will. even with all the nannies off, it doesn't really tug the wheel unless one wheel grabs traction. Source- I own a 2021 Sonata N line

[@george.giannop]

@@stuffandjunkandthings364 sport + is not sport minus traction. Revs are different, from sport to sport+. Maybe sport+ with traction turned on will yield better times? I own the K5GT and noticed the difference between these 2 modes.

[@stuffandjunkandthings364]

​@@george.giannopon the N line, sport+ disables traction control. I haven't found a way to have both on at the same time.

[@stuffandjunkandthings364]

On the hyundai the throttle is definitely touchier in sport +, but the transmission shifts like it caught the axles stealing something lol, it ain't playing around.

[@KP-xi4bj]

How long before a recall for potential fire?

[@neemanon]

Ford, BMW, Toyota already has them sooo

[@KP-xi4bj]

@@neemanon H/K/G have been recalling their cars every year since 2012 for potential vehicle fires. So, it's not the same comparison.

[@neemanon]

@@KP-xi4bj for the same problem. When the other manufacturers are recalled for fires that covers hundreds of thousands of cars too, it is comparable

[@KP-xi4bj]

@@neemanon Did you even bother to read what I wrote? H/K/G have been recalling their cars for potential vehicle fires EVERY YEAR SINCE 2012. In other words, they have a history of potential vehicle fires which tells me they have shoddy engineering. So, no it is not comparable.

[@neemanon]

@@KP-xi4bj mkay

[@georgeh6856]

John's talk about the Kia Optima reminded me of my 2007-ish Optima. That car was such a piece of something. It left me with the impression that KIA stood for "Killed In Action".

[@car-lo]

That lag on the infotainment on pressed.

[@chrismadson9479]

What are these economy cars skimping out on when their focus is styling? Decent kids car...maybe

[@cutroc350]

30k "economy" car with almost 300hp? I just don't see what you are on about. KIA and Hyundai were at one time the joke of the neighborhood. Looks like they have come a long ways in 20 years.

[@chrismadson9479]

Agreed, Kia has come along way. But considering the cost of a premium car, this is an economy car. I paid 75k for my sedan and my wifes wagon was 65k. This is middle ground for cars these days. 20-35k is entry level and what i would spend for my kids car to get through high school and college.

[@upshifter5316]

We’re all very impressed.

[@dnegel9546]

@@chrismadson9479 well that's because you are wealthy. Entry level for me is 17k. I wish I could get this k5GT for me. But I can buy 2 kia Rios for that amount.

[@rgii6374]

Still got that epic tan going

[@4seeableTV]

I like the guy, but they do go a little crazy on his makeup.

[@blairbrown4812]

My guess is that we would be complaining a whole lot more if we couldn't begin to see the man because his skin's so pale,he's practically bright...

[@hillre14]

Hmmm kind of reminds of the Passat gt except much newer and nicer

[@jeffmorse645]

290 HP in front wheel drive only with an open differential is a recipe for a mess. It begs for AWD.

[@Barberdan]

Honda Civic Type R does 305Hp with less weight and gets by. Though it is awful to drive in simulators like Forza 7+. Understeer smoke one side is the new type R legacy. Quick but not enjoyable.

[@Prototheria]

Hey, any chance you could maybe talk to me like I'm an adult instead of making it sound like you're trying to get a five year old stoked about a new toy?

[@justmy2cents_]

Wake up gm once again your late to the party! Honda Accord- civic,Toyota Camry-Corolla all bringing freshened sedans back to the market but GM still looking in the past with catering to suv's! Hyundai & Kia are definitely on a roll & moving the goal post casually! Great review better sedan!

[@limitedreach4446]

That touchscreen is slow to respond.

[@marcussmith5755]

Nice

[@mattjo6204]

So we're calling fwd 4cyl cars muscle sedans now. Does that make my 6cyl Kia Cadenza a muscle sedan too? LOL

[@user-cd3hd1ob5m]

Yeah Kia 4cyl muscle cars

[@dohc1067]

Hopefully the quality is as good as the looks and performance.

[@Griffith861]

This is better than the accord or Camry to me

[@darnellmagruder283]

KIA, is gonna kick ass and take names.

[@akoito7564]

I should trade in my Trd Camry for the k5 GT?

[@Sdancefear]

Yes

[@dnegel9546]

Yup. Looks way cooler.

[@Xemnas103]

Yes

[@brandondannys-menary3678]

I would personally

[@Xemnas103]

@OCD Stig Yes, using issues effecting older models with very different engines to determine whether to purchase a newer model that doesn't have any of those reported issues or not is such great logic. 🤡🙄 Why stop there, the poster should just trade in the Camry for a better car anyway before you know, the floor mats get stuck under the accelerator to cause unintended acceleration and kill the driver. I mean if we are using baggage from older cars models, let's go all the way. 👏

[@mgdulan4756]

This thing definitely needs AWD. It would definitely be in the high 4’s!

[@bilalahmed2123]

This car is a lot better than the Audi S5 wannabe stinger, and the price isn’t bad as well.

[@blairbrown4812]

You guys must not have reviewed the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye just yet for you to be giving away that title so quickly.

[@dnegel9546]

Think you are missing the point

[@josepheason2306]

"......snow covered track..." .

[@jimmyr1683]

Where is there still snow? It's hot everywhere

[@Motorweek]

This was filmed a few months ago when we had snow in Maryland.

[@randyrai1970]

You need to do the fans of this car justice and do a zero to 60 and slalom test. Until then your review is incomplete. And I’m a 30 year viewer of your show.

[@jamessephar9458]

Great car if you like shabby workmanship and easy to steal.

[@justinhamrick1099]

Good job Kia ! 😎

[@jackden5292]

did these video's feel so 90's

[@captainchaos0666]

I got a mid 00's vibe personally.

[@MrGahandsome]

All this car is missing is a body color instead of black/plastic middle part right there Y’all see it Right there in the middle right at the very front bottom part thing That mouth vent looking part that’s open That lil strip should be body color

[@maserati4285]

Include some commas sir

[@MrGahandsome]

@@maserati4285 ,,,,,, …hope that helps

[@DaLizMs]

Would it last 10years though.

[@OutworldEmperor]

No one keeps cars 10 years anymore lol. So honestly it doesn't matter

[@neemanon]

@@OutworldEmperor I've already kept mine for 8 going on 9 sooo

[@OutworldEmperor]

@@neemanon your a rare exception these days

[@DaLizMs]

@@OutworldEmperor Because people lease and try to keep up with the jonses, My Toyota is going on 8years bought in 2014. I've owned 2 VW Golf GTi's one of which I had for 12 years.

[@OutworldEmperor]

@@DaLizMs I hear ya. I've had my silverado for 10 years. The problem is no newer car is made to last. They are all throw away vehicles

[@gigi9467]

Lol FWD fun fun, since the chargers are pos car like these kisa i rather try my luck with the charger at least there is a v8 and RWD. But if i want To be sMart just buy an accord Or camry

[@ocoeno]

You just hating coz this car is just fantastic and is taking away some buyers from Honda and Toyota. You are a sheep who only buys overpriced Honda and Toyota. Cheers!

[@gigi9467]

@@ocoeno stupid buyers that want an unreliable ugly looking high depreciating pos yes. Or!! The ones that have that low credit rating lol either case its stupid ppl

[@dnegel9546]

Honda and Toyota cvt are absolutely awful.

[@gigi9467]

@@dnegel9546 thats true, but they are reliable.

[@ocoeno]

@@gigi9467 I've been driving a Kia Optima SX Turbo for a few years now and it's been a fun car to drive and very reliable, I would take that Kia over any Accord or Camry any day, Zero problems with the car. Honda and Toyota aren't the only reliable brands out there. I've also had a few Mazda 6 and they are as well pretty reliable, I would take any Mazda 6 over a Camry or an Accord. On top of that you usually get more features with other brands than what you get with Toyota and Honda, in fact some of the features other brands have been including on their models for a long time already are now being included by these 2 brands after all these years and guess what you should thank these brands for making Toyota and Honda step up their game adding more features to their products and stop believing people will buy their products just because their are reliable even though they lack most of these features I'm making references to. Cheers!

[@illumination357]

Muscle car? No!

[@sunilayya8948]

Considering the huge recall for engine fires on kia hyundai, models this just might light your fire too.

[@neemanon]

Ford, BMW, Toyota, etc

[@nathanpowell5941]

Your info and impression of this manufacture are both outdated

[@LoneWolfHustle]

Nice!!!

[@___Karma__]

"Muscle car" 😂🤣😂🤣😵

[@nothing9271]

It ain't a muscle car if it does not have a V8 along with rear wheel drive

[@neemanon]

@@thirdstar9255 no you

[@dnegel9546]

Suppose

[@jermainec2462]

That's a dying breed you don't have to have a V8 to have muscle these days

[@nothing9271]

@@jermainec2462 what ever a real muscle car needs a V8

[@safetyfirst2169]

K5 could be the name of a Russian submarine.

[@mrdaykurutakuchannel]

I love the new K5 so much!

[@austoncly3363]

That's a muscle car... K

[@ilsl04]

I almost bought a Stinger but I just couldn't do it

[@rperez0714fitedu]

No LSD 🙄

[@bmlove81]

Why would anyone thumbs down this video?🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Drchainsaw77]

For god's sake why make such powerful cars with front drive. UGHHH

[@ulrek54321]

"muscle" "dodge"...Motorweek, ya'll tried it...

[@ekgcanadianenthusiast9961]

I love it. Sonata and k5 true legends. But Camry is still the best mid size car . Camry comes with the v6.

[@michaelp.3485]

No it's not.

[@basshead.]

What makes them legends?

[@sedona3495]

A much smoother V6

[@jimmystop]

first gear is too tall in the v6 Camry. it gets left in the dust by the Accord that has 50 less horsepower but a much more aggressive first gear.

[@malikcbarnett]

@@jimmystop i guess people buy Camry's to drag race.

[@danmcwilli6349]

It's not a muscle car.

[@mrsudz]

Motor Week, here is a tip. Actually have a Road test in your video Road Test review. Snow on the ground? It's June. Retest with actual numbers. This is a performance version of the K5 actual performance numbers should be included.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Agreed. The 0-60 is an admitted pull out of your butt figure. Come on, this is not we are used to. This is lazy production quality.

[@miguelsandoval8203]

next year with 1 year of depreciation you can get them for maybe 24k

[@neemanon]

In this market? Or are you not paying attention?

[@miguelsandoval8203]

@@neemanon luxury cars are still depreciating in this market,especially Kia brands have still depreciated ..

[@chriskrueger8225]

@@miguelsandoval8203 a dealership offered us $40,000 for my wife's 2020 Telluride last week. That's $3000 more than we paid for it. I wouldn't call that depreciation.

[@Nonlethal106]

Give me AWD and id buy it

[@sapphir8]

You'd have a Stinger.

[@ilopancharov]

an LSD would have made this ride alot better. LOL@ 90's tuner with cranked up turbo engine hahah Mr. Davis has jokes

[@Hellanissan7]

I would like it but Kia engines still don’t last past 100k miles. ….. hints the warranty lol. My 2016 Sorento engine died at 60k.

[@neemanon]

So you got a free engine. Wouldn't happen with a Toyota

[@mss627]

Still hate those DRLs.

[@nathanpowell5941]

Everyone has a right to be wrong 😉

[@restless5996]

That is not a muscle car.

[@CalebDavidGibson]

Awesome car!! However, a muscle car has a V8...

[@cutroc350]

And more importantly rear wheel drive.

[@zohaib876]

Preach brother💪

[@wooddragon576]

Calling this a muscle car is a fricken joke. Only 290HP Yawn. I like KIA we've had two , both fabulous cars, but slow and dull. Was hoping this K5 GT would actually add some excitement , but its just an over hyped 4 door family cruiser.

[@neemanon]

It's beating muscle cars lmao

[@nathanpowell5941]

Drive one. My GT ain't slow or dull

[@buzman1985]

Why is John wearing corpse makeup?

[@bobbyredskins21]

Love the K5 but no where near a Muscle sedan 😂

[@manthony225]

"Family sedans". Do people with kids drive sedans anymore? Aren't sedans going away because parents drive crossovers now?

[@texan903]

Sedans are the way to go for style, handling, and performance. Humdrum crossovers are so pedestrian. Unless the SUV is body on frame, sedan it is for me.

[@SCORPIO2011]

Lol muscle car .yet right it’s a 4 cyl front wheel drive car

[@MartinGalway]

$31,858 + gasoline + servicing puts it squarely up against America's #1 sedan... the Tesla Model 3. Not a good position to be in.

[@alexfernandez7529]

Tesla’s also have a pretty high resale value. Used model 3’s are still close to MSRP. On the other hand Kia’s depreciate really bad no mater how nice and reliable they might be.

[@MartinGalway]

@@alexfernandez7529 plus... that problem is going to get MUCH worse as we head toward 2030 and take-up of combustion-engined cars slows down

[@index6738]

Pfffffff......FWD steer tugger. Muscle car....hahahaha

[@neemanon]

It's beating muscle cars lmao

[@bobriggins8862]

Only problem is my 2021 Ranger is just as fast if not faster. I've outrun 2 of these things recently, in an extended cab pickup with a 2.3. Not impressed KIA!

[@BlazinNSoul]

Put a stinger in its place and I don't think you'll be saying the same thing. :)

[@neemanon]

Doubt it

[@nathanpowell5941]

You've likely outrun the 1.8L models, which are increasingly common, now. I have the 2.5L GT they're talking about here, and you don't have a Ranger that's going to outrun it. From the outside, in motion, only the tailpipes would tell you which model you're dealing with...which you should have a good view of if it's a GT 😃

[@iheggis86]

Somebody been in the sunbed too long

[@grantmills4184]

This needs awd. Good car

[@basshead.]

1st

[@aidaaliten8817]

second

[@frankcastle1578]

Here's your prize 🖕