Hot and Punchy 2021 Kia K5 Starts Under $30,000
Unveiled in a virtual world premiere on June 30, the all-new 2021 Kia K5, which replaces the outgoing Optima, will land in Canadian showrooms beginning in October. The company today announced pricing and equipment details.
Wait a minute. K5? It just happens to be the car’s original name in its domestic market of South Korea. Like all future Kia models, this one is based on an advanced third-generation “N3” platform designed for collision safety, weight reduction and driving performance.
- Also: All-new 2021 Kia K5 Takes Torch From Optima
- Also: Dodge and Kia First, Tesla Last in J.D. Power’s 2020 Initial Quality Study
In Canada, the 2021 Kia K5 will be available in four trim levels, each one with standard all-wheel drive like the Subaru Legacy and Nissan Altima. They include the LX (MSRP from $29,595), EX ($32,595) and GT-Line ($35,995), which feature a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque via an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Sometime in the winter, Kia will add a powerful K5 GT model ($39,995) housing a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed “wet” dual-clutch transmission for fast and precise gear shifts.
Inside, you’ll find and eight- or 10.25-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen with split-screen functionality. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility comes standard, but only with the smaller screen, strangely. Meanwhile, the larger display adds server-based navigation with real-time traffic data, a more intuitive graphic user interface, new multi-connection Bluetooth connectivity and UVO telematics with connected user profiles. A premium 12-speaker Bose audio system is available, too.
When it comes to safety, the K5 packs more advanced driver assistance systems than the Optima. One highlight is available Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning (FCA-JT), which assists the driver in braking to help prevent a collision or lessen the effects in certain conditions when turning left and an oncoming vehicle is approaching. Standard technology includes Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning and Lane Following Assist.
“The new K5 delivers on every level from top-of-the-line design to driving performance and the latest in Kia’s safety and technology—just what Canadian drivers are looking for,” says Kia Canada Chief Operating Officer Elias El-Achhab.
