Love the new designs from kia. I know not everyone likes them but I am just happy to look at a sedan that doesn't just 'look like a sedan' if you know what I mean.
Thank you Alex for keeping the comparisons you reference realistic and appropriate. I noticed when Sofyan from Redline Reviews reviewed this same car, he seemed to be constantly regurgitating the Kia marketing line of comparisons with compact luxury sports sedans. Very well done and I expected nothing less. In this segment, I think an Accord or a Mazda6 would tempt me personally, but I’d put this right behind them and ahead of the Sonata and Camry.
Having driven a vehicle in the past with the propensity for peeling/squealing/traction loss, I can attest that the boy racer novelty wears off quickly. This vehicle needs AWD + lsd.
Congrats, Alex. Best review of the K5 GT I've seen by far. And special kudos for the extensive comparisons between the K5 and the Sonata N-Line. For some reason nearly all reviewers of Hyundai and KIA products fail even to mention the corresponding vehicle from the other brand much less to compare behavior and features. Obviously, though, consumers are likely to cross shop the Sonata and K5 just as they cross shop the Santa Fe and Sorento, the Palisade and the Telluride, a KIA Forte vs a Hyundai Elantra, etc. The K5 GT is an obviously appealing vehicle and the Korean brands deserve plaudits for doubling down on midsize sedans when the entire category faces headwinds in terms of sales. As the review notes and comments echo, however, the biggest drawback is the absence of AWD in the K5 GT while it's offered in the less powerful engine/drivetrain combo. What's going on? A desire not to cannibalize sales of the Stinger may play a part in that decision but there's a more important factor. It's the same reason that Toyota doesn't offer AWD with their V6 versions of the Camry and Nissan fails to offer it with their more powerful VC-Turbo engine while each automaker offers their version of AWD with their less performance oriented models. It comes down to a simple calculation of the return on investment for the more powerful versions of those vehicles; a minuscule "take rate" by consumers. For example, in 2020 Toyota led the segment with nearly 300,000 Camrys sold in a soft market. Of those, fewer than 15,000 vehicles came with a V6 engine. Could Toyota have increased its V6 Camry sales with AWD? By how much? Ten percent? That's optimistic but even if it were true, it would amount to about 1500 total sales. Nowhere near the additional design and production costs that adding AWD would entail. And remember, Toyota outsells other midsize sedan automakers by tens or hundreds of thousands of vehicles. It's hardly surprising that other mainstream manufacturers see little reason to offer higher performance versions of their vehicles simply to satisfy self-styled "enthusiasts." At best AWD is a feature that's likely to appeal to consumers who live in challenging winter climates, a much larger group of potential buyers. Personally, I'm a KIA fan having owned two Sorentos in the last decade. Our current 2018 Sorento is my wife's daily driver and the family's vehicle for long freeway slogs and ski trips to the mountains. If I replaced it, I'd opt for the same 2.5L turbo/DCT combo found in the K5 GT and I'd be sure to combine it with AWD. I'm a little old to be thrilled by wheel hop, torque steer, and burnouts. Likewise for my wife. My own daily driver is a GTI and I wouldn't replace it with the K5 GT. I would, however, be tempted to consider the Stinger with the same new engine and 8 speed wet clutch combined with AWD. Considering that combination is already available as the 2021 Stinger in Korea, I'm relatively sure it will be the base engine in the 2022 Stinger here in the US. I'll be waiting and watching.
I know why KIA doesn't offer summer rated tires... they realized they needed to give the Catfish mouthed Sonata an advantage.... and, pretty sure I know why they don't offer AWD... if they did, they would cut the throat of the incredible but higher priced Stinger. All in all, this vehicle seems to offer stunning levels of performance, style, value for the money. GREAT review!
@@WKaznartist Those are not bad prices at all. I'm hoping in a year or two, they drop to about high $20K to $30K for the 2019 models with about 30K-40K miles.
Alex does indeed present us with great videos! Are you a KIA owner possibly? FYI check out BestLine which offers superior protective engine benefits with Diamond Nano-Lube Technology & guards against "LSPI"! See blog section on link above in this post! Thanks, John, from BestLine Racing Additives
I have a 2022 Blue GT just like the one pictured with a tan (chestnut) interior! I just love the car....has the performance of a muscle car, economy of a small car, and the ride of a Cadillac. All with a very respectable price.
The Stinger's engine would be a great candidate for BestLine Racing Additives! See above re: BestLine Engine Treatment with Diamond Nano=Lube Technology & "LSPI" INFO. regarding smarter working GDI/Turbocharged engines such as the KIA 1.6 GDI/Turbocharged power plant!
I like the rear "racing type" LED taillights which resemble just a little like the Dodge Charger & Dodge Darts! FYI, The Fire 360, check out our BestLine Engine Treatment with DNL for the BEST in engine protection if you like. (See above on this post... Thanks...
Guess he just wanted to wait until both were ready for upload. Makes sense. however I’m just waiting for his review on the 2021 Santa Fe... Still enjoy watching his reviews though - even if they’re not on vehicles I’m not interested in.
Hi, Johnny, FYI we welcome you to visit us at BestLine Racing Additives for the ultimate protection against "LSPI" and make your engine impervious to high thermal heat and extreme pressure! See above for more info. & link! Thanks from your friends at BestLine Racing Additives!
Interesting you said the that the K5 0-60 is about the same as the accord 2.0T but I just got done watching Sam race these two cars and the KG beat the Accord 2.0T on all 3 runs and about 1 to 2 cars on a straight line to the checker flag. However, love your review and still the best on all youtubers.
Love the Chiseled look of the K5.. i didn't mind a little shift shock as the engine redlines through each gear 😆👍.. we need the aftermarket companies to step up LSD anybody or if Kia made a LSD version with less power train warranty I'll take it..
I would argue that the Stinger is Kia's craziest sedan. We have a 2021 GT and it is properly quick and also comes with a LSD which is critical for putting the power down 😃
Nissan may not be my preference but they and their luxury arm Infiniti are on the come-up! The new Rogue is amazing and the spy shots I've seen of the new QX60 are promising. Time will tell.
I had to comment before finishing the video....I wholeheartedly DISAGREE that the Mazda 6 is better looking. There’s a lot to consider and taste is subjective...so for that reason, I’ll only say I disagree and you hurt my feelings 😭 on a positive note, thank you for being one of the few available reviews of this car!
Well mostly people need power while merging or passing. I don’t think 80% of the crowd would just floor it from a stop. It would really be valuable to know how it feels during acceleration when in motion. Rather than just from a stop.
fwd with this much torque scorches the road with just light application of throttle on turns from a stop. easily can be any left turn on yield situation. becomes horribly annoying.
@@oldtwinsna8347 Thanks - yeah that makes sense - I am torn between this and TLX a-spec now. Probably I’ll wait for a couple of more reviews before I make a decision.
You put it into sport + mode which disables traction control and also seems to have a lot of torque steer too. Normal mode doesn't have torque steer. Its not a one wheel peel. Both wheels are spinning from the torque vector by brake (Its brake based LSD ).
Nice. Interesting to hear summer tire option on sonata n-line. Last summer I replaced the OEM tires on my 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan (333 hp) with ultra high performance summer tires (from costco). The electronic stability control has never actuated with those tires on. I have winter tires on wheels for winter. If I plan on having winter tires for a car I’ll always look for summer tires now. Having had a turbo fwd car with a 5 speed I’m DONE with wheel sleep / torque steer.
This car looks better than the Mazda 6 and the Honda accord. This is a good review. I think Alex may have a bit of a bias against Kia in comparison to Honda, Mazda ect... Just something I have noticed over the years in his reviews of Kia. Alex is still one of the best auto reviewers.
There are some great things with the K5 vs the outgoing Optima, but they lost a few great things too. I want to see the K5 GT version of the SXL Turbo after 2016 to current. Any one of them. Some awesome features to go with the performance. This new model seems to be better in driving performance but needs some more of the luxuries they left behind
In Canada, we aren't get the 2.5T engine in the Stinger, it's only the 3.3 that we get in AWD. I bought this car and am picking it up on Monday, I think a lot of reviews differently talk about the wheel spin, torque steer etc, my answer to that would be is to drive the car like a normal front wheel drive car with a bit more power and you should be fine. Anyone who is looking at this and saying "Could've been a stinger" should just get the Stinger and not look at this vehicle as their sporty sedan alternative. I just wanted a family sedan with a bit more power to have a bit more fun on my daily commute without breaking the bank with something like the stinger and the need for premium gas and AWD.
13:54 ...or , if they already plan an awd version with the floor pan accordingly I would put a rear axle from the awd Sorento & I would remove the front two half-shaft .But it would be easier to get the Stinger with the 2.5T instead of 2.0T - maybe for the next one ? - , the engine would already be in the right direction .
I'd definitely have to take this over sonata. The sonata doesn't look that great in person and I've been spoiled with ventilated memory seats and heated steering wheel too much to give that up. I'd throw some better tires on this thing to minimize wheel spin. The accord is still the king when it comes to handling and steering feel, but this felt just as quick when I drove it today. The sonata n line is the quickest in the segment, but not by much, so I'm willing to sacrifice a mynute amount of speed for handling. The choice between the k5 and the near 4 year old accord is hard for me because they both lack things my 16 optima has, but both have modern touches to them. I guess I'll wait for the 2023 accord before I buy a new car. This k5 is at the top of my list though.
Does the K5 have the ability to adjust the piped in engine noise like the sonata? If not, how would you say it’s static setting compares to the Sonata’s adjustable setting?
@@AAutoBuyersGuide It shows you are only human - which is a good thing. When I was an Accounts Payable Clerk many years ago I always strived for perfection but realised that consistent achievement of perfection was not always attainable.
I like this KIA but the gauge cluster really is a deal breaker for me. It looks so dated. I'm not sure why they didn't at least give it the same cluster as the Stinger
The least expensive performance sedan in their lineup is the K3 (forte) GT turbo. They are actually changing the name to K3 here in the states for this upcoming model year
A huge change with these 2021 Hyundai and Kias are the new 2.5 turbo and non turbo engines now have Multi-Port Injection as well which solves the issue of carbon build up and burning through oil (eventually setting fire to the engine) that older models had. This is huge and makes these cars much more reliable. I'm not sure what other brand still has Port Injection besides Toyota. That's a huge reason Toyota's are still super reliable.
Cars like this make me wonder why Ford killed the Fusion and specifically the Fusion Sport. I had a 2017 Fusion Sport with every option and it seemed more like the ultimate family sedan. 325 HP and 385 Tq with AWD and all of the safety tech, smart cruise, moonroof, partial leather seats, awesome stereo, etc... All for a sticker of $46k.
Even my Forte GT has traction problems with 195 ftlb of torque (The factory all seasons don't help). I couldn't even imagine this thing. It seems like a waste to buy this and not put on wider wheels and some good summer tires.
I respect Alex for many reasons, not least of which because he refers to seats as ventilated, not cooled. If a seat has actual AC flowing into it, he'll say so. Far, far too many reviewers casually refer to ventilated seats as "cooled" seats, which is a different thing.
any idea why on KIA website it would make it appear that there is an AWD version of the K5 but it is nowhere to be found. Also no dealers in my area list the larger engine even in the GT?
I have a 2016 Optima SXL. For 2021, they got rid of the following: 360 Camera Nappa Leather From the Korean market they got rid of the following: Rotary Shifter Blind Spot Cameras Not impressed.
They got rid of more than that. They got rid of heated rear reats, rear sunshades, heads up display and dynamic bending headlights. I'm totally disappointed with what they did with the US spec K5.
Hyundai, Kia, and Honda clearly have FWD LSD (or eLSD) that are already in their respective parts bins. (I don't know if Toyota has one lying around somewhere in the global parts bin.) Why don't they use them? Imagine the Accord Sport 2.0T with the LSD from the Civic R, the K5 GT and Sonata N-line with the LSD from the Veloster N, or the Camry TRD and Avalon TRD with LSD (and reprograming of the transmission.) I'm sure that the soon to be released Elantra N will have the Veloster's LSD in it.
@@HOTPLATEGAMING It's also a sports sedan that Kia is trying to compare to a BMW in it's marketing materials. The 2nd car I ever owned was a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan with 307 V8, 4-barrel carb, AND Posi-Trac (which is an LSD.) It was no sports sedan but it certainly was a family car. I'm currently driving a Buick Regal TourX with a turbo 4, AWD, AND a torque vectoring rear. It's not really a sports car but it sure is fun to drive it like one. Many crew cab trucks and BOF SUVs get LSD in the rear as soon as you add a towing package. Honestly those are family sedans in our modern world. Lots of women driving those around with kids in them, at least here in the Western United States where I live. Not having a limited-slip in performance oriented sedans smacks of handicapping them for the sake of handicapping them.
Yes, it’s supposed to be refreshed in North America with the new 4cyl engine. However the 6cyl will not be upgraded. See Korean sites for the new 4cyl reviews/drives.
Others have reported serious torque-steer issues and said the smaller engine AWD is the better car. I did not hear this in this review. How does it compare to the Accord & Camry?
I bought my Accord Sports 2.0T nearly two years too early. Imo I would most likely go with the Hyundai Sonata N line. But of course two years ago there wasn't even the Camry TRD. My choice was the best at the time :P My next upgrade will mostly likely be the dual motor tesla 3 or the G70 (in maybe 2 or three years).
"Doubling down on sedans," when it was just announced that the Kia K900 and the Cadenza have both been discontined from the lineup. The Mazda 6, despite being slower is still my favorite sedan in this respective class. I think the Sonata N-Line will age better than the more polarizing K5 as well. Both are very impressive new entries in this segment though.
@@mpg65 Believe it or not, the N-Line actually shrinks down that main grille a little. More noticeable in person though. Still, the design could have been way better.
I hate how the screen looks like it's attached to the dashboard and all that. Looks like they slapped on a psp made the screen wider and called it good. But that's like the only thing I don't like. Im 6ft 4 so I need to decide between the Stinger GT or this K5GT because the K5 has more leg room....don't know which one I want.
I do not like all of the fancy external and internal LED lighting. It's not necessary to function and it's just one more thing to break. I tend to keep my cars for as long as they are economically viable vs how much I like them (I still have a 2004 Element - I like it a lot and nothing significant breaks). With all the extra "cool" widgets, the issue is "Is it worth fixing it or not?". More often than not it isn't worth fixing since it doesn't affect performance. If owners decide that they can live with a trunk lid LED accent with a few dashes missing (or, if it was poorly designed all of them off because one is dead like Christmas tree lighs), then it was something they shouldn't have paid for it in the initial purchase.
An LED is an incredibly reliable device. Their odds of failing are about the same as your steering wheel falling off. Some of the other electronics are riskier. Screens can eventually fail, and are expensive to replace.
That "KIA's forte" statement is not quite optimal but does get to the soul of this review. It is rio funny!
Thank you
ba dump bump pish!
I think you’re seDONa
@@ELP1125 Nice one. I'm Sorrento I didn't think of that one!
@@Charles_Mulberry_7977 I could TELLUride more, but they are so bad they might STINGer 😂
Love the new designs from kia. I know not everyone likes them but I am just happy to look at a sedan that doesn't just 'look like a sedan' if you know what I mean.
I know what you mean
It is a nice refreshing new side designed car indeed! Thanks, BestLine Racing Additives!
That’s the most manual looking “power tilt and telescoping steering wheel” I’ve ever seen!
I'm never going to live that one down...
I'm glad I looked for this comment before posting. Alex on Autos, no you won't lol
Thank you Alex for keeping the comparisons you reference realistic and appropriate. I noticed when Sofyan from Redline Reviews reviewed this same car, he seemed to be constantly regurgitating the Kia marketing line of comparisons with compact luxury sports sedans. Very well done and I expected nothing less. In this segment, I think an Accord or a Mazda6 would tempt me personally, but I’d put this right behind them and ahead of the Sonata and Camry.
Sofyan wants every car to be fancier. He lives for that stuff.
Having driven a vehicle in the past with the propensity for peeling/squealing/traction loss, I can attest that the boy racer novelty wears off quickly. This vehicle needs AWD + lsd.
AoA deserves more subscribers. Best car review videos on TH-cam. Very thorough on all reviews!!
you're making the Stinger back seat area sound cramped but it's far from it.
Congrats, Alex. Best review of the K5 GT I've seen by far. And special kudos for the extensive comparisons between the K5 and the Sonata N-Line. For some reason nearly all reviewers of Hyundai and KIA products fail even to mention the corresponding vehicle from the other brand much less to compare behavior and features. Obviously, though, consumers are likely to cross shop the Sonata and K5 just as they cross shop the Santa Fe and Sorento, the Palisade and the Telluride, a KIA Forte vs a Hyundai Elantra, etc.
The K5 GT is an obviously appealing vehicle and the Korean brands deserve plaudits for doubling down on midsize sedans when the entire category faces headwinds in terms of sales. As the review notes and comments echo, however, the biggest drawback is the absence of AWD in the K5 GT while it's offered in the less powerful engine/drivetrain combo. What's going on? A desire not to cannibalize sales of the Stinger may play a part in that decision but there's a more important factor. It's the same reason that Toyota doesn't offer AWD with their V6 versions of the Camry and Nissan fails to offer it with their more powerful VC-Turbo engine while each automaker offers their version of AWD with their less performance oriented models.
It comes down to a simple calculation of the return on investment for the more powerful versions of those vehicles; a minuscule "take rate" by consumers. For example, in 2020 Toyota led the segment with nearly 300,000 Camrys sold in a soft market. Of those, fewer than 15,000 vehicles came with a V6 engine. Could Toyota have increased its V6 Camry sales with AWD? By how much? Ten percent? That's optimistic but even if it were true, it would amount to about 1500 total sales. Nowhere near the additional design and production costs that adding AWD would entail. And remember, Toyota outsells other midsize sedan automakers by tens or hundreds of thousands of vehicles. It's hardly surprising that other mainstream manufacturers see little reason to offer higher performance versions of their vehicles simply to satisfy self-styled "enthusiasts." At best AWD is a feature that's likely to appeal to consumers who live in challenging winter climates, a much larger group of potential buyers.
Personally, I'm a KIA fan having owned two Sorentos in the last decade. Our current 2018 Sorento is my wife's daily driver and the family's vehicle for long freeway slogs and ski trips to the mountains. If I replaced it, I'd opt for the same 2.5L turbo/DCT combo found in the K5 GT and I'd be sure to combine it with AWD. I'm a little old to be thrilled by wheel hop, torque steer, and burnouts. Likewise for my wife. My own daily driver is a GTI and I wouldn't replace it with the K5 GT. I would, however, be tempted to consider the Stinger with the same new engine and 8 speed wet clutch combined with AWD. Considering that combination is already available as the 2021 Stinger in Korea, I'm relatively sure it will be the base engine in the 2022 Stinger here in the US. I'll be waiting and watching.
I've already tested out the 2.5T Stinger with awd. LOVED it! Sadly, we don't get the K5 GT in Korea, so that Stinger really hits the spot!
the 2.5T Stinger : only in 2022 ...available a the end of '20
@@martinmartin5904 Not where I live! :)
Yesss. Been waiting for this video. You're the 3rd person to post the k5 gt on TH-cam. Thanks Alex!
I know why KIA doesn't offer summer rated tires... they realized they needed to give the Catfish mouthed Sonata an advantage.... and, pretty sure I know why they don't offer AWD... if they did, they would cut the throat of the incredible but higher priced Stinger. All in all, this vehicle seems to offer stunning levels of performance, style, value for the money. GREAT review!
If only they provided this in AWD; could you imagine? They'd own the entire f**king segment.
Dude wished it came in AWD its the only reason why i havent bought one
And what is mind boggling about this is the GT Line version of the K5 actually does have an AWD option.
I have seen some with an AWD drive train, just need to know where to look.
@@wp8978 no u haven't thats the gt line not the gt
@@json216 just checked, you are right. I plan on buying a stinger gt, but the names still confuse me.
RIP K7 and K900. I was hoping to pick up one of those used in a few years.
My guess is Hyundai/Kia is trying to switch buyers of those vehicles to Genesis.
Yeah it looks like it. I have a 2015 K900
@@lambo199721 How has it been reliability wise? Any major issues outside of the usual maintenance? Also, which engine do you have V6 or V8? Thanks, CJ
A used 2019 K900 with low miles of 10-12k odometer sells for about or less than $40,000. There are a few used that sells for $35,000.
@@WKaznartist Those are not bad prices at all. I'm hoping in a year or two, they drop to about high $20K to $30K for the 2019 models with about 30K-40K miles.
Alex i really enjoy the content in your videos,,I watch a lot of car videos and yours are among the best thanks john
Alex does indeed present us with great videos! Are you a KIA owner possibly? FYI check out BestLine which offers superior protective engine benefits with Diamond Nano-Lube Technology & guards against "LSPI"! See blog section on link above in this post! Thanks, John, from BestLine Racing Additives
I have a 2022 Blue GT just like the one pictured with a tan (chestnut) interior! I just love the car....has the performance of a muscle car, economy of a small car, and the ride of a Cadillac. All with a very respectable price.
please review the 2021 veloster n with dct
I love the power tilt/telescope steering wheel....@6:20
Alex, please rate accessibility to drivers seat in your reviews. Those of us who are older and have trouble bending would deeply appreciate it.
Getting out has gotten to be a challenge for me too.
Stinger refresh in 2022? Its already on sale in Korea
The Stinger's engine would be a great candidate for BestLine Racing Additives! See above re: BestLine Engine Treatment with Diamond Nano=Lube Technology & "LSPI" INFO. regarding smarter working GDI/Turbocharged engines such as the KIA 1.6 GDI/Turbocharged power plant!
The k5 looks so nice. Love the headlights
I like the rear "racing type" LED taillights which resemble just a little like the Dodge Charger & Dodge Darts! FYI, The Fire 360, check out our BestLine Engine Treatment with DNL for the BEST in engine protection if you like. (See above on this post... Thanks...
That Lorem Ipsum on his face at 2:07 threw me off😂
What the efff Alex, what effing efff?!! 2 videos in 15 minutes! I mean Wow!!
Guess he just wanted to wait until both were ready for upload. Makes sense.
however I’m just waiting for his review on the 2021 Santa Fe...
Still enjoy watching his reviews though - even if they’re not on vehicles I’m not interested in.
Well if the Stinger is in the pick, of course that would be my Pick.
Hi, Johnny, FYI we welcome you to visit us at BestLine Racing Additives for the ultimate protection against "LSPI" and make your engine impervious to high thermal heat and extreme pressure! See above for more info. & link! Thanks from your friends at BestLine Racing Additives!
Interesting you said the that the K5 0-60 is about the same as the accord 2.0T but I just got done watching Sam race these two cars and the KG beat the Accord 2.0T on all 3 runs and about 1 to 2 cars on a straight line to the checker flag. However, love your review and still the best on all youtubers.
Wait what? Didn’t you just upload the sonata n line couple minutes ago?
Call it a lucky mistake LOL
The more good looking version ( way better) of the fast catfish
Love the Chiseled look of the K5.. i didn't mind a little shift shock as the engine redlines through each gear 😆👍.. we need the aftermarket companies to step up LSD anybody or if Kia made a LSD version with less power train warranty I'll take it..
Alex: (compares CVTs)
*Mazda6 left the chat*
I prefer the 2 physical gauges with the screen in the middle because replacing a full digital screen would be costly.
I would argue that the Stinger is Kia's craziest sedan. We have a 2021 GT and it is properly quick and also comes with a LSD which is critical for putting the power down 😃
Kia is changing the path of the game.
Wow! I just discovered your channel. Terrific and thorough review. Love the comparison with the K5’s competitors.
Altima 2.0T: the forgotten player 😂
Nissan. The forgotten car company
@@shawnpetty3837 pretty much.. its funny the companies who got ragged on the most in the past, are near the top. Kia and Hyundai
Nissan may not be my preference but they and their luxury arm Infiniti are on the come-up! The new Rogue is amazing and the spy shots I've seen of the new QX60 are promising. Time will tell.
@@ZapFlashD Nissan suffers from the lack of a good transmission IMO. CVTs are less well rounded than traditional AT anyway
I had to comment before finishing the video....I wholeheartedly DISAGREE that the Mazda 6 is better looking. There’s a lot to consider and taste is subjective...so for that reason, I’ll only say I disagree and you hurt my feelings 😭 on a positive note, thank you for being one of the few available reviews of this car!
Congrats on the new Defender, Alex!
Great Review...A LSD should be standard on the GT. Come on Kia. Your slogan is “Give It Everything.”
Well mostly people need power while merging or passing. I don’t think 80% of the crowd would just floor it from a stop. It would really be valuable to know how it feels during acceleration when in motion. Rather than just from a stop.
fwd with this much torque scorches the road with just light application of throttle on turns from a stop. easily can be any left turn on yield situation. becomes horribly annoying.
@@oldtwinsna8347 Thanks - yeah that makes sense - I am torn between this and TLX a-spec now. Probably I’ll wait for a couple of more reviews before I make a decision.
Sonata n Line is faster! You put up both of the Korean twin reviews at the same time! Nice Alex
You put it into sport + mode which disables traction control and also seems to have a lot of torque steer too. Normal mode doesn't have torque steer. Its not a one wheel peel. Both wheels are spinning from the torque vector by brake (Its brake based LSD ).
Nice. Interesting to hear summer tire option on sonata n-line. Last summer I replaced the OEM tires on my 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan (333 hp) with ultra high performance summer tires (from costco). The electronic stability control has never actuated with those tires on. I have winter tires on wheels for winter. If I plan on having winter tires for a car I’ll always look for summer tires now.
Having had a turbo fwd car with a 5 speed I’m DONE with wheel sleep / torque steer.
This car looks better than the Mazda 6 and the Honda accord. This is a good review. I think Alex may have a bit of a bias against Kia in comparison to Honda, Mazda ect... Just something I have noticed over the years in his reviews of Kia. Alex is still one of the best auto reviewers.
This will be my first vehicle to afford Alex.
There are some great things with the K5 vs the outgoing Optima, but they lost a few great things too. I want to see the K5 GT version of the SXL Turbo after 2016 to current. Any one of them. Some awesome features to go with the performance. This new model seems to be better in driving performance but needs some more of the luxuries they left behind
Very nice looking car. Well done KIA.
A great looking car under all angles.
In Canada, we aren't get the 2.5T engine in the Stinger, it's only the 3.3 that we get in AWD. I bought this car and am picking it up on Monday, I think a lot of reviews differently talk about the wheel spin, torque steer etc, my answer to that would be is to drive the car like a normal front wheel drive car with a bit more power and you should be fine. Anyone who is looking at this and saying "Could've been a stinger" should just get the Stinger and not look at this vehicle as their sporty sedan alternative. I just wanted a family sedan with a bit more power to have a bit more fun on my daily commute without breaking the bank with something like the stinger and the need for premium gas and AWD.
I agree.
For the K5, the AwD GT Line with the smaller motor may be better for all around driving.
13:54 ...or , if they already plan an awd version with the floor pan accordingly I would put a rear axle from the awd Sorento & I would remove the front two half-shaft .But it would be easier to get the Stinger with the 2.5T instead of 2.0T - maybe for the next one ? - , the engine would already be in the right direction .
I'd definitely have to take this over sonata. The sonata doesn't look that great in person and I've been spoiled with ventilated memory seats and heated steering wheel too much to give that up. I'd throw some better tires on this thing to minimize wheel spin. The accord is still the king when it comes to handling and steering feel, but this felt just as quick when I drove it today. The sonata n line is the quickest in the segment, but not by much, so I'm willing to sacrifice a mynute amount of speed for handling. The choice between the k5 and the near 4 year old accord is hard for me because they both lack things my 16 optima has, but both have modern touches to them. I guess I'll wait for the 2023 accord before I buy a new car. This k5 is at the top of my list though.
I don’t think you should wait.
Does the K5 have the ability to adjust the piped in engine noise like the sonata? If not, how would you say it’s static setting compares to the Sonata’s adjustable setting?
4:43 ...when transmission "A" is in 1st gear transmission "2" is already in 2nd gear.... (my brain just experienced a stack-overflow) and now I'm dead
I mean, when train 1 leaves a station at zebra miles per kilometer, train G will intercept the moon at mixed-metaphor o'clock.
why better cabin noise score in your other K5 review ?
Power tilt/telescopic steering wheel (as he adjusts it manually)?
Haha. I was checking to see if anyone else caught that. 😆😆😆 (6:22)
ARG. How did nobody on our side catch
that!
@@AAutoBuyersGuide It shows you are only human - which is a good thing. When I was an Accounts Payable Clerk many years ago I always strived for perfection but realised that consistent achievement of perfection was not always attainable.
hopefully we'll see the new kia logo next year
Excellent Review. Thanks so much.
A mature reviewer who doesn't just focus on HP.
I like this KIA but the gauge cluster really is a deal breaker for me. It looks so dated. I'm not sure why they didn't at least give it the same cluster as the Stinger
Get the sonata n line. It’s faster and cheaper
@@bradleyscarreviews Faster, but not cheaper. It depends a bit on how you option them, of course, but the Kia starts at quite a bit less.
And here I am, trying to decide on a Sapphire Blue Sorento SX or a Sapphire Blue K5 GT! (You can't get a Camry TRD in blue)
The least expensive performance sedan in their lineup is the K3 (forte) GT turbo. They are actually changing the name to K3 here in the states for this upcoming model year
A huge change with these 2021 Hyundai and Kias are the new 2.5 turbo and non turbo engines now have Multi-Port Injection as well which solves the issue of carbon build up and burning through oil (eventually setting fire to the engine) that older models had. This is huge and makes these cars much more reliable. I'm not sure what other brand still has Port Injection besides Toyota. That's a huge reason Toyota's are still super reliable.
Cars like this make me wonder why Ford killed the Fusion and specifically the Fusion Sport. I had a 2017 Fusion Sport with every option and it seemed more like the ultimate family sedan. 325 HP and 385 Tq with AWD and all of the safety tech, smart cruise, moonroof, partial leather seats, awesome stereo, etc... All for a sticker of $46k.
I have a 2021 K5 Gt-line with AWD. It's very fun. I'm about add a chip to add 60hp so that I get to a bit closer to the GT power but with AWD.
Which tune gives the 1.6t engine +60hp?
Even my Forte GT has traction problems with 195 ftlb of torque (The factory all seasons don't help). I couldn't even imagine this thing. It seems like a waste to buy this and not put on wider wheels and some good summer tires.
I respect Alex for many reasons, not least of which because he refers to seats as ventilated, not cooled. If a seat has actual AC flowing into it, he'll say so.
Far, far too many reviewers casually refer to ventilated seats as "cooled" seats, which is a different thing.
Absolutely beautiful looking car. Even better than the mazda.
any idea why on KIA website it would make it appear that there is an AWD version of the K5 but it is nowhere to be found. Also no dealers in my area list the larger engine even in the GT?
I think that power tilt steering wheel requires you to be the power😂
Driven normally & just using the power for passing and such, is front wheel drive still a problem?
The ultimate Easter egg would be if Kia spelled their name in Morse Code in the rear taillights "dashed LED accent light that runs across the trunk".
I have a 2016 Optima SXL. For 2021, they got rid of the following:
360 Camera
Nappa Leather
From the Korean market they got rid of the following:
Rotary Shifter
Blind Spot Cameras
Not impressed.
They got rid of more than that. They got rid of heated rear reats, rear sunshades, heads up display and dynamic bending headlights. I'm totally disappointed with what they did with the US spec K5.
@@greg.anywhere Correct, I couldn't remember all the omitted things. But I'm very disappointed, I think I'm going to get a TLX.
When a Kia does 0-60 under 6.0 seconds, cars are to fast now lol
Were you living under a rock ? the Stinger does it in 4.7.
@@stockey I was talking about a compact family car under 40k. Im sorry i didnt mention that. R u ok now? Hahahaa
@@M4B21S88 your arguing about this hahahah ok good bye
@@M4B21S88 Hahha you spent a minute of your life to write that comment. Thanks
@@bbbt8090 didnt YOU spend a minute of YOUR life to write your comment and your follow ups?
🤨
Youre very welcome, though!
I never so many smiles when you were driving. Seems you liked the car.
Please add time stamps, wanna jump straight into the various categories
I thought you said power tilt and telescoping steering wheel...but you just did the manually... Huh...
Oh poop. My bad
Alex, Sir, Do You Think 🤔 that KIA may make a *K5 Coup* (2-Door)?!
Don't know why the sonata and k5 got rid of the interior trunk handle that I have on my 15 sonata ultimate.
Hyundai, Kia, and Honda clearly have FWD LSD (or eLSD) that are already in their respective parts bins. (I don't know if Toyota has one lying around somewhere in the global parts bin.)
Why don't they use them? Imagine the Accord Sport 2.0T with the LSD from the Civic R, the K5 GT and Sonata N-line with the LSD from the Veloster N, or the Camry TRD and Avalon TRD with LSD (and reprograming of the transmission.)
I'm sure that the soon to be released Elantra N will have the Veloster's LSD in it.
You know why their is no LSD in those cars.
It's a FAMILY car.
@@HOTPLATEGAMING It's also a sports sedan that Kia is trying to compare to a BMW in it's marketing materials.
The 2nd car I ever owned was a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan with 307 V8, 4-barrel carb, AND Posi-Trac (which is an LSD.) It was no sports sedan but it certainly was a family car.
I'm currently driving a Buick Regal TourX with a turbo 4, AWD, AND a torque vectoring rear. It's not really a sports car but it sure is fun to drive it like one.
Many crew cab trucks and BOF SUVs get LSD in the rear as soon as you add a towing package. Honestly those are family sedans in our modern world. Lots of women driving those around with kids in them, at least here in the Western United States where I live.
Not having a limited-slip in performance oriented sedans smacks of handicapping them for the sake of handicapping them.
It would be nice, but this thing would still be afflicted with wheelslip. It's just demonstrating how much torque is too much.
I hope the 2022 Stinger gets this engine.
Yes, it’s supposed to be refreshed in North America with the new 4cyl engine. However the 6cyl will not be upgraded. See Korean sites for the new 4cyl reviews/drives.
Others have reported serious torque-steer issues and said the smaller engine AWD is the better car.
I did not hear this in this review. How does it compare to the Accord & Camry?
It's the same recipe with a dash more "crazy"
The Accord crusher! Only way the Accord can keep up is with a ecu tune
Amazing. Thanks for informative video!
RIP Cadenza and K900... for the US at least.
I bought my Accord Sports 2.0T nearly two years too early. Imo I would most likely go with the Hyundai Sonata N line. But of course two years ago there wasn't even the Camry TRD. My choice was the best at the time :P My next upgrade will mostly likely be the dual motor tesla 3 or the G70 (in maybe 2 or three years).
17:22 How would two SUVs or pickups fit on this road, especially between that tree?
How does the Stinger compare to the K5 in the cabin noise department?
$8-9K discount from the MSRP for Stinger GT or GT AWD in my area!
Comparing to stinger 2.5 turbo, which car will be better value and better performance car?
“Is this the craziest family sedan?”
Dodge Charger srt hellcat redeye widebody: am I a joke to you
Hey everybody, it's Double Upload Day thanks to Alex on Autos!
Alex, would you take this over a WRX or STI as an all around daily driver?
How many watts is the wireless charging mat??? Thank You
It's very nice.
I wish there is a wagon version of K5 and Stinger.
Regards.
So wait, the K5 does worse than putting the power down than the Sonata N line? Do they have different traction control systems?
All-season tires versus summer tires. There might some other subtleties, but tires alone can dramatically improve the grip.
"Doubling down on sedans," when it was just announced that the Kia K900 and the Cadenza have both been discontined from the lineup.
The Mazda 6, despite being slower is still my favorite sedan in this respective class. I think the Sonata N-Line will age better than the more polarizing K5 as well. Both are very impressive new entries in this segment though.
I believe the k5 will age better. The sonata maybe if they tone down that front end
@@mpg65
Believe it or not, the N-Line actually shrinks down that main grille a little. More noticeable in person though. Still, the design could have been way better.
Waiting on the K3 (Forte) to be released. This is too big and expensive. You can get a loaded forte gt for like 23k.
When does the K3 come out?
I'm hoping the AWD comes to the GT. I'd purchase one without a second thought.
Probably never happen is it’ll compete with the stinger which Kia doesn’t want
Boost gauge goes to 40. It's like they encourage tuning the engine...
This thing is begging for an intake, tune and exhaust
I hate how the screen looks like it's attached to the dashboard and all that. Looks like they slapped on a psp made the screen wider and called it good. But that's like the only thing I don't like. Im 6ft 4 so I need to decide between the Stinger GT or this K5GT because the K5 has more leg room....don't know which one I want.
The gauges really hurt this car. This car has so much potential. And soon this will be Kia’s sportiest car.
This is longer than the stinger? The stinger is kind of a large car already
It’s way smaller than you’d think in person
I do not like all of the fancy external and internal LED lighting. It's not necessary to function and it's just one more thing to break. I tend to keep my cars for as long as they are economically viable vs how much I like them (I still have a 2004 Element - I like it a lot and nothing significant breaks). With all the extra "cool" widgets, the issue is "Is it worth fixing it or not?". More often than not it isn't worth fixing since it doesn't affect performance. If owners decide that they can live with a trunk lid LED accent with a few dashes missing (or, if it was poorly designed all of them off because one is dead like Christmas tree lighs), then it was something they shouldn't have paid for it in the initial purchase.
An LED is an incredibly reliable device. Their odds of failing are about the same as your steering wheel falling off. Some of the other electronics are riskier. Screens can eventually fail, and are expensive to replace.
@@markmiller3279 LEDs are reliable. However, they receive power through wires, and wires in automobiles are known to faol.