The refreshed 2025 Kia K5 midsize sedan rolls into the new year with a fresh look, a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a starting price of $28,145, including a $1,155 destination fee.
This marks a $1,630 price increase over the 2024 Kia K5, which used to be known as the Kia Optima sedan. Although it costs less than the 2024 Hyundai Sonata and the redesigned 2023 Honda Accord, priced at $29,000, it is no longer the value play it once was. The carryover 2024 Nissan Altima starts at $26,825, and the 2025 Subaru Legacy starts at $26,040 with standard all-wheel drive, making it the best value in the segment.
The only 2025 Kia K5 with all-wheel drive is the GT-Line, which is priced at $30,745.
The LXS, GT-Line, and EX now feature a 2.5-liter inline-4 that replaces the old 1.6-liter turbo-4. Output increases to 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. It has an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive as standard.
The interior showcases significant changes with the new large touchscreen and an available 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster. A narrow climate control screen sits below the touchscreen with two climate dials and haptic touch controls for other features.
Every model comes equipped with driver-assist technology such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and a driver-attention monitor. Along with the Hyundai Sonata, the K5's biggest advantage over rivals is a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty.
The base XLS rides on 16-inch wheels and has cloth upholstery.
The GT-Line is priced at either $29,145 with FWD or $30,745 with AWD, an increase of $1,130 from last year. It includes heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, and acoustic glass on the front windshield, riding on 18-inch alloy wheels.
The EX has the largest price increase and the most features, topping the lineup now. At $35,645, it costs $5,230 more than the 2024 EX, adding cooled front seats, a sunroof, a 10-way power driver seat, a heated steering wheel, power folding mirrors, and a Bose 12-speaker sound system that was optional last year.
The GT carries over its 2.5-liter turbo-4 that makes 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It features an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels only, priced less than the EX at $34,245.
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