The 2021 Kia K5’s exterior design grabs all the eye with its Stinger-like entrance finish, flashy lighting and sportback form. It’s a powerful wanting sedan, nevertheless it begs the query, does the inside measure up and match Kia’s stellar effort outdoors?
Crimson seats like those in our GT-Line tester are an important place to begin. The crimson and black two-tone leatherette is optionally available, however the choice is free, so it’s a no brainer. Not like the extra sedate Sonata, the K5 is noticeably sportier inside. Its flat-bottom leather-based steering wheel and kit lever pulled straight from the Stinger assist immensely in giving it this really feel. Although, it’s disappointing to see the shifter is roofed in cheap-feeling plastic right here, versus the leather-based within the Stinger.
The stepped sprint design seems recent and with the occasions, and Kia’s selection of perforated-look plastic trim is approach higher than simply flat black plastic. There’s even fake stitching operating from side-to-side. Its air vents are horizontal and modern, however the ridged floor beneath them is much more intriguing, because it brings texture to a bit that usually doesn’t have any.
Above all, although, Kia has made its monolithic infotainment show the star of the present. The 8-inch touchscreen (high left, in our check automotive) is commonplace, however a barely bigger 10.25-inch display screen (high proper) is optionally available. The smaller display screen is accompanied by arduous audio buttons flanking it, whereas the larger display screen will get contact haptic controls and loses the tuning knob. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and wi-fi Android Auto comes commonplace throughout the vary, however we had points with our CarPlay connection. After random quantities of time all through the week of testing, it could squawk at us with an error, forcing us to disconnect then reconnect to get it again working.
You get arduous buttons or knobs for all of the vitals having to do with the local weather management, making that tremendous straightforward to function. Assuming you pony up for heated seats, the controls for these are accomplished in the identical toggle swap vogue because the Stinger’s and sit rear of the gear shifter. It’s the same, analog story within the instrument cluster. We want the absolutely digital sprint from the Sonata have been out there, nevertheless it’s not. As an alternative you get a small 4.2-inch heart show and bodily gauges to flank it.
Usefulness is barely above common within the cabin. The cubby fore of the shifter is sufficiently big for the biggest cell telephones, and the USB retailers are conveniently positioned proper within the cubby. It’s not the beautiful, invisible wire answer you get within the Honda Accord, nevertheless it successfully retains them from snaking in every single place all through the cabin. Each cupholders are giant, and also you get an electrical parking brake that saves much more area. For those who’re utilizing both of the wi-fi smartphone connection applied sciences, Kia’s nifty vertical wi-fi smartphone charger can be of nice use. Simply slot the cellphone in its safe nook by the armrest each time you get in, and it’s each out of sight and charging away. You’ll additionally discover a bizarre, upturned grab-handle-looking factor on the door panel. It does certainly operate as a seize deal with, and it’s a pleasant contact to separate the K5’s inside from others.
Backseat passengers can be met with a nice 35.2 inches of legroom. The Accord crushes it and all people else on this class, however adults will nonetheless be loads comfy within the rear seats. You even get a splash of crimson on the rear doorways to spice it up. Two USB ports sit again there on all however the base LX mannequin.
Transferring again up entrance, the seating place could be very regular for this class. You possibly can alter the seat to take a seat comparatively low, and the cushions themselves are comfy. There isn’t a lot bolstering, however that’ll include the full-on GT and its added efficiency. One criticism we had is noise-related. Latest weeks have discovered us within the driver’s seat of the K5, Accord and Altima, and the K5’s inside was extra bothersome on our ears than the others.
Even with some small quibbles, the K5’s inside is a becoming match for the eye-catching exterior. There are some things we talked about that Kia might do to enhance it, nevertheless it’s standing far taller than the Optima was in its class. In order for you a bit of extra luxurious and fewer sport, permit us to direct you to the Sonata. And if you wish to know extra about how the K5 drives, rear our First Drive evaluation right here.
