To grasp the 2021 Kia K5 GT, consider it as a front-wheel-drive Dodge Charger Scat Pack. It’s an immature, OK-handling, reasonably priced efficiency sedan that burns rubber prefer it needs to shake its Pirellis proper off the edges. Kia may eschew among the fundamentals of a superb efficiency automobile with the K5 GT, however identical to the Charger, this sedan unleashes your inside little one in methods you by no means thought potential given its humble beginnings because the Optima substitute.
What’s a K5 GT, you ask? We weren’t completely positive what it was earlier than slipping behind the wheel, both. Kia isn’t precisely operating round speaking up this four-door sedan. It will get passing point out within the broader K5 press package on Kia’s media-facing web site, and it’s a must to dig deep into the buyer website to discover a slideshow of Kia casually claiming their sedan is best than a base BMW 3 Sequence in each measurable manner. That’s some informal flexing.
Kia has the specs and mechanicals to again up a few of what it’s saying. Energy comes courtesy of a brand new 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out a powerful 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This comes hooked as much as an also-new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and belief us after we say this DCT is nothing just like the pedestrian ones present in different Hyundai-Kia merchandise just like the Elantra N Line or Forte GT — it’s a number of steps higher. A 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds is feasible by way of an precise launch-control system.
What’s lacking is simply as vital as what Kia stuffed into this automobile. There’s no trick limited-slip differential to maintain these entrance wheels beneath management. Neither is there torque vectoring that will help you slither by corners with all that energy. With no techniques in place to rein in that 311 pound-feet of torque, the entrance wheels run roughshod. We’re speaking torque steer, which relying on the way you take a look at it, is both good or unhealthy.
On the constructive facet, the facility will let the automobile do a strolling burnout throughout first gear and hold the tires spinning after grabbing second. The steering wheel stays principally straight offered you’re going straight. Then again, getting on the throttle with any form of steering lock dialed in whereas traction management is off will carry concerning the scourge of torque steer. In a Scat Pack, overpowering the pushed wheels mid-corner brings skids and smiles. Right here, it takes you for an understeer journey that you just by no means wished. The treatment is to watch out with the delicate throttle, and solely start to unleash the torque when you’re previous the apex and unwinding the wheel. Driving like a ham-fisted buffoon as you are able to do in automobiles just like the Hyundai Veloster N or Honda Civic Sort R won’t result in good outcomes — these FWD automobiles will magically yank you thru corners with little-to-no steering disturbances.
In contrast to another turbocharged choices on this class of sedans (Honda Accord 2.0T, Mazda6 Turbo), this one is extra than simply an engine. The suspension is labored over, too, and it’s an ideal deal sportier than the usual K5. Kia didn’t go so far as including costly adaptive dampers, however the usual state of tune is way stiffer, and stiffer bushings are additionally used. It’s completely dialed in to make carving up a twisty highway much more satisfying, however doesn’t go as far as to make regular driving disagreeable. It recollects the well-damped and complex journey high quality present in a European sports activities sedan. There’s a firmness and solidity to the journey, but it surely by no means punishes.
The steering ratio is faster than a regular K5 and the brakes are greater, with 1.6-inch bigger rotors in back and front, plus GT-specific calipers. A wider 19-inch wheel-and-tire package deal — 245-section-width Pirelli P Zero high-performance all-season rubber throughout — comes commonplace on the GT. It’s one hell of a package deal for the value of entry: $31,585.
The entire above means the K5 can now meet the Accord and Mazda6 on a stage taking part in discipline for best-handling sedan on this section. Each the Honda and Mazda are splendid-handling automobiles to start with, whereas the usual K5 falls flat. A comparability take a look at is to be able to type out which is the most effective, but it surely’s protected to say that Kia has lifted itself proper to the highest of the fanatic meals chain with the GT. Nonetheless, its energy is what unquestionably units it aside from the remainder.
Kia claims 311 pound-feet of torque, and you’re feeling each final pound of it together with your foot flat. It’s a stronger shove within the again than any of the turbocharged competitors, and it’s additionally the one one with a correct launch-control system that deftly controls wheel slip to get you up to the mark effectively. Energy doesn’t appear to let up once you attain freeway speeds both, because it accelerates strongly for a lot longer than you may anticipate. It even sounds midway respectable with a deep and low exhaust word — Kia helps you to select between 4 totally different ranges of enhanced exhaust noise being pumped into the cabin. It undoubtedly will get cartoonish on the highest stage, however each of the 2 midlevel exhaust modes strike a pleasant stability. When you hate the thought of pretend exhaust noise, Kia may also allow you to flip it utterly off.
The twin-clutch transmission is one other shining star. Shifts are fast with every paddle pull, making the automobile a legit hoot to shift your self. It’s nonetheless to not the efficiency stage of dual-clutch models in pricier sporting automobiles, but it surely’s far more enjoyable to paddle away on this than any of the basic torque converter-style transmissions accessible in its household sedan rivals (or, gulp, their CVTs). As anticipated, it’s additionally relatively sensible in Sport mode when left by itself, holding gears because it ought to in corners and promptly downshifting beneath braking.
Kia made the GT most recognizable from the rear the place it beneficial properties a quad-tip exhaust exit. There’s no fakery occurring right here. It additionally beneficial properties a refined “GT” badge in again and a black-painted spoiler. A brand new grille painted in “Hyper Silver” headlines the entrance, but it surely’s more durable to inform the distinction between a GT and a GT Line right here. The distinctive orange operating lights stick round, and it additionally will get the already-mentioned GT-exclusive 19-inch wheels.
Inside, Kia provides a GT-specific sport steering wheel with decent-sized paddle shifters. It additionally will get particular GT-embossed leatherette seats with bolsters simply excessive sufficient to maintain you from sliding out in corners with out gauging your leg with every entry. Sadly, black is the one inside shade accessible within the GT. It does include crimson distinction stitching, however the GT Line’s all-red inside must be accessible as an choice for the totally caffeinated K5 GT.
There’s only one choice field to test, the GT1 Package deal at a hefty $4,000, however we extremely suggest springing for it. It features a host of superior options: LED headlights, a 10-way energy driver seat, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shifter, bigger 10.25-inch infotainment display, a 12-speaker Bose audio system and each driver-assistance characteristic in Kia’s arsenal. The Freeway Driving Help included on this package deal is likely one of the greatest lane-centering techniques available on the market, and makes freeway journeys remarkably simple. At $35,585 with this package deal, the K5 GT is an astonishing cut price.
It’s extra of a efficiency automobile than the rest within the non-luxury midsize sedan world. There’s no precise equal, but when Honda made an Accord Si, this might be an affordable consequence. The hardest competitors is coming from inside the Hyundai household with the Sonata N Line. That automobile is actually the Hyundai model of this, with all of the important mechanicals remaining the identical. Kia’s sedan appears to be like higher with its Stinger-like disposition, however Hyundai’s sedan is a bit classier, and you may get the tech-y digital instrument cluster that Kia doesn’t provide.
There’s additionally the BMW comparability that Kia has introduced upon itself. Totally loaded, a K5 GT is $6,660 lower than a base 330i. You’ll have to take the BMW up a lot increased to get all of the tech gizmos that the K5 GT comes with. None of that adjustments the drive format conundrum, although. A 3 Sequence is rear-drive or all-wheel-drive, whereas the K5 GT is front-wheel-drive, and it doesn’t disguise that truth. The treatment right here could be an all-wheel-drive K5 GT — Kia already gives AWD in the usual K5, however there’s no indication that the efficiency model will get it. Because it stands, the K5 is certainly extra enjoyable to drive than a 330i, however BMW’s inside is much superior, and it’s a extra basically sound sports activities sedan.
What’s most vital is that regardless of the K5 GT not being an ideal automobile, it places an enormous smile on our faces. Kia is aware of what it’s achieved; one of many quick-toggle drive modes you may select is actually only a traction-control-off Sport mode, as a result of it is aware of how enjoyable laying some fats strips of rubber is on this automobile. It’s not about setting Nürburgring lap occasions. The identical ethos that gave us the riotous Charger Scat Pack is on show right here, and whereas the strategies may be vastly totally different, the K5 GT is prodding the identical whimsical part of our brains.
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