The K5 is a car full of design, the third and fourth generations are led by Peter Cyrill, the third generation is more stable in design, and the fourth generation launched in 2015 is more sporty, and after the mid-2018 facelift, it has further improved its appearance, compared with its Japanese rivals in the same class, although it is not particularly eye-catching, but the design is still online.
The history of the Kia K5 in China can be traced back to the Optima, and it can be seen as a Kia version of the Sonata. This car series first started in 2000, and it is called Optima in most markets around the world, called "Yuanjian" in Chinese, and Kia Magentis when sold in Europe and Canada. From the second generation, the car was renamed the Kia K5 in Korea, and the Chinese version used the same name as the Korean version, while continuing to be called Optima in other international markets.
After a mid-2018 facelift, the K5 for the Chinese market was renamed the K5 Pro and launched a model that meets China VI emission standards. In terms of powertrain, it is still 1.6T with Dymos 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission and 2.0L self-aspirated engine with Paivoltai 6AT, these two powertrains are very mature. Korean automakers have a fairly high level of dry dual-clutch tuning, which is on par with Volkswagen, but from the perspective of reliability, we recommend the 2.0L self-priming model.
The handling and power of the K5 are mainly practical, 2.0L with 6AT This set of powertrain runs very smoothly, and the gear shift is timely, the gear shift action is slight, the driving feeling is very natural, and the comfort orientation is very obvious. The self-priming engine is paired with a traditional gearbox, and the powertrain is already very mature, and has undergone enough tests in terms of use experience and reliability, which is more in line with the needs of most people.
The K5 is also available as a hybrid model, and although the manufacturer claims that this hybrid is more fuel-efficient than Toyota's, its architecture is actually much simpler than Toyota, Honda's, and GM's hybrid technology, and it does save fuel in congested roads, but the high-speed fuel consumption performance is even worse than that of the naturally aspirated version of the same displacement.
The chassis of K5 is relatively calm, and it has been readjusted for Chinese road conditions, the suspension is soft as a whole, and the quality of fine vibration filtration on the road surface is very good, but when passing through some large potholes, you will feel that the body is a little shaky, lacking the toughness of Camry and Accord, and it is difficult to reflect the sense of luxury. The K5 also has a variable damping steering wheel, which will be too light at low speed and look very fake, and after the speed gradually increases, the steering wheel will feel much more natural, but the directivity is really not strong, just to facilitate daily driving.
K5 also belongs to the upper middle level in terms of quietness, the isolation of road noise and wind noise is very good, and the engine noise will not be easily transmitted into the cabin, but the tires are more picky on the road, and in the case of some bad roads or high speeds, it will be disturbed by some tire noise.
It's hard to find fault with the rear row of the K5, there is plenty of space, there is a lot of room for the head and knees, the central platform bulge is not too high, the rear air conditioning vents do not occupy the rear seat space, and the three adults in the back row will not feel crowded. The thickness and shape of the seat are suitable, and the angle of the backrest is relatively reclined, so there is nothing to complain about.
After the mid-term facelift, K5 has been greatly improved in configuration, in addition to the lowest configuration, basically the comfort configuration is complete, including keyless entry, rear air conditioning outlets, main and co-pilot ESC, panoramic sunroof, and the lights are also given LED headlights, equipped with adaptive cruise, lane departure warning, active safety system, very cost-effective.
In terms of reliability, the K5 also performs well, and Korean cars have improved rapidly in this aspect in recent years. In the survey of "Consumer Reports" in the United States, the satisfaction of K5 buyers is quite high, which can also prove that its quality is reliable.
The K5 performs well in terms of safety, it has received a 5-star rating on E-NCAP and is also one of the top safety models (TSPs) in the IIHS. The all-new K5 for the Chinese market took part in the first crash tests of CNCAP in 2016 and received a five-star rating with a score of 58.2 points.
Kia K5 test report