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Hot and Punchy 2021 Kia K5 Starts Under $30,000

by Guillaume Rivard
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Photo: Kia

Unveiled in a virtual world premiere on June 30, the all-new 2021 Kia K5, which replaces the outgoing Optima, will land in Canadian showrooms beginning in October. The company today announced pricing and equipment details.

Wait a minute. K5? It just happens to be the car’s original name in its domestic market of South Korea. Like all future Kia models, this one is based on an advanced third-generation “N3” platform designed for collision safety, weight reduction and driving performance.

In Canada, the 2021 Kia K5 will be available in four trim levels, each one with standard all-wheel drive like the Subaru Legacy and Nissan Altima. They include the LX (MSRP from $29,595), EX ($32,595) and GT-Line ($35,995), which feature a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque via an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Sometime in the winter, Kia will add a powerful K5 GT model ($39,995) housing a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed “wet” dual-clutch transmission for fast and precise gear shifts.

Inside, you’ll find and eight- or 10.25-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen with split-screen functionality. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility comes standard, but only with the smaller screen, strangely. Meanwhile, the larger display adds server-based navigation with real-time traffic data, a more intuitive graphic user interface, new multi-connection Bluetooth connectivity and UVO telematics with connected user profiles. A premium 12-speaker Bose audio system is available, too.

Photo: Kia

When it comes to safety, the K5 packs more advanced driver assistance systems than the Optima. One highlight is available Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning (FCA-JT), which assists the driver in braking to help prevent a collision or lessen the effects in certain conditions when turning left and an oncoming vehicle is approaching. Standard technology includes Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning and Lane Following Assist.

“The new K5 delivers on every level from top-of-the-line design to driving performance and the latest in Kia’s safety and technology—just what Canadian drivers are looking for,” says Kia Canada Chief Operating Officer Elias El-Achhab.

Photo: Kia
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