Kia kept the midsize sedan alive when it launched the K5 sedan in 2021, and it has been doing well with its lineup ever since. Do you want proof? Kia recently surpassed its South Korean parent company, Hyundai Motors, in U.S. vehicle sales for the first time in January 2026. It proves that the brand’s “Opposites United” style philosophy, excellent warranty and aggressive pricing are what value-conscious Americans prefer to park in their driveway.
Kia has given the 2025 K5 sedan some deliberate updates to keep it fresh among its equally talented but technologically superior Camry and Accord peers. Changes include a more powerful base engine, a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, and updated exterior styling, all for a base price of less than $30,000.
It all sounds good, but how does the 2025 Kia K5 score in terms of build quality and reliability? JD power has issued a consumer verified score of 83/100 for the 2025 K5 sedan, and received an 85/100 on the quality and reliability scale, making it good enough to share an overall second place with its Hyundai Sonata platformmate.
What’s interesting is that the Sonata and K5 outperform the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, which come in third with a score of 82/100. The Nissan Altima, which remains alive and well in 2026, comes in first with a score of 84/100, and we find it a bit confusing because Consumer Reports ranks the Altima as one of the least satisfying cars to own.
The Kia K5 GT is a torrid one
The blown engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the chassis gets a sporty-tuned suspension for handling comparable to that of Germany. JD Power confirms this with a driving experience score of 92/100, enough to consider the Kia K5 among the best in its segment. Oh, and that 290-hp turbocharged engine turns heads, motivating the K5 GT to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.2 seconds, said Car and driverand a quarter-mile run of 13.7 seconds at 107 mph. The top speed is 250 km/h, enough to wave a South Korean flag on the German Autobahn.
Kia hasn’t forgotten about non-GT K5 buyers, though. For 2025, the base 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was dropped and a more powerful naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder was introduced that generates 191 horsepower, 11 more than the previous turbo engine. It also pumps out 181 pound-feet of torque.
Standard kit includes LED headlights, dual-zone HVAC, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker stereo, and hands-free keyless entry. Our only complaint is that Kia insists on not offering all-wheel drive on the K5 GT, although you can combine AWD with the new base engine in the K5 GT-Line trim. Finally, J.D. Power has estimated that the K5 sedan will have lower depreciation values over the next three years, giving it a high resale value score of 82/100.
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