2021 Kia K5: Renaming may be sub-optimal, but AWD and bold styling are great

the 2021 Kia K5 it’s a complete redo for a Korean automaker’s midsize sedan, a new rig, and everything. Although we’ve known what the K5 looks like since last December, and even drove the sedan Kia on Tuesday revealed exactly what is in store for the car when it arrives in the United States this summer.

First of all, yes, the Optima name is out, and the sedan takes the same name that it uses in South Korea: K5. With the new name comes a ton of other new stuff in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, GT, and EX. The 2021 K5 sits on Kia’s latest N3 platform, includes optional four-wheel drive and a fairly powerful powertrain.

It would be a new 2.5-liter turbo four engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque for the K5 GT. If the ride sounds familiar, it’s because the luxury-oriented Cousin Genesis also powers the engine. An AWD-based front-wheel drive system is standard here, and Kia installed a new wet, dual-clutch eight-speed transmission that should activate shifting with authority. The brand is proud to point out that no other sedan in its segment offers such a transmission.

All other K5 models are powered by a 1.6-liter turbo four engine that generates 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. A new eight-speed transmission is standard here, but it is simply a regular automatic transmission. The 1.6-liter engine also has a new technology called Continuously Variable Valve Life, or CVVD. By giving each of the valves inside the engine their independence, so to speak, Kia said performance and efficiency improve. And for those who want AWD without the added performance of the GT, it’s optional on every save saved for the LX base. The EX also received AWD as standard.

Through the K5 line, the sedan has become wider and wider, but shorter. Its new N3 platform helped cement the sleeker look, which mimics the shape of the Stinger minus the actual hatchback at the rear. The sedan’s new “tiger face”, not only its grille, is slimmer, but now encompasses more of the front clip, and the slim LED operating lights curl up and then slam up the front panel. The C-pillar does a great job of making it look like there is a recoil, but the K5 still includes a standard trunk. At the rear, there’s a new LED taillight design with dash elements that really sets the car apart from any other sedan, including the new one. Hyundai Sonata.

Where Kia seems to have left it out of the park is in the cabin, which includes a combination of premium, sporty materials. Here is the GT-Line and GT flat-bottom steering wheel and the 10.25-inch infotainment display. An 8-inch screen is standard, and honestly, the smallest screen may be the one you get.

Why? Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It works perfectly with the 8-inch touchscreen, but not with the optional 10.25-inch unit. It’s weird, but that’s how it works here. Other amenities and optional technology include a premium Bose sound system, cordless phone charging, natural voice recognition to control various features, and smart key functions.

And, of course, there is a wealth of active safety equipment, either standard or optional. Every K5 gets automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance and a driver attention warning system. The optional amount of equipment is a bit staggering with everything from excellent roadside assistance, blind spot collision avoidance, and rear cross traffic alert.

The first K21 2021 sedans will arrive in the coming months, but for those looking for a hotter K5, the K5 GT won’t be ready until this fall.