2021 Kia K5 EX

At a time when most automakers are dropping their 4-door sedan models, cars like the new Kia K5 prove there’s a lot of life left in this erstwhile mainstream segment. The midsize K5, an updated version of the company’s long-running Optima sedan, gets a stylishly redesigned exterior with a longer, lower look that makes it a sedan you’d actually like to be seen in. The passenger cabin is equally well done and is roomy enough for 4 adults to share the space in comfort. The K5 is also a strong value proposition, with a long list of desirable standard features including, in our test vehicle, bright LED headlights, heated and ventilated front seats, and an easyto- use infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Our test car came equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (180 hp) that trades just-adequate acceleration for good fuel economy. By contrast, the performance-oriented GT version with its 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (290 hp) delivers all the power most people could ever want. Figure in an impressive 5-year/60,000-mile factory warranty and a full complement of advanced safety features, and the Kia K5 becomes an attractive, practical, value-oriented choice.