2025 Kia K5 Sedan Swaps Engines and Adds Displacement

• Kia is moving away from the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder for 2025 K5 sedans and is switching to a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4.
  

• The 2025 Kia K5 GT will still feature the turbocharged 2.5-liter I4 that sends 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

• The new, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter base powertrain sends 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic.

Formerly carrying the Optima badge, the now-named Kia K5 is getting some updates for 2025. This fifth-generation sedan is swapping out the current model’s base 1.6-liter turbocharged powertrain for a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. Joining the powertrain shake-up is revised styling, an updated interior, and added tech.

The new base powertrain for the ’25 Kia K5 is now the aforementioned 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that sends 191 hp and 181 lb-ft through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

From there, power travels to either the front or through all four wheels. While Kia dropped the 1.6-liter turbo I4 from the lineup, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder still sits under the hood of the more potent K5 GT. Output is carried over from the current K5, which means it still makes 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.

The team at Kia also reworked the K5 sedan styling for ’25. This updated sedan sees new, standard LED headlamps, a new front fascia, new taillights, and a revised rear bumper cover.

On the inside, the ’25 Kia K5 will feature a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen media system. When combined with the available 12-inch digital instrument cluster, the two screens sit behind a single, curved pane of glass.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard issue. Kia also notes the K5 sedan’s center console sees some updates and now sports larger cupholders and USB-C charging ports.

The ’25 Kia K5 also adds some driver-assistance features and includes Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality as standard. Base LXS-trim K5 sedans also get parking distance warning in forward and reverse.

Moving to the EX and GT-Line sedans will net you standard navigation-based smart cruise control and highway driving assist. At the top, the Kia K5 GT adds a digital key, standard blind-spot monitor and 19-inch alloy wheels.

So how is the K5 doing on the sales front? Deliveries of 64,772 units in 2023 in the US put it well behind the top-selling midsize car, the Toyota Camry (290,649 units), followed in order by the Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, and Nissan Altima. Then comes the K5, which outsells its Hyundai Sonata platform mate, the Toyota Prius, and the Subaru Legacy in a segment that has been contracting for years.

Kia hasn’t revealed pricing for the updated K5, but with extra standard equipment will likely come a bump in price. Currently, a Kia K5 sedan will set you back at least $26,745. If the ’25 Kia K5 sedan hits dealers for around $28,000, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

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