View Photos of the 2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
Kia's new K5 GT is compelling as a sporty family sedan, but it'd be even better if it had sufficient traction to wrangle its 290 horsepower.
With 290 horses from a 2.5-liter turbo-four, the 2021 Kia K5 GT makes plenty of power for a front-wheel-drive family sedan. What it lacks is sufficient traction to effectively deploy that grunt without smoking its front tires.
The K5 GT's turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four is shared with the Hyundai Sonata N Line and the Genesis G80 and GV80.
Tuned for instant torque, the K5 GT's engine develops 311 pound-feet at only 1650 rpm.
The K5 GT's standard eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has a launch-control feature, which is very useful in achieving the best acceleration times.
The GT's Sport Plus drive mode (unavailable on the lesser K5 GT-Line) disables its traction control. Prepare to smoke the tires across every intersection.
Our K5 GT test car did the 60-mph dash in a very respectable 5.2 seconds.
At an as-tested $35,835, the K5 GT is a good value, but it's a little more expensive than a rear-wheel-drive Kia Stinger GT-Line.
In frigid Michigan February temperatures, our best acceleration times came after a drag-strip-style burnout to warm and clean the front tires.
Although Kia makes all-wheel drive available on the K5 GT-Line, which produces only 180 horsepower, the far more powerful GT model is front-drive only.
A 255-hp base Kia Stinger can't keep up with the K5 GT in a straight line, but we suspect it would have an advantage around corners.
Tuned for instant torque, the K5 GT's engine develops 311 pound-feet at only 1650 rpm.
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
2021 Kia K5 GT 2.5T
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