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What's New for 2025?
It was already a looker, but the K5 gets some styling tweaks this year (including a new front fascia with standard LED running lights) and a redesigned dashboard with an available curved infotainment panel housing twin 12-inch displays. Under the hood, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter base engine replaces the old 1.6-liter turbocharged unit. The base price has increased by $1,400.
2025 K5 Selector
2025 Kia K5
FAST FACTS
"Although the K5 lacks a hybrid variant, it's otherwise very similar to the Hyundai Sonata, which means you can pick your favorite styling-wise and know you're getting largely the same car underneath. Sharing genes with the Sonata is a good thing, by the way, because this platform has become one of the more competitive entrants among family sedans. A significant refresh for 2025 takes the K5's game up a notch, adding sharper exterior styling along with a new single-frame infotainment module that stretches halfway across the dash and makes the K5 feel much more modern."—Ranked #4 out of 7 Midsize Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Kia K5 that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The entry-level 2025 K5 swaps the old turbocharged 1.6-liter engine for a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter unit shared with the Hyundai Sonata. It's a curious move, as the turbo engine got slightly better fuel economy (31 mpg vs. 30) and also had more torque. The new 2.5-liter engine does make 11 more horsepower, but you have to rev the engine higher to get the full effect, so it feels like a questionable swap overall. As with many Kias, you'll find that the best fuel economy is found on the base trim, in this case the LXS with its 16-inch wheels. The same powertrain (2.5 front-wheel drive) in higher trims loses 1 mpg across the board.
Adding all-wheel drive requires stepping up to the GT-Line trim, which is right up against $30k to start. This is the only engine that can be paired with AWD, by the way; the turbocharged 290-horsepower GT comes only with front-wheel drive.
The lovably absurd GT keeps blazing for 2025 with its 290-horsepower turbocharged engine, albeit after an $1,100 price hike. This is still about the most fun you can have behind the wheel of a family sedan, rivaled only by the closely related Sonata N-Line.
What are the different versions of the 2025 K5, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 K5 specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia K5 2.5 Front-Wheel Drive | $26,990 | Gas | 30 | 191 hp | 181 lb-ft |
| 2025 Kia K5 2.5 All-Wheel Drive | $29,590 | Gas | 27 | 191 hp | 181 lb-ft |
| 2025 Kia K5 GT (2.5T Front-Wheel Drive) | $33,090 | Gas | 27 | 290 hp | 311 lb-ft |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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