Mildly refreshed for the new model year, the North American version of the Kia K5 is making its public debut at the Chicago Auto Show.
The most important update comes under the hood. While the GT model will continue to be equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 290 hp (216 kW/294 PS) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) of torque, the standard model will get a new, naturally aspirated engine.
Gone is the turbocharged 1.6-liter unit, and in its place, Kia has opted for a 2.5-liter inline-four. The new base engine for the 2025 Kia K5 offers a sensible 191 hp (142 kW/193 PS), 11 horsepower more than the outgoing engine but the torque rating has dropped from 195 lb-ft (264 Nm) to 181 lb-ft (245 Nm).
Read: 2025 Kia K5 Facelift Breaks Cover With Funky LEDs And New Tech
The new-to-the-K5 engine can be optionally combined with all-wheel-drive when the sedan is equipped with the available GT-line package. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels as standard.
GT models also send power to the front wheels, but they do it through an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Other features include 19-inch wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli P-Zero tires, while GT-Line models get 18-inch tires, and the standard K5 comes with 16-inch wheels.
Kia has also updated the lighting signature with a design it calls the “Star Map LEDs.” These have new elements that spear downward at both the front and the rear, and give the K5 a slightly more modern look.
Inside, the updated K5 has received updates that give it a more minimalist appeal. The old dials have been eschewed in favor of the available panoramic curved display. It combines two 12.3-inch displays in front of the driver and the center of the dash. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard across the lineup.
The updated Kia also makes use of the new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit system, which the automaker claims is faster and smoother than the system it replaces. It also claims it’s more intuitive thanks to quick controls available at the swipe of a screen, and can be updated over the air.
The base model LXS trim now comes with smart cruise control, park distance, warning, and a forward collision avoidance system. The slightly higher EX trim, which Kia calls the K5’s most popular, will now come with a Bose premium audio, a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, Digital Key 2, a heated steering wheel, power-folding mirrors, and more.
Unfortunately, prices are not yet available for the 2025 Kia K5 but will be revealed closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date later this year.
