I’m into the all-new Kia GT K5 GT line. K5 is the name the outgoing Optima was called in other regions. This was especially true in Korea. This is the first time that name is being used in the United States. This is actually an American made version of the K5. It’s made in West Point Georgia. I have had an opportunity to visit Kia’s factory in Sohari, in South Korea. I wrote about my experiences here.
The engine and the transmission and about 35% of the content still come from Korea. The GT has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic.
It features 180 HP and 191 lb-ft of torque. It is very peppy and fuel-efficient. You get an EPA rated 37 MPG on the highway. There’s a lot of safety technology like forward collision and adaptive cruise control. It also has an electronic break with auto hold. I enjoyed four driving modes, so you have smart, normal, sport, and custom. In regards to telematics, it has an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
As usual, I’ve been listening to music I did with the Carnegie Mellon Music department to gauge sound quality. With Android Auto, you can use the YouTube music app. The K5 is very comfortable to drive. I like the integrated wireless charging. That’s been pretty cool for me to charge an extra mobile device.
With a sports-inspired steering wheel, the K5 GT line also features; 18-in sport alloy wheels, a cloth and leatherette seat trim, power driver seats, and even a rear spoiler. Design-wise the K5 is sleek looking. I like the sports coupe look. The K5 is a front-wheel-drive vehicle with an available all-wheel-drive system. The base price on the model I drove was $25,390.
Special passion red paint and an additional panoramic roof added another $1600. With delivery, it came out to $28,400. The K5 looks way more expensive and premium. Its also quite roomy and comfortable. For more information visit www.kia.com.