With its attractive accommodations, confident performance, and handsome curb appeal, the Kia K5 is a compelling contender in the midsize car class. It offers abundant amenities and cutting-edge tech features, including many standard driver aids. It's also satisfying to drive, especially in its high-power GT trim. While there are numerous options in the midsize segment, the Kia K5's well-rounded blend of style, practicality, and drivability is hard to beat. Here's a quick look at how it compares in a few key areas to a long-running class competitor, the Toyota Camry.
2024 Kia K5 vs. Toyota Camry: Design and Interior
- The Kia K5 exhibits a distinctive blend of refinement and sportiness, with clean lines, dynamic lighting clusters, and a bold front fascia. The Toyota Camry has aggressive styling of its own, but it's not as sleek as the K5, and some may find the front end to look overly busy.
- While both sedans are nicely accommodating, the Kia K5's cabin offers nearly five cubic feet more passenger volume than the Toyota Camry. Taller drivers, in particular, will appreciate the K5's significant front-row space advantage. Compared to the Camry, the K5 boasts 1.9 more inches of front headroom and a full four inches more front legroom.
- Both cars provide the helpful practicality of a sizable trunk. However, the Kia K5 has one of the segment's largest cargo areas, offering 16 cubic feet to the Toyota Camry's 15.1 cubes.
2024 Kia K5 vs. Toyota Camry: Performance
Both vehicles offer a choice of powertrains, as well as optional all-wheel drive for drivers seeking more surefooted handling in various conditions. The Kia K5's standard engine is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. While the K5 has less horsepower than the Camry's base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (180 vs. 203), it generates more torque (195 vs. 184 pound-feet). The K5's torque advantage and lighter curb weight result in fast acceleration. In Car and Driver's drivers testing, the 1.6-liter K5 hit 60 mph from a standstill in 7.0 seconds flat, while the 2.5-liter Camry needed 7.6 seconds.
The story is similar when comparing each sedan's sporty upgrade. The Kia K5 GT's 2.5-liter turbo-four produces 11 less horsepower than the Toyota Camry TRD (290 vs. 301). However, its 311 pound-feet of torque greatly exceeds the Camry TRD's 267 pound-feet. With the addition of a wet-type 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the K5 GT clocked a Car and Driver-tested zero-to-60 time of 5.2 seconds compared to the Camry TRD's 5.6 seconds.
2024 Kia K5 vs. Toyota Camry: Driver Aids
The Kia K5 comes standard with a comprehensive roster of Kia Drive Wise safety technologies, including:
- Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Lane Following Assist
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Driver Attention Warning with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert
- Rear Occupant Alert
- Safe Exit Assist
The Camry's base trim includes a pre-collision system, lane-keeping/lane-tracing assistance, and a rear seat reminder. However, its blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems require moving up a few tiers, and they don't include collision mitigation. Driver Attention Warning, Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, and Safe Exit Assist aren't available in the Camry lineup.
2024 Kia K5 vs. Toyota Camry: Features
- The Kia K5's base trim includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. All other tiers upgrade to a 10.25-inch infotainment display with advanced navigation. The Toyota Camry comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, while the larger 9-inch display is reserved for XLE and higher grades.
- Both models come standard with dual-zone automatic climate control. However, the K5's system lets you pre-climatize the cabin through the Kia Access App, a feature the Camry doesn't offer.
- The K5 has standard proximity keyless access and a hands-free trunk opener. The Camry has these, but they're only standard on higher trims.
- The Kia K5 has an available memory system for the driver's seat and side mirrors, something the Camry doesn't offer
Test-Drive the 2024 Kia K5 near Spring Valley, NY
Reach out to Liberty Kia for more information about the 2024 Kia K5's available features, financing opportunities, and reservation options. If you'd like to see firsthand what makes the K5 a great pick for your next daily driver, we welcome you to visit us in Ramsey, NJ, to check out our new Kia inventory. We'd love to show you around.
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