2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM Replaces the Kia Optima

 The all-new 2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM is actually what used to be the Kia Optima, but is now longer, lower, and wider than the original sedan. It offers a choice of two different turbocharged engines and available all-wheel drive.

Although several automakers have gotten rid of their family sedan offerings, putting faith in the increasingly popular crossover, Kia is coming on strong with the all-new mid-size K5. It improves on the old Optima by getting updated features, the more powerful and efficient engines, and being built on an all-new platform with fresh styling.

Just like its Optima predecessor, the 2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM is related mechanically to the Hyundai Sonata, and shares the same powertrains with it as well. However, this time around it's a bit more selective. At launch time, only one engine will be available, and it's a 1.6 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is in no way the Hyundai engine. Fuel economy is given as 27/37/31 mpg for city/highway/combined for most trims, with the base model getting about 1 mpg more. This is the engine with which AWD will be offered, which again, is different from its Hyundai cousin.

2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM: Power

The much more powerful 290 hp turbocharged, direct-injected 2.5-liter engine (shared with the Sonata N-Line), which delivers a substantial 311 lb-ft of torque, will be offered later this year on the K5 GT.  The GT version will host an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with front-wheel-drive to reach 0-60 in 5.8 seconds - yow! That's really fast for a family sedan!

However, the standard engine will get you around comfortably, although maybe not in such an exciting way as the bigger one. What will excite you is the outstanding comfort provided by the K5's soft and supple feeling suspension. The quiet powertrain and cabin offer a luxury sedan feel while still delivering great handling and braking. The 2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM has four driving modes - normal, eco, sport, and custom. Each mode changes the calibration of the steering and drivetrain just enough to get a somewhat different experience. For example, eco gets the best fuel economy, but sport delivers the quickest responses.

For the expected price, the interior of the K5 looks incredible! It's uncomplicated yet distinguished, and is fixed with a stylish cabin that's outright luxurious in higher trims. Attention to detail is apparent with premium looking faux wood accents, black trim on door panels and center console, and wireless charging to name a few.

The 2021 Kia K5 near Rio Rancho NM takes the exterior design from the old Optima and changes it to a sleek, fastback profile, giving an aggressive first impression. The "tiger nose grille" we've gotten used to is now longer and leaner, the same as the rest of the car. The roofline slants into the rear of the car, which now has a full-width taillight. The overall look is slightly menacing, daring, and attractive. Four trim levels should be initially available:  LX, LXS, GT-Line, and EX. The sportier K5 GT is expected later this fall.