I can’t say much about long-term reliability since I just got my K5 a week ago. I was in the same situation as you, but I decided to go for the 2025 K5. My last car was a 2007 Honda Accord, which surprisingly had several engine problems.
I was looking at the K5, Sonata, and Mazda 3. I wanted an AWD for the winter, but I really like the look of sedans. The K5 has many features that its competitors lack, which was a big reason for my choice.
I’ve heard mixed thoughts on the 2021 to 2024 models, but I was impressed by how well it was built. Some people mentioned that the prior models felt incomplete inside, but this one feels luxurious every time I get in, and my friends think so too.
For engine reliability, I’ve been following Kia forums for a while and haven’t seen much regarding engine issues with the K5. Older Kias had issues, especially with a certain 2.4 engine, but since the 2020 models, feedback has been positive, and I haven’t heard much from newer owners. I know a bit about car maintenance, so I don’t think working on it will be hard if problems do come up.
Also, the warranty is impressive. The 100k/10 year warranty really helped me decide. I move around a lot and can’t always afford a new car quickly. I wanted to pick a vehicle that would last me at least 100k miles. If you plan to sell in four years like you did with your last car, you probably won’t hit any major problems within that time.
From what I understand from friends and coworkers who own Kias, as long as you keep your records, they are good about fixing issues.
In short, I think this car is great, the warranties are excellent, it has a lot of unique features, and if you keep it for a few years, you likely won’t run into serious problems. The new K5s are made in Korea, which I hear makes a difference.