I’ve owned Honda and Toyota cars but I’m thinking about getting something a bit cheaper. The K5 looks nice, but is it reliable?
I bought a 2021 GT-Line in July of 2020. I have about 36K miles on it and haven’t had any mechanical issues. Just replaced the tires this past November.
Adair said:
I bought a 2021 GT-Line in July of 2020. I have about 36K miles on it and haven’t had any mechanical issues. Just replaced the tires this past November.
Literally the same in every way as what you just said.
The 2.5 liter engine has been around for a few years now, and there doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue with them. They’re in the following Kia and Hyundai models: Sportage, K5, Sorento, Santa Fe, Tucson, Santa Cruz, and Sonata. I’ve heard about people hitting 70k, 80k, and even 100k miles on these models without any major engine problems. If the K5 comes with a DCT (dual-clutch transmission) in any trim, I’d suggest avoiding it since Kia and Hyundai DCTs have had widespread issues. Make sure to buy a certified pre-owned or brand new model to get the 10-year, 100k mile warranty for peace of mind.
@Nash
The K5 GT has a DCT, while the GT-Line and other models do not.
@Nash
There was an issue with the 1.6L DCT, but the 2.5L DCT doesn’t seem to have any major problems.
I have a 2022 K5 with only 15k miles on it, and I haven’t had any issues. It’s been a lot of fun to drive!
My girlfriend and I have leased 4 Kia Optimas between us, and we’ve never had any issues.
It’s too new to tell yet.
I have a 2021 LX with 43,000 miles, and I haven’t had any issues. I do full synthetic oil changes every 6,000 miles, and it gets about 35-40 mpg.
Kias are not reliable. They’re just not built to last. The interior and exterior styling are great, but they cut corners on the mechanical parts. I bought a 2017 Sorento brand new, and it was one of the worst mistakes I’ve made.
@Ori
That’s not true.
@Ori
Comparing a 2017 Sorento with the 2024 K5 is like comparing apples to oranges. You also should have gotten the V6 version.
Vanya said:
@Ori
Comparing a 2017 Sorento with the 2024 K5 is like comparing apples to oranges. You also should have gotten the V6 version.
Yeah, that’s how I was convinced to get the 2017. They told me it was a huge improvement over the 2008 model, but it’s still a bad vehicle. Next time you drive, see how many 10-year-old Kias you can spot. You won’t see many.
@Ori
You should have gone with the V6. If you did, you’d still be driving it. You can spot a lot of 2014 Kias on the road, and they’re great cars. In fact, I have a 2015 Kia that’s almost 10 years old. So, I don’t agree with what you said. Kias are solid, and they get stolen because they’re good cars. 
@Vanya
I don’t see many 2014s on the road. Anyway, I spent the extra money and got a RAV4. Can’t wait to be done with these cars.
Ori said:
@Vanya
I don’t see many 2014s on the road. Anyway, I spent the extra money and got a RAV4. Can’t wait to be done with these cars.
You’re driving a car with a worse engine. You should’ve spent more to get a V6. People are getting over 300k miles out of those engines.
What does ‘reliable’ mean? If you read the comments, they all seem good but only in the last 3 years. Does that seem reliable, or does it just mean the cars haven’t had enough time to fail? I bet it’s the latter. If you buy a Kia, start saving money for when it falls apart.
@Uma
I’ve had my Kia for 9 years, and nothing has fallen apart yet. The K5 hasn’t been out long enough for anyone to have it for more than 3 years, so it’s hard to say how reliable it is.
zenithzackary said:
@Uma
The 1.6t engine has been out for 5+ years, so it’s been tested. It’s still doing well.
I think that’s the problem. Kia cars have had issues in the past, so it’s too soon to tell if the K5 will be reliable. I’m betting it’s just as unreliable.