5 Causes The Kia K5 Is A Higher Buy Than A Toyota Camry

With regards to midsize sedans from Asian carmakers, Toyota’s Camry is nearly at all times the primary to come back to thoughts. American patrons love the perceived high quality, reliability, and the automobile’s capacity to retain worth on the used market, regardless of there being some superior alternate options to the Toyota Camry. 

Over the previous 15 years, the Koreans managed to attain what the Japanese did some 50 years in the past. At this time, many Hyundai and Kia fashions are seemed on as worthy alternate options to their rivals, however I feel the Kia K5 goes additional and is definitely in a position to give the Camry a superb spanking. I came upon 5 issues the K5 does higher than its Japanese rival.

Extra automobile for much less cash

Korean carmakers are at present doing an excellent job of promoting you a variety of vehicles for the cash. A number of weeks in the past, I used to be pleasantly stunned by the Kia K4’s easy mix of some old-school and modern options, however the K5 takes this to a different degree. The Korean sedan wins the numbers recreation with the Toyota Camry, throughout virtually all facets.

Whereas equally priced, the bottom Kia K5’s $28,365 makes it $1,630 cheaper than the bottom Toyota Camry – $29,985. However virtually no one buys a base-model automobile. The 2025 Kia K5 tops out at $35,865 whereas the range-topping Camry will set you again $37,620. That mentioned, there are at present nice offers on each fashions for much less. 

Right here’s how the 2 vehicles measure up towards one another by way of dimensions

2025 Kia K5 dimensions

• Wheelbase – 112.2 inches

• Size – 193.1 inches

• Width – 73.2 inches

• Top – 56.9 inches

• Curb weight – 3,230-3.291 kilos (FWD)/ 3,463 kilos (AWD)

• Headroom (entrance/rear) – 40.2/37.8 inches

• Headroom (entrance/ rear) with panoramic sunroof – 38.4/37.4 inches

• Legroom (entrance/rear) – 46.1/35.2 inches

• Hiproom – (entrance/rear) – 56.6/56.6 inches

• Cargo capability – 15.6 cubic ft

2025 Toyota Camry dimensions

• Wheelbase – 111.2 inches

• Size – 193.7 inches

• Width – 72.4 inches

• Top – 56.9 inches

• Curb weight – 3,494 kilos

• Headroom (entrance/rear) – 38.3/37.6 inches

• Headroom (entrance/ rear) with panoramic sunroof – 37.5/37.6 inches

• Legroom (entrance/rear) – 42.1/38 inches

• Hiproom – (entrance/rear) – 55.4/54.6 inches

• Cargo capability – 15.1 cubic ft

Each fashions supply beneficiant customary gear, however the K5 offers you a bigger infotainment display free of charge

Whereas customary gear is complete for each the Kia K5 and Toyota Camry, the Korean sedan is a little more beneficiant. For starters, you get a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as customary on the K5. The Camry additionally affords a 12.3-inch display, however until you go for it, you’ll have to accept the usual 8.0-inch equal. 

I’m a agency believer that nothing ages a automobile fairly like expertise, but when you’ll have a display protruding of the dashboard, it would as properly be a bigger one. By the best way, each sedans include wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher guarantee

At present, the Korean carmakers are unbeatable by way of guarantee. Within the case of the Kia K5, you might be getting a fundamental guarantee of 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), accompanied by a 10-year drivetrain guarantee, and a five-year or 100,000-mile rust guarantee.

In the meantime, Toyota affords a three-year or 36,000-mile fundamental guarantee on the Camry, with a five-year or 60,000-mile drivetrain guarantee, and since the 2025 Toyota Camry is now a hybrid-only mannequin, an eight-year or 100,000-mile guarantee for the hybrid parts.

Superior efficiency in virtually all facets, however one

Toyota retired the Camry TRD in 2024, and regardless of the model not too long ago exhibiting the motorsport-inspired Camry GT-S that one nonetheless has the mannequin’s range-topping, 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain with 232 horsepower. Toyota Camry appears to, as soon as once more, cater solely to the typical commuter, leaving lovers in search of a dependable sporty sedan someplace else. 

In the meantime, Kia K5 affords two variants of its personal 2.5-liter unit. The normally-aspirated model places out 191 horsepower at 6,100 RPM and 181.5 pound-feet at 4,000 RPM, whereas the turbocharged model within the GT, packs 290 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 311 pound-feet at 1,650-4,000 RPM.

Whereas essentially the most succesful model of the 2025 Toyota Camry sprints to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, the turbocharged Kia K5 takes as little as 5.2 seconds. 

The place the Toyota Camry actually steals the present from its Korean rival is within the gasoline economic system division. Whereas essentially the most frugal iteration of the Kia K5 will get 30 mpg mixed in line with the EPA cycle, the hybrid-only Toyota Camry can obtain as much as 51 mpg mixed.

Higher transmission choices

For my part, the transmission choices on the Kia K5 are superior to what you get within the Camry, no less than by way of the texture. Whether or not you go for the 225 or 232-horsepower variant of the Japanese mannequin, you at all times get the model’s steady variable transmission (CVT). Granted, it’s the most refined CVT, at present made, however I by no means favored  the texture of any of them. In contrast to another Toyota fashions, the transmission within the Camry doesn’t supply a guide mannequin.

In the meantime, the Kia K5 offers  you choices, and I feel they’re much higher. The normally-aspirated engine is paired with a conventional, eight-speed computerized whereas the turbocharged Kia K5 GT comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). You’re additionally given the choice to shift the gears manually (both with the paddles or from the shifter).

Dimitar Angelov‘s automotive pursuits made him an knowledgeable in all kinds of automobiles. Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his coronary heart, though efficiency vehicles generally are his favourite section, which is why he’s always looking out for the very best offers available on the market. Dimitar Angelov’s automobile ardour and knack for the written phrase led him to finish a Grasp of Arts in Media and Communications, and basic automobile restoration. Dim is blissful to get behind the wheel of any automobile and share his impressions. You may comply with Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Fb.

Picture supply: 2025 Kia K5, 2025 Toyota Camry