2021 Kia K5 GT: A Street Machine for the Family

Built for Speed, Keeps It Comfy

Whether it\’s long drives to see family another state or two over, or errands around town with your mom, the Kia K5 GT was made for such experiences. Its trunk can hold several bags of groceries, and enough luggage for a two-week trip (depending on your packing habits, anyway). Over the road, the turbo-four leaps into action with enough lead in the foot, while the suspension and seating provides good comfort, no matter how far you go.

That turbo-four isn\’t too thirsty for fuel, either. The EPA says the K5 GT gets an combined 27 mpg, 24 in the city, 32 on the open road. I managed a combined average of 32 mpg, hitting 40 mpg at one point during my travels to Kentucky. And as gas prices hang out around $3/gallon, that is a huge plus for a ride that\’s as fun as it is efficient.

In Closing

A few months ago, I (literally) chilled with the Kia K5 GT-Line, whose all-wheel drive system helped handle what a Southwest Virginia winter threw at it. The GT, meanwhile, took on the humid summer weather like a champ, even pulling me through a severe rain storm on my way back to my Old Dominion home.

Weather aside, the GT, like the GT-Line before, should be on your shortlist of grand tourers for the adventures ahead, especially if you prefer more power, even if all of it remains up front.

If the GT had all-wheel drive, through, it would definitely pull up past the GT-Line as the top choice of the K5 family. As it stands, it\’s a flip of a coin. Heads: lots of power. Tails: power goes to the corners. Call it in the air.

Photos: Aubernon Highway/Cameron Aubernon