- Pricing for the 2025 Kia K5 is out, and the mid-size sedan’s EX trim level now starts $5000 more than before at $35,645.
- The EX’s price rises as the $3600 Premium package is now standard, bringing a new curved dash-mounted display, a Bose stereo, 10-way power driver’s seat, and more.
- The rest of the lineup’s pricing rises too, with the entry-level LXS up $1400 to $28,145 and the top-spec GT’s up $2000 to $35,145.
The 2025 Kia K5 has received various updates, from design changes to an entirely new base engine. While we learned about those revisions earlier this year, Kia has not released pricing for its mid-size sedan. Along with the relatively normal year-over-year increases, the popular EX trim level is an outlier, as its staring price rises a sizable $5000 to $35,645.
EX Costs More but Has More
Although it might look shocking, the reason for the K5 EX’s is pretty obvious. For 2025, it comes standard with the previously optional Premium package, which last year cost $3600. That includes a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings, a 360-degree camera system, a heated steering wheel, and extra driver-assistance features. The latter includes front and rear parking sensors and a camera view that shows blind spots in the gauge cluster, which is part of a new 12.0-inch display that shares a curved piece of glass with the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
As for the rest of the Kia K5 lineup, prices are also up, but by smaller margins than the EX. The LXs now starts at $28,145, which is up $1400 versus last year. The front-wheel-drive GT-Line rises by $900 to $29,145, with the optional all-wheel-drive system adding $1600 like before. Interestingly, the sporty GT model starts at $35,145. That’s still a sizable $2000 more than before, but despite its top billing, its starting price is now $500 cheaper than the EX.
Of course, it’s quite easy for the 2025 Kia K5 GT to cost more by simply opting for the $4400 GT1 package. It includes the same upgraded equipment that’s now standard on the EX, including ventilated front seats and a digital key. The GT is also the only K5 model to feature the 290-hp 2.5-liter turbo four and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The other K5 models use a new-for-2025 naturally aspirated 2.5-liter that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While that’s an extra 11 horses compared with the outgoing 180-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the new engine sacrifices 14 pound-feet. An eight-speed automatic remains the lone transmission.
The 2025 Kia K5 is slated to reach dealerships sometime in the second quarter of this year.
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.