OverviewSpecifications
Kia K5
Kia · Cars · 2026
Kia K5 (2026)
90
⚠ 10 complaints
Status
Certified
Long track record, no issues found
Status Certified — verified clean safety record across 5+ years of official monitoring.
Specifications
Engine Size1.6L
Fuel TypeRegular
Transmission8 speed automatic
Combined MPG27 MPG
Kia K5 Comparison with Similar Vehicles
Kia K5Kia K5 (this vehicle)Hyundai Kona FWDHyundai Kona FWDToyota Corolla CrossToyota Corolla CrossGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon 2WDGMC Yukon 2WDBuick Encore GX AWDBuick Encore GX AWD
Price—$23,000–$31,000———$27,900
Engine Capacity1.6L2L2L3L3L1.3L
Fuel TypeRegularRegularRegularDieselDieselRegular
Transmission8 speed automaticAutomatic (AV-S1)Automatic (AV-S10)Automatic 10-spdAutomatic 10-spdAutomatic 9-spd
Body TypeSedanSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
About

The 2026 Kia K5 offers a compelling blend of efficiency and performance, boasting a turbocharged 1.6L engine that delivers 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. With impressive fuel economy ratings of 27 MPG combined and a certified safety status, it's a practical choice for daily driving.

Pros
  • Certified safety status
  • No recalls on record
  • Good highway MPG
  • Turbocharged engine performance
Cons
  • 10 complaints on record
  • Below average city MPG
Complaints10 total
KIA K5 2026 LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
medium
Submitted by [XXX], Authorized Representative for the owner. The vehicle has a physical defect in the ADAS forward-facing camera bracket caused by a dealer-concealed repair using industrial silicone adhesive. The bracket is now visibly sagging, causing misalignment that leads to intermittent Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) failure. Critically, the vehicle’s computer does NOT illuminate a warning light for this physical displacement ('silent failure'), posing a severe crash risk. An undisclosed aftermarket GPS tracker was also found installed, which is pending contract review. A third-party inspection report titled 'Repurchase Inspection (Silicon at Rearview Mirror)' confirms the non-OEM adhesive and physical sag. The dealer has refused to provide a safe replacement vehicle. This defect stems from a non-OEM repair performed prior to sale. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
KIA K5 2026 LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
low
Driver awareness warning goes off frequently. There is no way to desensitize it. As a result warnings are ignored. Dealer and manufacturer says there is not way to prevent this issue.
NHTSAUSApr 2026Source →
KIA K5 2026 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
low
The display is shows a "Check Oil Level" error. It comes on then goes off regularly. I have verified that the oil level is OK. Took it into the dealer and he said that this is a common issue and a software fix is coming. The car only has less than 2K miles. I depend on the engine displaying error messages, but they need to be real ones. Online complaints indicate that this is a common error and there seems to be no fix.
NHTSAUSMar 2026Source →
KIA K5 2026 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
medium
Kia has a known wiring‑harness defect that causes the low engine oil sensor to trigger incorrectly. Despite this, there has been no recall, and new vehicles are still being sold with the issue. The wiring harness is now on back order, leaving me without a car for weeks or longer. The vehicle has plenty of oil, and the dealership confirmed there are no engine problems, yet the warning light keeps coming back because of the faulty harness. This happened 1 day after buying this car new from the dealership lot.
NHTSAUSMar 2026Source →
KIA K5 2026 ENGINE
medium
The contact owns a 2026 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine harness failure. The contact was informed that the engine harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were ordered and would be delivered within a week. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the dealer would be contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 89.
NHTSAUSMar 2026Source →
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Status history
Uncertain→Certified31 May 2026
Lemon Score: 95. 7 data points. v3 scoring.
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