Kia -The New K5-

If you look back at Kia's midsize sedan called the K5 (known worldwide as the Optima), you could be forgiven thinking that it is one of the most successful midsize sedans sold in South Korea. The fact is though, it isn't because ever since the ninth generation Camry arrived in South Korea, it toppled down every single car in its category, including the Kia K5, thus winning the 2013 South Korean Car of the Year. The Koreans are not pleased...

So, since its world premiere in New York earlier in the year, Kia finally showcased The New K5 just in time for summer in South Korea and it's been built for one purpose: to offer mid-size sedan consumers new premium amenities and convenience upgrades, as well as a refinement of the world-class design that so completely transformed the brand.

2014 Kia K5

Now, when they said new, what they mean is that this is a "minor change" for this midsize sedan. It's a cosmetic facelift done for the K5 ever since its debut in April 2010. What Kia says that The New K5 is the cornerstone of Kia's design evolution and epitomizes the goal of producing cars that are highly attractive and value for money. Underneath the bonnet lies three different engine types;

First is the Nu 2.0L CVVL engine which produces 172PS of power. Second, a Nu 2.0 LPi engine that runs on liquefied petroleum, the same kind of fuel that was used to cook your meals, which produces 155PS of power when mated with an automatic or 157PS of power when mated with a manual transmission. And finally, for the enthusiasts, a more robust 2.0-liter Theta II turbo GDI (T-GDi) engine which delivers the power of a V6 while maintaining the fuel consumption of a 4-cylinder engine. 271 PS of power and 37.2kg-m of torque.

It's too complicated to explain why and I've been barred by Kia Motors from explaining them properly so instead, here comes a kindergarten explanation...

2014 Kia K5 interior

The issue was the way it handles and although Kia says that even though it has a performance on par with the other European midsize saloons, it's somewhat too confusing for newbies many but even though it's confusing, the dynamics is not quite bad. It still comes with a sportier suspension and a steering tuning, therefore delivering better handling and better driver feedback but as a concept, it's a bit too firm and it would rather faint at the wrong hands if you're not quite careful. What's new on The New K5 is this: the Drive Mode Select which allows the driver to adjust transmission shift points and steering weight, offering owners a customizable driving experience. You can select in either Normal, Sport, or Eco, respectively. Setting in Normal mode feels like...um...you're riding in a kiddie ride at your nearby convenience store. Eco Mode feels like...um...you were having a piggyback ride with your parents while you were a baby. And when set to Sport Mode, it's more like...you're getting fell off from the tail end because of the cloud density.

2014 Kia K5

And getting fell off from the tail end is the redesigned front and rear fascias and the brand's signature "Tiger Nose" grille. An updated rear diffusers and a sweeping trunk lid adds even more aerodynamics on the once-successful design, and lighting them up are striking front LED positioning and fog lights, along with clear, newly designed LED rear lamps. As for the interior, there's a new 4.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster on the dashboard, available 8-inch Navigation System, new seat designs, and a new steering wheel look.

And then, there's a The New Price; it's now 20,250,000 Korean Won for the entry level model up to 29,950,000 Korean Won for the top-of-the-line model.

Anyway, Toyota Motor Corporation, you and your Camry thingy. Your gauntlet has been picked up by a familiar foe from the Land of the Morning Calm...

Available colors: Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver, Platinum Graphite, Satin Metal, Abyss Blue, Smoky Blue, and Aurora Black Pearl.



Photo: Kia Motors