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Kia Optima K5 2.0 (A) Review

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This is an old car model that is no longer for sale by the local distributor since Aug 2015.
Editor Review
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Kia Optima K5 2.0 (A) Review
19 Oct 2011  |  Kia Reviews
With its improved standard equipment, Kia has undeniably made the K5 an attractive wanderlust.
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   Consumer Reviews of Kia Optima K5
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4.0
 
11 Consumer Reviews
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Comfort
4.0 Reliability
3.5
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Handling
3.5 Features
4.5
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Exterior Styling
4.5 Interior Design
4.0
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Value for money
4.0 Engine Performance
3.5

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grizzlyc
Neutral Newbie
1 reviews
5 points
7 forum posts Joined on 06-Jun-2015
Impressed with the Koreans  Posted on 09 Jul 2015
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 5.0
Value for money 5.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
Have been driving K5 2.0 for about a month now and I am very impressed with the Koreans. The design of the car both interior and exterior wise has been nicely designed along with the features packed in the car, it's really worth the price. The car alone looks very sporty from outside. Rear seat passengers sits comfortably behind with plenty of leg room though if 3 over size adults were to sit behind, it would be a little squeezy. Driver seat is comfortable with its electronic seat adjustments with lumbar support. Center console is slightly tilt towards the driver which makes it convenient for the driver to access the info-tainment system. Having driven a 2.0 2006 camry before this, I must say that the K5 feels alot more comfortable and stable. This is mainly due to the fact the K5 lies low on the road and the handling makes it much more stable. In terms of power wise, k5 is just a normal 2.0L with no turbocharge. If Kia were to bring in the 1.6L/2.0L turbo model, I would believe the sale of the car would improve. If you are looking for comfort, style, features and not picky about engine performance and so so fuel comsumption, K5 is definitely a yes yes.

What I like
1. Tilted info-tainment system
2. Lots of leg room space
3. Sporty front grill
4. Steering wheel
5. Price for the features given
6. Nice 18" sports rims

What I do not like
1. So-so fuel comsumption. Getting 10.8-11.2km/L. Will update again after a few months.
2. Engine not powerful and abit noisy
3. No turbo version in SG
4. With this kind of pricing compared to the other brands, there's nothing else you can not like.


Hmsg
2nd Gear
6 reviews
159 points
279 forum posts Joined on 09-Jul-2008
Nice drive and features  Posted on 24 May 2015
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 3.0
Handling 4.0 Features 4.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 4.0
Value for money 4.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
Test drove the K5 earlier this month. One of the more affordable Cat B cars as compared to the rest. Nice balance of features, performance and price.

What I like
The features have improved by a lot compared to earlier Cat B models. The seats are very comfortable and the dashboard info just nice without being overloaded.

What I do not like
Engine is a bit noisy and the pick up can be better. I feel that instead of the "KIA", replace it with a logo will be better.


Chrissee83
Neutral Newbie
1 reviews
0 points
0 forum posts Joined on 13-Jan-2012
Most attractive Korean car with all the features you need  Posted on 04 Nov 2014
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Comfort 5.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 4.0
Exterior Styling 4.0 Interior Design 5.0
Value for money 4.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
I took no longer than 30 minutes to decide on this Korean beauty 2.5 years ago. It's sleek and sporty exterior, the spacious interior and the sheer number of features that you wouldn't have imagined from an Asian manufacturer. I haven't even got started with the drivetrain.

The ride was smooth but not the quietest. If you're looking for a car packed with power and torque, I suppose K5 might not be your favourite choice, but it is definitely a comfortable ride.

Well, to be honest, I wouldn't have considered a Kia or any Korean marquee 5 years ago - the reliability, the look and feel wasn't right.

I guess the ripple effect of the Korean wave definitely moved into the automotive industry and is here to stay. With the latest face-lift and added boost with a 2.4L variant, I give my two-thumbs up for this baby.

What I like
The features, the muscles you hardly find from the reliable Japanese competition. It has everything, and in fact, more than what you may get from a continental car. I must say, its reliability has gone up many notches from its predecessor.

What I do not like
Well, 2.5 years ago and even now, I wished they brought the sporty SX model with its 274-hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder to Singapore. That would be a serious gamechanger. Oh well, not that it's suitable for Singapore roads anyway.


Edmundgan
Neutral Newbie
3 reviews
4 points
56 forum posts Joined on 25-Sep-2006
Kia K5 Optima FL 2000cc.. well featured cost effective 2000cc car  Posted on 08 Sep 2014
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 3.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 4.0
Value for money 4.0 Engine Performance 3.0
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Review
Have been hunting for a 2L cost effective full featured car since March 2014. The closest new variant of K5 is the Mazda 6. Nissan Trans is out for me as it's made in Thailand. Honda accord and Toyota Camry is too expensive as it's $150k++ for basic model. HYUNDAI i45 design is old.

While comparing between Mazda 6 and Kia K5, I realised that for the same specs( electric seat, xenon head light as etc..) , I need to pay around $10k more. After the test driving both car, I decided to go for K5 as it's valuable for $. I realised that I am paying for a Korean car price with continental feel and features.

K5 provides all the features( large boot, xenon head light, DRL and etc..etc

The exterior of k5 is futuristic and suave. The tiger grille is distinctive and nice. The DRL and LED fog light is stunning and very useful in dim places. Boot is big and can fit 5 golf bags. It definitely solved my grocery problem on weekends.

Although the 2000cc does not come with Sun roof , ventilated seats ,blind spot.assistant.( available in 2400cc) , the interior is comfortable both for the driver and passengers. One key note is that the seat for the front passenger is low and the seat cannot be adjusted higher.

From the driver seat perspective, this car is driver orientated w the console titled towards the driver. Majority of the controls are on the steering wheel. I like it coz I am a gadget man..

Coming from a 1.4turbo car, the paddle shift is the only way to drive fast. However the steering is very light.

K5 is the car for me at that moment with my budget.. value for $ for all the gadgets I want

What I like
1.steering wheel control
2. price ( would be better if COE is lower, bought at $65k coe)
3. Full packed feature ( auto.xenon headlights)
4. Boot
5. Exterior looks
6. Electric seat for driver
7. Good buying experience, Lance is genuine and accomdating.
8. 18" wheels with nice factory rims

What I do not like
1. After market head unit( do not choose this!!, it's an add on option, suspect that it's China made)
2. To driver fast, you need to type on paddle shift.
3. No body kit
4. Steering wheel too light


Teatreeoil
1st Gear
1 reviews
37 points
59 forum posts Joined on 06-Mar-2014
Optima K5 2014 2.4 liters engine  Posted on 29 Mar 2014
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Comfort 3.0 Reliability 3.0
Handling 3.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 4.0 Interior Design 3.0
Value for money 2.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
I have done some comparisons between the Japanese cars and Korean cars before deciding giving the K5 a go. The models I considered are the teana, Camry, Mazda 6 and accord. Even though Japanese brands have been considered by many as more reliable, I decided to get the k5 for its gadgets as I'm more of a gadget person.

Comfort wise I still think the teana seats are better. Driving experience wise I feel u must go test drive all to see which one connects with u.

What I like
Led lights, hid lights, ventilated seats for the front passengers, ample rear space for passengers, sun and moon roof, shift paddlers. 18 inch rims.

What I do not like
Fuel consumption. Paper value is 11.8 km/liter. So far I have only managed to get about 8 to 8.5 km/liter. Light footer and mostly city drive. Occasional sprints on the road only when overtaking. Will update again if the fuel consumption gets better so as to give a fairer assessment.

Sale executive makes the purchase experience more profit orientated rather than customer orientated. I do suggest u prepare what u want and need for the price and freebies before u head to the showroom and before u sign the contract. After sales feedback to the se and it will always be said that things are not within their control and they are not aware of certain things. Do go to both the ubi and Leng kee showrooms to discuss the terms and conditions before u test drive. Once u sign the document to purchase the car then nothing much can be changed. Do ask about the promotion first before nego the price for your ride.


Chinalim
Neutral Newbie
8 reviews
5 points
50 forum posts Joined on 20-Oct-2008
K5 Optimised for great looks & head turning experiences  Posted on 17 Oct 2012
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 3.0
Handling 3.0 Features 4.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 4.0
Value for money 4.0 Engine Performance 3.0
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Review
Before I got behind the steering for a test drive, I saw it featured on 2010 Korean series "Athena".

I was so drawn to it by its good looking styling & lines. What was most prominent about the K5 was its front LED lights (which is a standard item ",)... It seems as though the car is always on the move even when it's parked.

I'm even more impressed with the interior features & equipment as it matches or even bested most European cars on the same category.

I even find a lot of room for rear seats after I adjusted the driver's position (FYI, I'm not short to begin with :p)... That's another + point.

Finally, I put the car out for a drive... drove it... & to my disappoinment there was a significant frown on my face as the 2.0L engine was under-powered & the steering felt uncertain. It felt as though the K5 was just another utility vehicle to get people from point to point. Honestly, this is a kind if car I will not look forward to drive it - it is not a driver's car (if u know what I mean).

My conclusion, given the current price (including high COE) it is definitely worth putting your signature on the dotted lines. There is always a BUT... as there are a few European options like Citroen, Renault & VW that you might find it as an option.

Seriously, if you're not knick about its engine performance... GO FOR GREAT LOOKS, hi-5 for K5!

What I like
Great looks...
Ample space...
Lots of equipment & features...
Big rims... Yeah sportier look!

What I do not like
Engine performance...
Steering handling...


Mervynwm
1st Gear
147 reviews
76 points
65 forum posts Joined on 15-Mar-2009
The feature packed K5.  Posted on 08 Feb 2012
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 4.0 Interior Design 4.0
Value for money 4.0 Engine Performance 3.0
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Review
Went to Ubi showroom to try out this highly graded K5...

The exterior styling certainly looks nice and classy, the rims design is also captivating (but I will change design if to get, too common on the road).

Sitting in it, it comes with driver and passenger electric seats which you don't find in other makes...

Features like auto wipers and headlights are of good cause as other Asian makes tend to have one of them only, wonder why is this so....

Most loved is the panaromic roof which the front is a sunroof while the back is moonroof, letting passengers or even the driver itself enjoys the sky views.

Other features like bluetooth control on steering, iPod, paddle shift, push start (nice), rear aircon (can't remember if have) and the mounted in GPS.

The drive was ok, except the engine tend to roar it out when rev...maybe is the insulation of the car.

Turning bodyroll is minimum and cruising is pretty smooth on a stretch (for a Korean car).

Overall, from the features given, its a best deal comparing to many other Asian makes and with all these packed in, if you go conti, most likely have to pay heafty price for it.

SO, if you are ok with Korean make, WHY not consider the K5 ?

What I like
Many features for the price you pay for.

What I do not like
Engine tend to roar when rev.


Hotnyh
3rd Gear
6 reviews
426 points
381 forum posts Joined on 02-Aug-2006
European style kimchi  Posted on 14 Jun 2011
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 4.0 Interior Design 3.0
Value for money 5.0 Engine Performance 3.0
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Review
The main thing about the K5 is definitely the way it looks. This is followed by the shed load of equipment it comes with.
It really looks distinctive but I haven't quite made up my mind if it's all good. Up close it seems overly fussy- not as odd looking as the front end of an i45 but it just looks a bit too contrived.
Still I believe it will get admiring glances most of the time.
The hi spec model was not available for testing so the one I took out had no panoramic roof, HIDs etc.
The car doesn't feel that wide when driving though it is very long when parking (it's longer than a Camry). The test drive car also didn't have the rear view camera to help.
The engine sound is muted but does not have a very nice character to it. Performance is adequate for town driving but may be lacking for cross country drives up North.
The rear isn't as spacious as it looks from the outside. Certainly the Camry is better for this... but at $10K less than a 2L Camry and with lots more toys, it is a better buy.

What I like
Looks (somewhat)
Equipment level is amazing

What I do not like
Looks (somewhat)- but still better than an i45


Gkim
Neutral Newbie
1 reviews
0 points
0 forum posts Joined on 20-Mar-2011
Great Options but not the Right Options  Posted on 20 Mar 2011
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Comfort 4.0 Reliability 3.0
Handling 3.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 3.0
Value for money 5.0 Engine Performance 3.0
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Review
All-black interior and no cream choice is not a good thing. The black trim only-option looks "beng" in a sporty-upmarket-beng style. Door handles feel hollow. The boot lid has very sharp edges. But overall, it's a great looking machine... at a good price point.

What I like
Sleek elegant styling.

What I do not like
Interior design and general quality.


Sohboonguan
1st Gear
4 reviews
61 points
1526 forum posts Joined on 17-Apr-2009
Impressive Car  Posted on 28 Feb 2011
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Comfort 5.0 Reliability 3.0
Handling 5.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 4.0
Value for money 5.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
Tested drive the car on 27 Feb.
Very impressive, the features, the function, the styling, the drive feel...
Wow i must said, my my forte parking there lose out so much...
even in the show room the Koup parking beside seem pretty lose out.
K5 is the car that will outshine any other car out there in the same league within the price range.
One of the car to own, maybe you guys should try it for yourself.

What I like
everything include styling, features, functions, drive feel.

What I do not like
Price...
It is out of my budget.
Stupid COE...
Feel like i'm buy the paper when compare to my car bought back in 2009.
:(


S10007071
Neutral Newbie
1 reviews
0 points
0 forum posts Joined on 01-Nov-2010
Best equipped 2.0 car in town~!  Posted on 30 Jan 2011
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Comfort 5.0 Reliability 4.0
Handling 4.0 Features 5.0
Exterior Styling 5.0 Interior Design 5.0
Value for money 5.0 Engine Performance 4.0
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Review
test drive yesterday, shocked by the interior and the driving pleasure, should be one of the best in town!

What I like
5-star safety
5-year unlimited warranty
best equipped 2.0 car (safety feature, 18" Sport Rims with 17''vent disc brake and peddle shifters)
best exterior styling -- one of the best I've seen for a 2.0 ltr car
best interior design (compare to camry,i45)
FC -- expect to be the same as 2.0 i45 due to the similar curb weight and identical engine

What I do not like
Nothing~~~
At this kind of price, what else do you expect?
If somebody does not believe me, go to book your test drive!

Kia Optima K5
4 stars - based on 11 reviews