Top Safety Pick +

2021 Kia K5

midsize car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles built after November 2020

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

The Kia K5 was introduced in the 2021 model year, replacing the Optima nameplate in the Kia lineup. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 K5 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2012
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Footrest (cm)	4
Left toepan (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	1
Upper dash (cm)	2
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2012
Head
HIC-15	78
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	7
Maximum Nij	0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	0.4
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.45
Right	0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.9
Right	0.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	55
Right	32

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

The Kia K5 was introduced in the 2021 model year, replacing the Optima nameplate in the Kia lineup. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 K5 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2016
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Footrest (cm)	7
Right toepan (cm)	4
Center toepan (cm)	2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	2
Right lower dash (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2016
Head
HIC-15	83
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.32
Right	0.61
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	44
Right	97

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2016
Head
HIC-15	74
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	9
Maximum Nij	0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm)	24
Femur (kN)
Left	0.5
Right	0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.29
Right	0.23
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.8
Right	1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	24
Right	29

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

The Kia K5 was introduced in the 2021 model year, replacing the Optima nameplate in the Kia lineup. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 K5 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2016
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	3
Left (cm)	4
Center (cm)	6
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	9
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	0
Rearward (cm)	-3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2016
Head
HIC-15	232
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm)	25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.3
Femur force - right (kN)	0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	0
Maximum tibia index - left	0.38
Maximum tibia index - right	0.44
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	50
Right	46

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

The Kia K5 was introduced in the 2021 model year, replacing the Optima nameplate in the Kia lineup. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Kia K5 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS2017
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2017
Head HIC-15	607
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Compression (kN)	-0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	37
Lateral force (kN)	1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	36
Average deflection (mm)	33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.47
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.91
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.8
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.0
Combined force (kN)	1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.6
L-M moment (Nm)	143
A-P moment (Nm)	62

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2017
Head HIC-15	182
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.1
Compression (kN)	0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	17
Lateral force (kN)	0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	22
Average deflection (mm)	19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.35
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.20
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.3
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.9
Combined force (kN)	2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.4
L-M moment (Nm)	127
A-P moment (Nm)	-54

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

The Kia K5 was introduced in the 2021 model year, replacing the Optima nameplate in the Kia lineup.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection The dummy's head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill of the driver door. The head protection is inadequate.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows that the driver dummy's head moved downward, past the side curtain airbag, and contacted the window sill.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2303
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-11.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2303
Head
HIC-15	216
Peak gs at hard contact	40
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	47
Lateral force (kN)	1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	43
Average deflection (mm)	39
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.71
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.91
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	4.1

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2303
Head
HIC-15	107
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Compression (kN)	0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	22
Lateral force (kN)	1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	32
Average deflection (mm)	24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.45
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.44
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	5.8

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2021-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Kia K5 LXS 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,150 lbs
Peak force	18,378 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.83

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	40
Distance below top of head (mm)	16
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	11.6
Head contact time (ms)	67
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	21
Max neck tension (N)	470

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

GT-Line trim equipped with Premium package; built after November 2020
GT-Line trim equipped with AWD package; built after November 2020
GT trim equipped with GT1 package; built after November 2020

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	GT-Line trim equipped with Premium package GT-Line trim equipped with AWD package GT trim equipped with GT1 package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021-24 models built after November 2020

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	96.2 m	None
Straightaway left edge	62.4 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	82.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	71.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	73.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	63.7 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	183.6 m
Straightaway left edge	169.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	84.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	76.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	73.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	63.7 m

Trim level(s)

LX trim; built after November 2020
LXS trim; built after November 2020
GT-Line trim; built after November 2020
EX trim; built after November 2020
GT trim; built after November 2020

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right curve and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the gradual left and sharp right curves, and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	LX trim LXS trim GT-Line trim EX trim GT trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021-24 models built after November 2020

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	94.6 m	7.8%
Straightaway left edge	56.8 m	7.8%
250m radius right curve, right edge	69.0 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	48.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	51.7 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	43.0 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	142.7 m
Straightaway left edge	96.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	75.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	66.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	55.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	50.0 m

Trim level(s)

LX trim; built before December 2020
LXS trim; built before December 2020
GT-Line trim; built before December 2020
EX trim; built before December 2020
GT trim; built before December 2020

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	LX trim LXS trim GT-Line trim EX trim GT trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021 models built before December 2020

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	75.3 m	None
Straightaway left edge	44.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	61.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	42.7 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	38.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	140.9 m
Straightaway left edge	110.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	72.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	63.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	53.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.4 m

Trim level(s)

GT-Line trim equipped with Premium package; built before December 2020
GT-Line trim equipped with AWD package; built before December 2020
GT trim equipped with GT1 package; built before December 2020

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	GT-Line trim equipped with Premium package GT-Line trim equipped with AWD package GT trim equipped with GT1 package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021 models built before December 2020

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	49.2 m	None
Straightaway left edge	41.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	44.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	37.2 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	43.6 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	33.6 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	157.5 m
Straightaway left edge	148.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	54.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	48.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	40.7 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Cyclist Detection and Junction Turning

Package name

Optional Premium, AWD, or GT1 package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

Standard Forward-Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

System details

optional Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Cylist Detection and Junction Turning

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2021-24 models of the following trim lines: GT-Line trim equipped with Premium package, EX trim equipped with Premium package, GT trim equipped with GT1 package

Superior

with optional equipment

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

System details

standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-24 models

Advanced

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 3 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 19 mph.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	LXS
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	LXS
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	19
Clearance angle (degrees)	80
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	18
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	19
Clearance angle (degrees)	66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	15
Clearance angle (degrees)	60
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation