Tale of the Tape: 2021 Kia K5 vs 2020 Honda Accord  

Nov 02, 2023

The Kia Optima's replacement looks to upset the natural order of things in the family sedan segment

The Big Three's shedding of their family sedan models means new opportunities for those still committed to this traditional segment — the Asian manufacturers, plus Volkswagen. But between consumers’ continuing fascination with crossovers and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19, sales are nowhere near the levels of last year. Still, many of the main players remain — the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Chevy Malibu (which will be on the chopping block in the next year or two), plus the Mazda6, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat and, near the bottom of the diminishing heap, the Kia Optima.

But Kia, like Hyundai, hasn't lost interest in increasing its share of the automobile market. And like Hyundai did with the new 2020 Sonata, Kia is upping its game with a brand-new model and a new name — K5 — the mid-size four-door shucking the Optima nomenclature and embracing the company's worldwide, alpha-numeric naming convention. Described as non-traditional and sport-inspired, the K5, when it arrives this fall, is "characterized by powerful, angular design, constant renewal, re-imagination and boldness," so says Kia Canada.

Strong words, which naturally need to be put to the test. So, let's see how the K5 stacks up on paper against the Honda Accord, one of the stalwarts of the mid-sized sedan market last redesigned in 2018.

The K5 will be available in four trims in Canada — LX AWD, EX AWD, GT-Line AWD, and later in the year, the front-wheel-drive GT. Prices range from $29,595 to $39,995. Honda hasn't released any details regarding the 2021 Accord, but making the reasonable assumption that it is a carryover model, it will continue to be offered in six trim levels — LX, Sport, EX-L, Touring, Sport 2.0, and Touring 2.0. Prices for the 2020 models range from $28,705 for the LX to $40,405 for the Touring 2.0.

MSRP $37,000

MSRP $30,195 to $41,195

Not that the Optima was by any means unattractive, but the K5 is a genuine looker with a short front overhang, long and muscular hood, and a low-slung, fastback silhouette, highlighted by a chrome garnish that spans the roofline and wraps around the rear glass. The car's "tiger face," a feature on all Kia vehicles, is front and centre — the thin front grille with what Kia calls "a shark skin-inspired" mesh design extends to the headlight pod. From any angle, the K5 will attract admiring glances.

Honda designers and engineers went back to the fundamentals of proportion and stance with the 10th-generation Accord, which displays a sporting and athletic appearance "like a sprinter in the blocks," according to the company. And in profile, the K5 and Accord are similar, a slightly higher roofline for the Honda being the main difference. It also has a much chunkier front fascia highlighted by Honda's signature chrome wing front grille and flanked by available full-LED headlights and LED fog lights.

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Both mid-sized cars have similar external dimensions. With a length of 4,905 millimetres, the K5 is just 25 mm — that would be one extra inch — longer than the Accord. The height difference between the two is even closer; the Honda tops the Kia by a mere five millimetres and is about 50 mm wider.

Interior dimensions are far more interesting. Let's start with the interior volume of the cabin, the Accord's 2,993 litres besting the K5 by 11. As for front-seat accommodations, taller and leggier occupants will find greater comfort in the K5, with 17 millimetres more headroom, 33 mm more hip room, and 96 mm more legroom, though the Accord has slightly more shoulder room. Rear-seat passengers will have substantially more room to stretch their legs in the Accord, at 1,026 millimetres versus 894 in the K5. Shoulder room also goes to the Honda, while the Kia has about 40 millimetres more hip room. Heading out for a round of golf? There's 473 litres of trunk room in the Accord for the clubs, versus 453 litres for the K5.

All three K5 AWD trims will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, managed by a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine adopts Continuously Variable Valve Duration, this piece of technology resulting in a performance boost and improvement in efficiency thanks to independent control of the valve duration. The GT gets a 2.5L turbocharged GDI four-cylinder that puts out a strong 290 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with a new eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch transmission — lending credence to the K5 becoming a legit sport sedan. The crystal ball is a little cloudier on one front — whether the K5 will be available with a hybrid powertrain, as was the case with the Optima.

Honda has thus far resisted the urge to offer all-wheel-drive on the Accord, letting its comprehensive crossover lineup take up that banner. The Accord features three powerplants — two direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder engines, and the third-generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid technology. The Accord also features a 10-speed automatic transmission with the 2.0L turbo-four, the first of its kind for a front-wheel-drive car, as well as an available six-speed manual transmission for both gas engines, though that option is going away for the 2021 model year.

The base 1.5L four-cylinder produces 192 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque, and is mated to either a continuously variable automatic or the previously mentioned six-speed manual. The 2.0L turbo-four with i-VTEC valvetrain produces 252 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque.

Both the K5 and the Accord have interior environments that are thoughtfully designed, logically laid out, comfortable, well contented, and very business-like. Both feature a wide, horizontal dash layout awash in functional details. Kia highlights the K5's newly styled infotainment display which stretches to the instrument panel. Drivers can customize their interior with a selection of black leather seating, chrome metallic and wood-like finishes, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and available panoramic sunroof.

More details include either an split-screen infotainment system with an eight- or optional 10.25-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen, and available satellite radio. The larger touchscreen adds server-based available navigation system with real-time traffic data, a more intuitive graphic user interface, new multi-connection Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and UVO telematics with connected user profiles. On the standard eight-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allows drivers to be connected and charged up without being plugged in.

The "tech-savvy and easy-to-use" Accord cabin features a seven-inch display in the gauge cluster, and an eight-inch Display Audio touchscreen infotainment system with physical volume and tuning knobs, and smartphone-like features and functionality including customizable app tiles and home-screen shortcuts — along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Accord also features HondaLink Subscription Services with new capabilities, including automatic collision notification, emergency roadside assistance, remote locking/unlocking and engine start, stolen vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics, geofencing, speed tracking, and more.

According to Kia, the K5's suite of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) now has more to offer. Some of the key standard features include Forward Collision Warning (FCW), which is designed to detect a vehicle in front and, in certain conditions issue an alert to warn the driver if it senses a potential frontal collision. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, builds on FCW by assisting the driver in braking to help prevent or lessen the effects of a collision. Driver Attention Warning, meanwhile, senses inattentive driving patterns and sends an audible/visual warning to alert the driver. There's also standard Lane Following Assist and available Forward Collision Avoidance Assist — Junction Turning, the latter assisting the driver in braking to help prevent or lessen the effects of a collision when turning left and an oncoming vehicle is approaching.

All Accords feature the full suite of Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment. Honda Sensing includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (CVT only) and Traffic Sign Recognition. Additional available driver assists include LaneWatch blind spot display, Blind Spot Monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, Cross Traffic Monitor and Driver Awareness Monitor. All Accords feature a multi-angle rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines.

Here's the thing. Since COVID-19 has totally upset the natural order of everything, including car sales, we get a better picture of Honda's strength in the mid-sized sedan segment by looking at the 2019 calendar year — second only to the Camry and outselling the Optima by approximately seven to one. But the K5 is a shiny new thing, definitely better looking than its predecessor and arguably a more stylish proposition than the aging Accord. It also benefits from more modern infotainment technology and the all-wheel drivetrain, which improves its competitiveness against the likes of the Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy, as well as the AWD Camry.

The Accord, like the Camry, is a safe bet, with a 40-plus-year history, a strong reputation for reliability and the might of Honda Nation behind it. The K5 should be able to divert some sales away from the more established players, including the Accord, and maybe even improve its ranking. It won't replace the Honda on the podium, though.

Brian is the retired deputy editor of National Post's Post Driving automotive section, with more than 40 years covering various aspects of the automotive business. A regular contributor to Driving.ca, he is also a founding member of AJAC.

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