The 2021 Kia K5 Review Just Killed the 2021 Genesis G80 Review on Consumer Reports
Kia has been on the grind for a few years now. The 2021 Kia K5 is only one of many Kia models that seem to be systematically edging out the Luxury brands like Genesis, Buick, Lexus, to name a few. In this case, the 2021 Kia K5 review just dominated the 2021 Genesis G80 review on Consumer Reports.
Is the 2021 Kia K5 a good car?
Consumer Reports just completed their Kia K5 review and found it to be pretty dang good. The 2021 Kia K5 landed an overall score of 72/100. It isn’t breaking any records, but Consumer Reports was pretty into it. It scored well for its good fuel economy, intuitive controls, and spacious interior.
On the other hand, the 2021 Genesis G80 sedan scored a 67/100. This isn’t a terrible score, but it barely made it above the “recommended” threshold. Consumer Reports liked that the 2021 Genesis G80 has a comfy ride, good handling, and good fit and finish. Meanwhile, the confusing controls and poor predicted reliability really hurt the G80’s score.
The 2021 Genesis G80 is nice but Consumer Reports barely recommends it
Consumer Reports liked almost everything about it in the 2021 Genesis G80 review. However, the reliability history for this model is not great. For this reason, CR didn’t feel confident in its future reliability and thereby gave it a two out of five for reliability.
The standard power plant is a 300-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-pot. Although CR says it is a quick engine, they mention a slight hesitation from a rolling stop. There is also an optional 3.5-liter V6 that gives its power even more freely and smoothly. At 24 mpg, the Genesis G80 isn’t bad on gas but still falls behind some competitors like the Audi A6 2.0T.
Even though it has a firm suspension that allows for agile and sharp handling, the 2021 Genesis G80 still has a supple ride. This is important when you get into luxury brands. So much of what defines a luxury sedan is a quiet, comfortable cabin and a smooth ride. The Genesis delivers here nicely.
What does Consumer Reports like so much about the 2021 Kia K5 review?
For starters, the predicted reliability is better with a three out of five. This is a huge factor in CR’s grading scale. A new car having problems is one sure-fire way to make sure a customer is unhappy with their purchase. In nearly every other category, the Kia K5 review was killer.
The standard 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine punches above its weight class, and it delivers pretty decent power from such a small displacement powerplant. It also delivers a commendable 32 mpg overall.
Like the Genesis G80, the Kia K5 really excelled on the road test. CR loved the cushy ride. The Kia’s suspension was soft over road imperfections while staying firm enough in the corners to be agile.
The base version of the 2021 Kia K5 doesn’t offer much in the way of luxury appointments. However, if you step up to the higher trims, the interior can quickly progress to a near-luxury standard. Although, no matter which version you get, the steering wheel material always feels cheap.
Why pick the 2021 Kia K5 over the 2021 Genesis G80?
The Genesis is definitely a nicer car with much fancier appointments. However, the overall car isn’t better. The 2021 Kia K5 is more reliable, gets better fuel efficiency, and still is comfortable and nice to look at.
There is also the matter of money. The Kia K5 is considerably cheaper than the Genesis. The G80 has a price range of $47,700 – $62,250, while the Kia K5 has a price range of $23,590 – $30,590.
As Consumer Reports regularly proves, the nicer car isn’t always the better car.
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