2021 Kia K5 vs 2022 Toyota Camry

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a significant shift in Kia's design philosophy, moving away from its past of drab and unattractive sedans. With a fresh identity, the K5 was a departure from the Optima, offering a more dynamic and sporty appearance. The fastback form and GT-Line trim, with its flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, gave the K5 a striking resemblance to the Audi A5 Sportback. The design was accentuated by unique taillights and a sleek front with Z-shaped LED running lights. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions and styling were well-executed, making it a visually appealing sedan.

Inside, the K5 continued to impress with a driver-focused interior. The dash was split between driver and passenger, with a Supra-style divider and angled centre stack. The GT-Line featured a flat-bottom steering wheel and quality materials throughout, including polished black trim and padded surfaces. The interior exuded sportiness and quality, setting it apart from many competitors. However, the base 16-inch wheels detracted from the overall style, making it advisable to opt for larger wheels for maximum visual impact.

The 2022 Toyota Camry, particularly in the TRD trim, broke away from the Camry's traditionally conservative design. The eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint and performance-tuned TRD model garnered attention, a rarity for a Camry. The TRD trim featured an aerodynamic body kit, matte-black 19-inch wheels, and red accents, giving it a sporty and aggressive look. While the styling was bold, it was not universally appealing, and some found it reminiscent of 1990s Pontiacs. However, the Camry's design was a departure from its past, addressing criticisms of being boring.

Inside, the Camry TRD offered a sporty driving position with fabric seat inserts and a tall centre console. The interior was less polarizing than the exterior, with an unusual dashboard layout and driver-oriented centre console. However, the red gauge illumination and accents were considered tacky by some. Despite these quirks, the Camry TRD provided a comfortable and engaging driving experience, with power height adjustment for the front seats and a focus on driver comfort.

The 2021 Kia K5, particularly in the GT-Line trim, did not fully deliver on the sporty promise suggested by its aggressive styling. The GT-Line lacked paddle shifters and had softer suspension damping, resulting in a less engaging driving experience. The standard engine was a 1.6-litre turbo-four producing 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, providing adequate performance for daily driving. The eight-speed automatic transmission was responsive but not always smooth. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with an estimated 8.2 L/100 km combined, and real-world testing showed even better results.

The GT trim offered a more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, but it was only available with front-wheel drive. This setup raised concerns about handling, as the power was not effectively managed without all-wheel drive. The K5's sporty trim fell short of expectations, but it excelled as a comfortable family sedan with good fuel efficiency.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, on the other hand, delivered impressive performance with its 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission and sport driving modes enhanced the driving experience, making the Camry TRD a fun and engaging car to drive. Despite its sporty nature, the Camry TRD achieved a respectable fuel consumption rating of 9.5 L/100 km, even during spirited driving.

The Camry TRD's track-tuned driving dynamics were a highlight, with increased torsional rigidity, stiffer suspension, and performance brakes. The car felt solid and planted, providing a confident and enjoyable driving experience. However, the lack of all-wheel drive was a drawback, as the front-wheel-drive setup made it easy to break traction. Overall, the Camry TRD offered remarkable performance for the price, combining sporty styling with engaging driving dynamics.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered a comfortable interior with ample space for passengers. Despite its raked profile, the rear seats accommodated two adults comfortably, with sufficient headroom and legroom. However, the absence of rear air vents was a notable omission. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior featured intuitive controls, including hard buttons for climate and audio functions. The wireless charging pad was a convenient addition, and the infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10.25-inch display. Trunk space was generous at 434 litres, providing ample storage for a sedan.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, while not the roomiest in its class, offered a comfortable interior for front passengers. The sporty driving position and fabric seat inserts provided a secure feel during spirited driving. However, the TRD model lacked rear-seat air vents and had a fixed rear seatback, limiting cargo flexibility. The trunk space was smaller at 428 litres, but the Camry compensated with generous in-cabin storage. The centre armrest bin was notably large, providing ample storage for personal items.

The 2021 Kia K5 featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, making it easy to set up and use. However, there were occasional glitches with Apple CarPlay not restarting automatically. The K5 came equipped with LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and a suite of safety features. The GT-Line trim added 18-inch wheels, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. The infotainment system included a 10.25-inch display with Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and UVO link for remote services. The GT trim offered additional performance hardware and 19-inch wheels.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM. The Camry TRD and XSE trims featured a larger 9-inch display with additional subscription services and a JBL premium audio system. While the sound quality was bass-heavy, it was decent for the price. The Camry did not offer dynamic connected navigation, but users could connect via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation. Other Camry models offered advanced features like a head-up display and surround-view monitoring, but these were not available on the TRD trim.

The 2021 Kia K5 earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, receiving the Top Safety Pick+ designation. It came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, and electronic safety aids like forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The K5 also featured Safe Exit Assist and Junction Turning for added safety.

The 2022 Toyota Camry featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a comprehensive package of driver assist and collision avoidance features. It included adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Camry's safety systems were generally effective, but the lane-departure warning system could issue false warnings. Safety Connect was standard, providing emergency assistance and roadside support. The Camry also received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, ensuring peace of mind for drivers and passengers.