2021 Kia K5 vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a bold new direction for Kia, shedding its past image of drab sedans. With its fastback form and striking design elements, the K5 was reminiscent of the more performance-oriented Kia Stinger. The GT-Line trim, with its flat Wolf Gray paint and fire-engine red seats, gave the K5 an Audi A5 Sportback-like appearance. The K5's design was marked by unique taillights, a long rear window, and a polished black trim, all contributing to its sporty and upscale look. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions and details made it a standout in its class.

Inside, the K5 continued to impress with a driver-focused dashboard and quality materials. The GT-Line featured a flat-bottom steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 10.25-inch screen available in Canada. The interior exuded sportiness and quality, with thoughtful details like a Supra-style divider and polished black trim. The K5's interior was a testament to Kia's commitment to style and quality, setting it apart from many competitors.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla aimed to shake off its reputation for blandness with bold exterior styling, including scowling LED headlights and a wide grille. The Corolla offered different styling elements for various trims, with the SE and XSE models featuring an aggressive front fascia. The Apex Edition added a subtle body kit and model-specific wheels, giving it a street-racer vibe. While the Corolla's design was more extroverted than before, it couldn't quite match the cohesiveness of the Honda Civic or the uniqueness of the Hyundai Elantra.

Inside, the Corolla's design was simpler but still appealing. The fit and finish met Toyota's high standards, though the piano black plastic trim was prone to smudging. The SE Apex Edition shared its interior with the standard SE, lacking changes to match its sportier exterior. The Corolla's interior was functional but lacked the imagination of its exterior, with standard cloth upholstery and available SofTex leatherette on higher trims.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance didn't quite match its aggressive styling, especially in the GT-Line trim. This model lacked paddle shifters and had softer suspension damping, resulting in a less sporty driving experience. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) test car had good brakes and communicative steering, but the GT-Line was more of an appearance package than a true sports sedan. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, but it was only available with FWD, which could be problematic without a limited-slip differential.

The K5's standard engine was a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing decent acceleration and good fuel efficiency. It achieved an estimated 9.2 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 on the highway, with an average of 6.5 L/100 km during testing. While the K5 excelled as a family sedan, its sporty trim didn't quite live up to the hype.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla offered two engine options, with the L, LE, and XLE models featuring a 1.8-litre engine producing 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models had a 2.0-litre engine with 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, with the Apex Edition adding a sport exhaust system. The Corolla's manual transmission was a good fit for the SE Apex Edition, enhancing its sportiness with a model-specific suspension and improved handling.

While the Apex Edition was more nimble than other Corolla models, it wasn't a full-fledged performance model, lacking tire, brake, and engine upgrades. The manual transmission helped manage the limited power, but the Apex Edition was more about fun in corners than outright performance. The standard Corolla was comfortable but not particularly exciting, making it a better choice for those seeking a commuter car.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered comfortable seating for two adults in the back, despite its raked profile. The scalloped roof and front seatbacks provided ample headroom and legroom for taller passengers. While rear air vents were missing, overall comfort was good. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior featured easy-to-use hard buttons for climate controls and a convenient wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10.25-inch display. Trunk space was 434 litres, with foldable rear seats for added versatility.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla provided decent headroom and legroom, similar to the Honda Civic. The low beltline improved outward visibility, but the steeply raked windshield limited forward visibility. The driver's seat was positioned for optimal comfort, though long-legged drivers might find knee space lacking. The Corolla's interior featured squishy seat cushions and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Cargo space was 371 litres, with a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat as standard. The sleek design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin centre console and a small phone tray.

The 2021 Kia K5 featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, making it easy to set up. However, there was a minor glitch with Apple CarPlay not restarting automatically. The K5 came with LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist as standard. The GT-Line trim added 18-inch black alloys, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. Heated seats were standard, with ventilated seats and a 10.25-inch infotainment system available. The GT trim included 19-inch wheels and performance enhancements.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system was starting to show its age, with a 7-inch touchscreen on the base model and an 8-inch screen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM were standard, along with a six-speaker audio system. The XSE and XLE trims featured a nine-speaker JBL audio system. While the interface was user-friendly, some tasks were less intuitive, and the graphics looked dated. The Corolla lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and didn't offer novel tech features like Hyundai's Digital Key.

The 2021 Kia K5 earned top marks in crash tests from the NHTSA and IIHS, receiving the Top Safety Pick+ designation. It came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The K5 EX trim and above included Junction Turning, which warned of potential collisions in intersections.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla also received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with top scores in crash tests. However, its headlights received lower ratings depending on the trim. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a five-star overall safety rating. The Corolla featured eight airbags and a range of standard driver-assist features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring was available on higher trims.