CRTCar Real Test
Sources: EPA fuel economy file 2026-11-04 | NHTSA safety records 2026-11-14
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2025 Kia K5: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls

The 2025 Kia K5 gets 27 to 30 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2 at 30 mpg.

How the K5 ranks in its class

In the Large Cars class for 2025, the K5 ranks 5th of 14 for combined mileage (30 mpg), 4th of 14 for yearly fuel cost ($2,100 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 8th of 14 for tailpipe CO2 (298 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 24 mpg, costs $3,200 a year and puts out 283.5 grams per mile.

Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 52 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 K5's best version, 11 other models get the same and 186 get less. The 2025 K5's cheapest version costs $2,100 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 43 cost less, 7 the same and 191 more.

Nearest models in the class (places 1 to 7 of 14)

Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.

PlaceModelBest versionmpgFuel a year, cheapest versionCO2 g/mi, lowest version
12025 Honda Civic2025 Civic 5Dr (Hybrid, Automatic (variable gear ratios))48$1,300186
32025 Hyundai Sonata2025 Sonata Hybrid47$1,300188
42025 Acura Integra2025 Integra (4-cyl 1.5 L)33$2,350269
52025 Kia K5This car2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #230$2,100298
62025 BMW 7 Series2025 740i Sedan28$2,750132
72025 Genesis G802025 G80 AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L)24$3,200377
72025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2025 S500 4matic24$3,200106

Your fuel cost

Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.

$2,000 a year

2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 26 mpg city, 37 highway, 30 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 K5 version is $2,100 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).

30miles per gallon, combined
$0.13fuel cost per mile
500gallons a year
$10,000fuel cost over 5 years

Compare with a rival

The 3 nearest rivals in the Large Cars class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.

2025 Kia K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2
30
mpg combined
$2,000
fuel a year
2025 BMW 740i Sedan
28
mpg combined
$2,684
fuel a year

The K5 costs $684 less to fuel each year.

Over 5 years the K5 costs $3,420 less to fuel than the 7 Series (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).

The K5 against its nearest rivals

Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.

Rival in 2025Best versionCombinedFuel a year, agency (15,000 miles)Against the K5 (mileage)Agency yearly fuel cost against the K5Side by side
2025 BMW 7 Series2025 740i Sedan28 mpg$2,7502 lower$650 more a year-
2025 Acura Integra2025 Integra (4-cyl 1.5 L)33 mpg$2,3503 higher$250 more a year-
2025 Genesis G802025 G80 AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L)24 mpg$3,2006 lower$1,100 more a year-

Every version of the 2025 Kia K5

EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.

VersionEngineGearboxDriveCityHighwayCombinedFuel a yearCO2 g/miFuel vs cheapest
2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #24-cyl 2.5 LAutomatic (S8)Front-wheel263730$2,100298cheapest
2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #14-cyl 2.5 LAutomatic (S8)Front-wheel253629$2,150310+$50
2025 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)) #34-cyl 2.5 LAutomatic (AM-S8)Front-wheel233327$2,300331+$200
2025 K5 AWD4-cyl 2.5 LAutomatic (S8)All-wheel243327$2,300329+$200

Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2025 version pay back?

Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 K5; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.

Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.

Emissions

Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2 puts out 298 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 298 to 331.

EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).

Mileage by model year

Best combined figure of the K5 gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.

Model yearBest gas versionVersions testedAgainst 2025
202132 mpg
42 mpg higher than 2025
202232 mpg
42 mpg higher than 2025
202331 mpg
31 mpg higher than 2025
202431 mpg
31 mpg higher than 2025
2025This page30 mpg
4this page
202630 mpg
4same as 2025

Compared with the 2024 model: 3 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 31 to 30 mpg (down 1).

The 2026 model has 4 tested versions.

Version in 202520252024Change
2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2, 4-cyl 2.5 L30 mpgno like-for-like version in 2024no match
2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #1, 4-cyl 2.5 L29 mpgno like-for-like version in 2024no match
2025 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)) #3, 4-cyl 2.5 L27 mpg27 mpgno change
2025 K5 AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L27 mpgno like-for-like version in 2024no match

2 2024 versions have no match in 2025.

Safety record

Crash-test ratings, 2025

Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.

VehicleOverallFrontSideRollover
2025 Kia K5 4 DR AWD5 of 54 of 55 of 54 of 5
2025 Kia K5 4 DR FWD5 of 54 of 55 of 54 of 5

The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.

The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 54 complaints, 2 recalls, 0 investigations.

Owner complaints, 2025

54 complaints for the 2025 Kia K5 are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Part named in the reportsReports
Tires15
Electrical System12
Exterior Lighting6
Power Train6
Unknown Or Other6

4 of the 54 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 4 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.

Safety recalls

2 recalls are on file for the 2025 Kia K5 at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.

Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars

Reported 29 Jul 2025, campaign 25V493000

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025.

Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software

Reported 28 May 2025, campaign 25V351000

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K5 vehicles. A software error in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC) may cause the parking lights to flicker.

Fix: The PDC software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2025.

More Large Cars for 2025

Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The K5 itself is at 30 mpg.

Other Kia models of 2025

More Kia models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.

Common questions

Which 2025 Kia K5 gets the best mileage?

The 2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2 with 30 mpg combined (26 city, 37 highway).

How much does a 2025 Kia K5 cost to fuel for a year?

The 2025 Kia K5 costs between $2,100 and $2,300 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2 at $2,100; the dearest is the 2025 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)) #3 at $2,300. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.

What mileage does the all-wheel-drive K5 get?

2025 K5 AWD: 27 mpg combined (24 city, 33 highway).

How does the 2025 Kia K5 rank among 2025 Large Cars models?

The 2025 Kia K5 is 5th of 14 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Honda Accord at 48 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 24 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Acura Integra at 33 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 BMW 7 Series at 28 mpg.

Did the K5 change from 2024 to 2025?

The 2024 model had 3 tested versions and the 2025 model has 4. The best figure went from 31 to 30 mpg (down 1).

How did the 2025 Kia K5 do in crash tests?

In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Kia K5 4 DR AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Kia K5 4 DR FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.

Do owners complain about the 2025 Kia K5?

54 complaints for the 2025 Kia K5 are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Tires (15 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.

Does the 2025 Kia K5 have recalls?

The agency's database lists 2 recalls for the 2025 Kia K5 (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.

How fresh these numbers are

For the 2025 Kia K5: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.

Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Kia K5: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Kia K5: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Kia K5: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Kia K5: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.