The 2026 Kia K5 Is Only $400 More Than Last Year Despite Tariffs

Kia has made so few changes to the 2026 K5 sedan that it is even using the same photos as last year. There are some differences, though, like new wheels and a red interior now available for the GT-Line to make it look sportier. Curiously, Kia has removed the GT badging from the calipers on the GT trim. We know, heady stuff, this.

The one thing that has changed for the 2026 Kia K5 is the price, but it’s a noteworthy topic given the current state of things in the US. The sedan now starts at $27,390, only a small hike from last year’s MSRP of $26,990. The destination fee is also $20 higher compared to 2025, but all things considered, that’s not bad.

K5 Gets A Little Pricier, A Lot More Red

Kia’s K5 enters its second year with the same four grades available. The lineup starts with the LXS, which comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the LXS drives the front wheels.

Creature comforts include a 12.3-inch center screen, dual-zone climate control, and cloth seats. Kia’s driver assist suite, which includes forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, and more, is also part of the basic package.

Kia

GT-Line gets the same engine, but an all-wheel-drive powertrain is optional. The GT-Line has 18-inch wheels, acoustic glass front windows, gloss black exterior trim, and leather interior trim with fake leather coverings on the power-adjust (and heated) front seats. You can get red faux leather on the GT-Line, and the Premium Package offers a panoramic roof and Bose audio. No, Kia hasn’t released photos of that red cabin yet, but you can see 2024’s version above.

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EX drops most of the gloss black trim and sporty looks for something a bit more luxurious. Body color trim, power-folding mirrors, a panoramic roof, and a 12.3-inch digital dash are all standard.

2026 Kia K5 Pricing For All Trim Levels

Trim	2026	2025	Difference
LXS	$27,390	$26,990	$400
GT-Line FWD	$28,390	$27,990	$400
GT-Line AWD	$29,990	$29,590	$400
EX	$34,890	$34,490	$400
GT	$33,490	$33,090	$400

*Prices do not include a $1,175 destination fee

290 Horsepower Turbo K5 GT Lives On

Then there’s the full-fat K5 GT model, which might be Kia’s final gas GT. It straps a turbocharger to the 2.5-liter four-pot, making 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque in the process. It drives an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, managing the power with a sporty flavor. The GT also has upgraded brakes, stickier tires on 19-inch wheels, and a sport-tuned suspension. Options on that one include digital key, Bose audio, memory seats with ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and 360 cameras.

The K5 is the replacement for the Kia Optima, taking over the position in the lineup with a new name in 2021. Kia refreshed the model in late 2023 as a 2024 model-year car, adding even sharper lights, prominent exhaust pipes, and Kia’s latest interior design with fresh tech.