Kia proves new K5 GT outperforms BMW 530i, but it’s

Will many people cross-shop between the 2025 Kia K5 GT and the 2024 BMW 530i? Let’s face it – the reasonable answer is no. After all, the K5 starts at $33,090, while the 530i starts at $57,900, which means the German proposal is almost twice as much.

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If you’re racking your brains to wonder why Kia chose to compare the K5 to the larger, heavier and pricier BMW 5 Series, you’re not alone. In reality, the K5 is closer to BMW’s 330i sedan – Kia actually compared it to the pre-facelift version in a promotional campaign for 2021.

Still, Kia wanted to prove that the K5 GT was better than the 530i. To show how its new sedan could perform, Kia asked independent automotive testing firm AMCI to put both cars through acceleration and cornering tests.

Read: 2025 Kia K5 prices rise to match its new look

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Before we get into the review, let’s take a look at the specs of both sedans. The 530i is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, driving the rear wheels. It weighs 4,041 pounds (1,833 kilograms).

In comparison, the K5 GT has a larger 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet (421 Newton-meters) of torque. Although it’s front-wheel drive, it also has an eight-speed dual-clutch, which helps it shift gears quicker. In addition, it weighs less at 3,596 pounds (1,631 kilograms).

When accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h), the K5 GT clearly outperforms the BMW and is slightly ahead, hitting the mark in 5.4 seconds compared to the 5.5 seconds for the 530i. Now it’s time to see which of these two sedans can pull the most G-forces around a turn.

The K5 GT also won this test. It achieved an impressive 0.93 g, compared to the 530i’s 0.90 g. Obviously, the handling balance between the two is very different, as one is a standard midsize sedan (about the same size as a luxury compact sedan like the 3 Series) with front-wheel drive, while the other is a luxury midsize model with rear-wheel drive. Still, it does show that Kia did something pretty good with the new K5 GT.

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