Compare the2022 Kia K5VS 2022 Acura ILX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the K5 and ILX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The ILX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the K5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ILX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia K5 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ILX doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has standard Parking Collision Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The ILX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The K5 1.6T offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The ILX doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ILX only offers a rear monitor.

The K5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The ILX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the K5 and the ILX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia K5 is safer than the Acura ILX:

	K5	ILX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%
Neck Stress	180 lbs.	257 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	56 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Stress	147 lbs.	166 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	20/31 lbs.	768/623 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia K5 is safer than the Acura ILX:

	K5	ILX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	110	234
Hip Force	264 lbs.	487 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	202	324
Hip Force	687 lbs.	699 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	297	299
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	589 lbs.	945 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the K5 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The ILX last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The K5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The ILX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K5 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the ILX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ILX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the K5’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 13 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The K5 1.6T’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 89 more horsepower (290 vs. 201) and 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura ILX:

	K5	ILX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12 sec	17.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.5 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.7 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the K5 gets better mileage than the ILX:

			MPG
K5
	FWD	LX 1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
ILX
	FWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the K5 LX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The ILX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ILX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The K5 LX’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the ILX (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The K5 LXS/GT Line/EX/GT’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the ILX (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia K5 higher (5 out of 10) than the Acura ILX (3). This means the K5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the K5 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ILX:

	K5 GT	ILX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.1 inches

The K5 stops much shorter than the ILX:

	K5	ILX
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the K5 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ILX (245/40R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the K5 GT has standard 19-inch wheels. The ILX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The K5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the ILX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the K5’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the ILX (112.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K5 is 4.4 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ILX.

The K5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (60% to 40%) than the ILX’s (63% to 37%). This gives the K5 more stable handling and braking.

The K5 GT handles at .86 G’s, while the ILX A-SPEC pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the K5’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the ILX’s (36 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the ILX is rated a Compact.

The K5 has 16 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (105.3 vs. 89.3).

The K5 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom, 6.3 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the ILX.

Cargo Capacity

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the ILX (16 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The K5’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The ILX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the K5 LXS/GT-Line/EX/GT’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The ILX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The K5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ILX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The K5 EX/GT’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The ILX doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The K5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The ILX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the K5 and the ILX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the K5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ILX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The K5 EX Premium/GT-1’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ILX’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The K5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the ILX’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the K5 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ILX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the K5 (except LX/LXS/GT-Line) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The ILX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the K5 GT-Line Premium AWD/EX Premium/GT-1’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The ILX doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the K5 and the ILX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the K5 EX/GT has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The ILX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia K5 GT-Line/EX/GT has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The ILX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia K5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia K5/Optima outsold the Acura ILX by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.