Compare the2022 Kia K5VS 2022 Audi A3

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 A3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 A3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 A3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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 A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the K5 and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 A3 has not been tested, yet.

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 A3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K5 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 93 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd, 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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 89 more horsepower (290 vs. 201) and 90 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A3 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 A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The K5 LXS/GT Line/EX/GT’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 14.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Kia K5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A3.

For better traction, the K5 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (245/40R19 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the K5 GT has standard 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the K5’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the A3 (112.2 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K5 is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A3.

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Audi A3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The K5 has 18.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (105.3 vs. 87).

The K5 has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 4.9 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the A3 Sedan (16 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

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 A3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The K5 LXS/GT-Line/EX/GT has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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

The Kia K5/Optima outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost 10 to one during the 2021 model year.