Compare the2023 Kia K5VS 2022 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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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 A4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The K5 EX/GT offers optional Parking Collision Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The K5 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the K5 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A4.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the K5 and the A4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Audi A4:

	K5	A4
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%
Neck Stress	180 lbs.	232 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	444/276 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	20/31 lbs.	324/341 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 Audi A4:

	K5	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	110	172
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	190 lbs.	219 lbs.
Hip Force	264 lbs.	308 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	202	277
Hip Force	687 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	297	333
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	589 lbs.	666 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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 81 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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 A4’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 A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 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.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the K5 has a standard 760-amp battery. The A4’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the K5 second among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

Engine

The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (290 vs. 261) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 273) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the K5 gets better mileage than the A4:

			MPG
K5
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
A4
	AWD	45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/31 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

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 A4.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the K5 GT’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

	K5 GT	A4 40 TFSI	A4 45 TFSI
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.4 inches	13.3 inches

The K5 stops shorter than the A4:

	K5	A4
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the K5’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the A4 (112.2 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K5 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4.

The K5 GT-Line AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The K5 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A4 Premium (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the K5’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the A4’s (36 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Audi A4.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the A4 is rated a Compact.

The K5 has 13.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (105.3 vs. 92).

The K5 has 2.9 inches more front headroom, 4.8 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

Cargo Capacity

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the A4 (16 vs. 12 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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 A4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 A4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the K5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Model Availability

The K5 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia K5 and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the K5 first among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The A4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Kia K5/Optima outsold the Audi A4/S4 by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.

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