Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Kia K5

Both the Sonata and the K5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available 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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Kia K5:

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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Kia K5:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The K5 has not been fully tested, yet.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the K5’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the K5.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sonata has a standard 150-amp alternator. The K5’s standard 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the K5 1.6T 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

The Sonata N Line’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The K5 doesn’t offer launch control.

The Sonata stops much shorter than the K5:

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the K5 EX pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the K5 EX (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Sonata easier. The Sonata’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the K5’s liftover is 28.6 inches.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Sonata. The K5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Sonata Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The K5 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sonata’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The K5’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Sonata Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

When the Sonata Limited is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The K5’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Sonata Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The K5 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Sonata will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sonata will retain 46.08% to 47.23% of its original price after five years, while the K5 only retains 40.99% to 42.41%.

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus higher than the Kia K5 EX.