Compare the2024 Kia K5VS 2023 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/GT offers optional Parking Collision Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The K5 EX/GT offers an optional 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 has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 A3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the K5 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A3.

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, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the K5’s reliability 15 points higher than the A3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below 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.

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.

As tested in Motor Trend the K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Audi A3:

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 on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The K5 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The K5 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 stopping power the K5 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

The K5 stops shorter than 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 design of the Kia K5 amounts to more than styling. The K5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the A3 (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the K5 get better fuel mileage.

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 (16 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The K5 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.

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 A3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the K5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The K5’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the K5 (except LXS/GT-Line) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The A3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the K5’s optional (except LXS) 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 both the Kia K5 and the Audi A3, 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 A3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Kia K5 outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost seven to one during 2022.