Compare the2024 Kia K5VS 2023 Volvo S60

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 S60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the K5 and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, 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 Volvo S60:

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 Volvo S60:

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

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 S60’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 Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo 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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 111 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (290 vs. 247) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the S60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the S60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the K5 1.6T FWD gets better fuel mileage than the S60 B5 FWD running its gasoline engine (27 city/37 hwy vs. 26 city/35 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The S60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The K5 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The S60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better traction, the K5 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S60 (245/40R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The K5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The S60’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the K5 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K5 is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S60.

For better maneuverability, the K5’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the S60’s (36 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 950 pounds less than the Volvo S60.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the K5 EX is quieter than the S60 Core (67 vs. 68 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The K5 has 9.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (105.3 vs. 96).

The K5 has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the S60 (16 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

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 S60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the K5 has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 S60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia K5 and the Volvo S60, 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 S60 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Kia K5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by almost 9 to one during 2022.