Compare the2025 Kia K5VS 2024 Audi A4

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/GT1 has standard Parking Collision Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 A4’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 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 and available around view monitors.

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.

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’ 2024 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 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 9 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The K5 GT’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.

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

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 on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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.

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

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 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).

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 A4 (.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 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.

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the A4 (15.6 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The K5 EX/GT1’s standard 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.

The K5’s standard Smart Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A4 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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

The Kia K5 outsold the Audi A4/S4 by almost five to one during 2023.