The Korean car industry is known for its original solutions and the quality of its products, which today are compared with the products of Japanese manufacturers. Korean cars have undeniable advantages that buyers around the world are rushing to take advantage of. In our review, the best Korean cars that have been topping the lists of bestsellers for many years. We propose to compare two leaders of the South Korean market: Hyundai Sonata and KIA K5.
What the Hyundai Sonata is all about
The Hyundai Sonata made its debut in Korea in 1985 as the first phase of the rebranding of the Hyundai Stella model. The first Sonata was not actually all Hyundai, as most of its major components were produced by Mitsubishi and the British Ford Cortina. Originally advertised as a luxury family car with a slogan, the first generation Hyundai Sonata was not as successful as expected. The car did not meet US emissions standards to be introduced in that market, and as a result was withdrawn from sale after only 2 years due to disapproving customer reaction.
It didn't take Hyundai long to develop the Sonata's comeback. In 1989, the second-generation Sonata first entered the U.S. market as a follow-up to the successful Excel model. At this time, the Sonata was Hyundai's strategic marketing move to completely replace the Hyundai Stella model in the large family car market, but in a more affordable price range. Again powered by a Mitsubishi four-cylinder engine, the Sonata Y2 platform was upgraded to front-wheel drive for better handling and efficiency. After a short period of time, a version with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine was available, improving the 0-60 acceleration time to 9.9 seconds.
To match the size and speed characteristics of its Japanese rival, the Honda Accord, the third-generation Sonata added a few inches to the wheelbase, with a standard 2.0-liter, 103-horsepower four-cylinder engine under the hood, and in some specific markets, a 3.0-liter, 143-horsepower Mitsubishi V-6 was offered.
Many technological revolutions took place at the end of the 20th century. For Hyundai, it was the fourth-generation Sonata. By first equipping it with the 2.5-liter, 168-horsepower Hyundai Delta V6 engine and giving buyers a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the Sonata EF took a huge step forward in power and performance. A major update for 2001 (also known as the EF-B series) made the auto even more stylish - the company moved away from the genetic design of the previous model and took a step toward a bolder, more customized exterior. With this sedan, Hyundai finally began to be considered one of the leaders in the midsize sedan segment, reaching the 100,000 sales per year mark for the first time.
Produced in Korea in 2004 and in the United States in 2005, the Sonata NF grew in all dimensions, becoming taller and wider than either of the previous generations, making it a spacious midsize sedan with a comfortable cabin for 5 passengers. Engine ranges included a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder, a 2.4-liter, 138-horsepower inline 4-cylinder and a 3.3-liter, 170-horsepower V-6, with a diesel option also available.
Hyundai unveiled the eighth generation of the Sonata sedan in March 2019. The overall style of the car corresponds to the concept Le Fil Rouge. Thanks to a smoother rear window and a short trunk lid, the novelty has acquired some features of a liftback, but remains true to the sedan format. A distinctive feature is the daytime running lights, integrated not only in the headlights, but also extending to the hood. The interior has also undergone dramatic changes: the steering wheel has an unusual design, and the transmission lever has been replaced by buttons. It is this generation that will participate in our comparison.
What the KIA K5 is all about
The Kia K5, formerly known as the Kia Optima, is a mid-size car manufactured by Kia since 2000 and sold worldwide under various names. The first generation of the car was primarily sold under the name Optima, but in Europe and Canada the name Kia Magentis was used at the start of sales in 2002. For the second-generation models, Kia used the Kia Lotze name and the Kia K5 name for the South Korean market, and the Magentis name worldwide except in the United States, Canada, Malaysia and the Middle East, where the Optima name was retained until model year 2021. The K5 name has been used for all markets since the launch of the fifth generation in 2019.
From 2000 to 2005, the Optima was a renamed version of the Hyundai Sonata, differing from the latter only in minor details in exterior design and equipment package. The car was first shown in South Korea in July 2000 and was the first product of the Kia-Hyundai platform integration.
In Australia, the Optima was introduced in May 2001, offered only with a 2.5-liter V6 engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The updated Optima was offered with a new 2.7 liter engine, 4-speed automatic transmission (manual transmission was eliminated), and had options such as full leather interior and alloy wheels that became standard. With this and improved marketing, sales rose to 41,289 units in 2005, reaching an all-time high.
The third generation is a completely redesigned Optima, sharing the same platform as the Hyundai i40, which was dubbed the Kia K5 in the South Korean and Chinese markets and debuted at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. The latest generation has a much sleeker, sportier profile designed by Kia's new chief designer Peter Schreyer, following a new concept already seen on the Kia Forte, Kia Sorento, and upcoming Kia Sportage and Kia Cadenza models, and utilizes Kia's new corporate grille. This is the first time this model will be sold under the Optima name globally, and previously the Magentis name was used for it.
Hyundai Sonata or KIA K5: comparing looks
Fundamentally, these models are similar, but the exteriors of the K5 and Sonata have significant differences. The Sonata's look is more graceful, with a flowing roof line and a more curvaceous front end. Unique design features include angular taillights with a connecting strip of light, and illuminated spears extending from the headlights along the chrome hood panel. The wide, low bodywork creates the image of a confident road user without being overly sporty.
The K5 has a sportier front end, with more aggressively tapered headlights and a narrow grille. The roof slopes gently down almost to the tail of the car, emphasized by a chrome strip that descends from the top of the side window and wraps around the bottom of the rear window. The black plastic framing between the chrome and the window glass makes the windshield appear bulkier than it really is. For some people, both the Sonata and K5's designs may seem over-saturated, but they make these cars always stand out even in the densest of crowd traffic.
Hyundai Sonata VIII and Kia K5: interior comparison
The Sonata and K5 sedans both have modern, high-tech and quality-finished interiors. The Sonata has sleeker lines for a more luxurious look, while the K5 has a more cubic shape and angular controls that point toward the driver and create a sporty feel.
Both sedans have standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screens and 10.3-inch displays, but a larger system is available in the K5. It's included in all but the two cheapest trims, while in the Sonata you can only get it if you buy the $30,000-plus version. The Sonata's 8-inch screen isn't integrated into the dashboard as much: Hyundai's stylists prioritized the 10.3-inch screen, while Kia's engineers achieved a good mix of both screens on the K5's dashboard.
Hyundai Sonata or KIA K5: compare specifications
The new Hyundai Sonata SE comes standard with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that consumes 6.2 liters per 100 kilometers. In contrast, the standard Kia K5's 180 horsepower turbocharged engine is less powerful and efficient, consuming up to 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
The Kia K5 has an optional 290 horsepower turbocharged engine, but the Hyundai Sonata N Line tops it with an optional 290 horsepower 2.5-liter MPI/GDI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed Wet Dual Clutch N transmission that provides enviable driving dynamics. In addition, the Limited version is equipped with a 180-horsepower 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged engine with 4 cylinders, consuming up to 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
