Kia K5 Vs. Kia Stinger: Specs, Performance & Dimensions

 

If you're looking to compare the 2025 Kia K5 vs. 2023 Kia Stinger, this is the right place. While the Kia Stinger was discontinued after the 2023 model year, used models are still appealing to many drivers. Meanwhile, the K5 is back with a stellar new model. The Kia Stinger vs. K5 comparison is still worth making, as both cars have established themselves as go-to models for premium reliability and performance. Read on to learn more about the Kia K5 vs. Stinger in this in-depth guide from the team at Gunther Kia!

2025 Kia K5 vs. 2023 Kia Stinger Everyday Benefits

This is not just a 2025 Kia K5 vs. 2023 Stinger comparison; this is also a taste test to see which flavor of the do-it-all Kia sedan you crave most. Both of these sedans are the products of stylish redesigns that give you the pep of a sports car, the all-weather capabilities of a rugged SUV, the durability of a mud-faced pickup truck, and the comforts you expect inside any luxury sedan.

There's technology infused throughout the information and entertainment systems embedded within the cabin, and your passengers will enjoy remaining connected and protected throughout every journey. However, only one is still available as a brand-new vehicle, while the other you can only purchase used.

Inside both the Kia K5 vs. Stinger, you can take advantage of Kia Connect, which allows you to tap into your car from wherever you are. Start your car remotely through the Kia Connect app and even get the heater or air conditioning started well before you touch down in the driver's seat. Your car will be seamlessly connected with your Amazon Alexa® or Google Assistant®, making voice commands for the car possible from the living room.

Check Out the 2023 Kia Stinger vs. 2025 Kia K5 Trim Levels

Both the Kia K5 vs. Kia Stinger have trim-level lineups that cater to everyone's desires on the road. The first and most powerful difference is, well, the power. GT-Line Kia Stinger models balance efficiency and fun, while the GT2 trim takes things into sports-car-shaming levels of power. All 2025 K5 trims except for the GT trim have the same peppy four-cylinder engine, while the GT offers a serious performance punch with its turbocharged version.

If performance is your main concern, you'll want to find a pre-owned 2023 Kia Stinger. Both trims are tuned to dominate on the road. Or opt for the 2025 Kia K5 GT trim, which is a kindred spirit of the Stinger with its turbocharged 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.

With the Kia Stinger, GT-Line models include awesome standard features like heated front seats with leather upholstery, a wireless phone charger, and so much more. Choose the GT2 trim, and it all can be enhanced with a power sunroof, multi-color LED accent lighting, a Head-Up Display, Smart Cruise Control, and more. On the GT2, you'll also get luxurious Nappa leather seats.

On the Kia K5, even the LXS trim offers generous standard features like dual-zone auto climate control, a smart power trunk, remote keyless entry, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, and more. Moving up to trims like the GT-Line adds luxuries like a sport steering wheel with leather trim, 10-way power-adjustable heated front seats, a Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and more. At the top of the line, the EX trim offers a 360-degree Surround View Monitor, a premium sound system, and much more.

Kia K5 vs. Kia Stinger Tech Features

We've touched on some tech, but there's a whole lot more in store. While the 2023 Kia Stinger contains some great tech features for its model year, the 2025 Kia K5 features the latest and greatest in automotive technology.

The Kia K5 has a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay® and more connectivity like voice recognition, a Kia Smart Trunk that opens when you stand behind it, a front USB-C charging port, and more.

Standard Kia Stinger tech includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, dual-zone auto climate control with Kia Smart ventilation, USB charging ports, a rearview camera, lane-following technology, automated emergency braking, and more.

You can kit the new Kia K5 out with an awesome selection of available features and packages. You may be able to find Kia Stinger models with upgrades like a Harman Kardon® premium 15-speaker sound system. If you're looking to get a luxurious atmosphere in your Kia K5, you can enjoy the Bose® Premium Audio System with 12 speakers in the EX trim or add it as an option.

If something else is on your wish list, chances are you can add it to the K5, and you may be able to find a used Kia Stinger that ticks all your boxes.

2023 Kia Stinger vs. K5 Performance

Which Is Faster, the Kia K5 or the Kia Stinger?

The Kia Stinger is built on a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that beats its counterpart off the line by a little more than a nose. While both sedans pack a thrilling amount of power, those who like a little more pep in their step when merging into traffic or getting in front of the city bus before making that crucial right turn may enjoy the press-down power of the Stinger. It's a hard-charging road-burner that holds nothing back when it's time to get you where you need to go.

What Did the Kia K5 Replace?

The Kia K5 is a complete redesign and replacement of the sedan known formerly as the Kia Optima. Reemerging after project engineers collaborated and created an entirely different compact car model, the Kia K5 promises attractive refinement beyond the Optima models that make up its lineage. While those prior sedans are no slouches, the K5 was designed with the future in mind, not the past. That's why its power under the hood and easily accessible digital infotainment systems in the cabin are such instant classics among sedan enthusiasts searching for more at the cutting edge of the industry. The Kia Stinger vs. Optima may be a useful used car comparison, but for new models, nothing is as worthy of a challenger as the Kia K5.

Kia Stinger vs. K5 Size Comparison

Both the Kia Stinger vs. Kia K5 seat five trusty travelers, and while the K5 is longer, the Stinger actually emerges with an increased cargo capacity. The K5 has more room inside the cabin for passengers, though, so if you want to get as much legroom and headroom as possible when you hit the road, consider the K5 and prioritize cabin size.

However, if bringing gear in addition to your passengers fits the way you travel better, the Stinger may be a more appropriate selection. It has more cargo space for countless suitcases, barbeque leftovers, golf club sets, duffel bags – whatever your unique life has in it. If you want to bring along more for the ride than your average sedan will allow, pack everyone and everything into the Kia Stinger for an all-hands-on-deck performance that will leave you smiling. On top of all this, these are some of the most fuel-efficient sedans found anywhere.

2025 Kia K5 vs. 2023 Kia Stinger Fuel Efficiency

The 2025 Kia K5 for sale boasts the better fuel-efficiency figures of the duo, though both models can hold their own when measuring up at the bank and the tank. The K5 runs at an EPA-estimated figure of up to 26 MPG in the city, 37 MPG on the highway, and 30 MPG combined.¹

The 2023 Stinger has more power and thus runs at a slightly less efficient clip, but it still provides plenty of travel on every tank. The rear-wheel drive Stinger drives at an EPA-estimated efficiency of up to 22 miles per gallon in the city, 32 miles per gallon on the highway, and 25 miles per gallon combined.¹

Redefining What a Sedan Can Do

Whether you're interested in a brand-new 2025 Kia K5 or a pre-owned 2023 Kia Stinger for sale, contact our team today. Both options offer great performance specs, interior comforts, and safety features, making them both excellent choices for many types of drivers!

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¹Based on EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and your vehicle’s condition. See www.fueleconomy.gov.