You probably don’t think of Kia badging when you think of a sleeper car. But the new 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line brings a ton of fun and a lot of tech in a low-key package. The bonus? It starts at under $30,000.

Check out the new 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line, and see what makes this affordable premium sedan such a steal. 

2022 Kia K5 GT-Line vs. Kia K5 GT

• The Kia K5 GT-Line is nearly $4,000 cheaper
• The Kia K5 GT offers more 110 more horsepower from a bigger engine
• Only the Kia K5 GT-Line offers AWD; the Kia GT is FWD only

The K5 GT-Line is the spunky younger sibling of the K5 GT. The two cars have similar exterior styling, but the GT-Line brings a smaller engine and a more affordable starting price.

If you’re not familiar, “GT” stands for “Grand Touring.” This is a designation reserved for sports cars that were made to drive long distances at high speeds. More often than not, grand touring cars are also high-level luxury vehicles. You wouldn’t want to take a long, high-speed road trip in a barebones sedan, would you? 

Exterior and interior styling

The bumpers, grille, spoiler, and wheels on the 2022 K5 GT-Line are the same as on the proper K5 GT, so you can benefit from the appearance of a top-level trim without having to pay for it. Sneaky. Choose the 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line in Wolf Grey, and you might be mistaken for the driver of a $50,000+ sports car.

Inside, the K5 GT-Line offers available red SynTex vegan leather that looks and feels like the real thing. It has a simple and practical design for the cabin, with a place for everything and everything in its place. If you’re looking to spend a little more, you can opt for the $1900 Premium Package and add LED headlights, a panoramic roof, and a heated steering wheel.

Kia K5 GT-Line engine specs and performance

The K5 GT-Line comes standard with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission on this sedan is an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is available on the GT-Line.

Want to see, hear, and experience the GT-Line in action? Check out this POV video: 

Does the Kia K5 GT-Line get good gas mileage?

The 180-horsepower AWD K5 GT-Line gets a respectable 25 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway. Combined, you’re likely to see 28 mpg combined as long as you don’t ride it too hard. 

The front-wheel drive K5 GT-Line sees slightly better numbers, but not by all that much. Ditch all-wheel drive, and you could get up to 37 mpg on the highway. Those aren’t the best fuel economy ratings for a midsize sedan, but it’s pretty good for what you get.

Kia K5 GT-Line competitors

Some of the top competitors for the Kia K5 lineup are the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (of course), the Hyundai Sonata, and the Subaru Legacy. CNET gave the K5 GT-Line a score of 8.5/10 for performance, and 9s down the line for features, design, and media. That’s pretty impressive. 

Kia is still working its way toward a superb brand reputation, but the 2022 K5 GT-Line is giving it a big boost.