In the midsize sedan segment, the 2023 Kia K5 and the Toyota Camry go head to head in a field stacked with competitive entries. Both cars start at just north of $25,000 (although the K5 isn’t as far north as the Camry) and offer reliable, safe, and economical transportation for five. Both midsize cars also offer sporty engine options, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and advanced standard driver assistance features. However, there are three reasons to choose the 2023 Kia K5 over the Camry.

Reason #1: The 2023 Kia K5 has superior exterior styling

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) lists three things that the 2023 Kia K5 does better than the Toyota Camry. The first is the K5’s “head-turning style,” which KBB says “makes it the runway model of the midsize sedan class.” 

The Kia K5 is a sporty midsize sedan wrapped in an attractive package, from its aggressive front facia containing amber-trimmed headlights and fog lights mounted into its lower air dam to its swept-back roofline and body side moldings down to its stunning wheel designs. 

Reason #2: K5’s best-in-class cabin

The 2023 Kia K5 features superior space usage inside the cabin, at least for front-seat passengers and cargo capacity. While both sedans are within an inch of being the same size externally, the K5 has 1.9-inches more headroom and four inches of additional legroom in the front seats, plus an extra 0.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. 

The extra front seat room and cargo space are nice, but Kia didn’t stop there. The GT and GT-Line models, in particular, offer cabins so well appointed that they can make you “feel like you bought a luxury car,” according to KBB. Likewise, the Kia K5 features an attractive interior design with quality materials and functional layouts, even in base-trim. 

Reason #3: Kia’s industry-leading warranty

As the saying goes, “Looks aren’t everything.” While it’s hard for any midsize sedan to compete with the Toyota Camry’s legendary reliability, Kia puts its proverbial best foot forward. By offering the best new car warranty in the industry, Kia says that it believes its cars are as reliable as its rivals. Not only is Kia’s basic 5-year or 60,000-mile warranty better than Toyota’s 3-year, 36,000-mile version, but its 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty eclipses Toyota’s 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. 

Is the 2023 Kia K5 the best midsize sedan?

Ultimately, the 2023 Kia K5 is a prime contender for the ‘Best Midsize Sedan of 2023’ title. The final decision rests on how well the K5 fits your personality and preferences. The new Kia K5 features bold exterior styling that may overwhelm some buyers that prefer a more subtle offering. 

In addition, although the K5 features more front-seat passenger legroom, Kia’s designers borrowed that extra space from the rear seating area. This space transfer results in rear seats that offer less room than the Camry’s. People with small children probably will not see an issue with the K5’s reduction in rear-seat legroom, but those with adult back-seat passengers will.