This Facelifted Kia K5 Is The Camry Rival We Won’t Get

The facelifted Kia K5 arrives in South Korea with mild design tweaks and updated equipment

It seems like Kia is busy updating its lineup for the 2024 Model Year (2024 MY), as the marque revealed the facelifted version of its mid-size sedan fighter, the Kia K5. Previously known as the Kia Optima in several international markets including ours, the updated fifth-gen K5 now gets mild design tweaks, as well as an overall kit upgrade.

On the visual front, the facelifted K5 now gets a tweaked face, featuring EV9-esque LED headlights with unique Y-shaped DRLs that expand to the redesigned front bumper, while flanking its signature ‘Tiger Nose’ front grille with hexagonal inserts. Aside from that, there’s also new options for the alloy wheels and two new exterior hues – Wolf Gray and Moonscape Matte Grey.

At the rear, this sporty sedan sports redesigned LED taillights with similar Y-shaped design as the front, plus a tweaked rear bumper design. Topping off the exterior design tweak is a new ducktail rear spoiler that further accentuates the car’s fastback-style rear windscreen.

Snazzier 'Black Fit' exterior package is offered to the facelifted Kia K5 in South Korea

Should customers desire their new K5 to look snazzier and sportier, the updated sedan model is now offered with optional ‘Black Fit’ package which adds a set of black 18- or 19-inch wheels, a black suede headliner, as well as a dark-hued finish on the mirror caps, rear diffuser, and tailpipes.

More facelifted treatment can be seen once we step inside the new K5 cabin. For starters, the K5 now comes standard with sleeker panoramic curved display consisting of dual 12.3-inch screens with no physical buttons and controls. One of said screens is reserved for infotainment functions, where the updated system is now compatible with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, a fingerprint authentication system, as well as built-in music streaming services. Speaking of music, this infotainment setup is now offered with an optional 12-speaker Krell premium sound system.

Other than that, the cabin is also laced with a new upholstery option, featuring up to three different colours to choose from – Sand, Martian Brown, and Black. Topping off the cabin amenities list are new digital panels for the climate control, a wireless charging pad, as well as a revised rotary-style gear shifter.

As for the mechanical bits, the facelifted K5 now rides on a revised suspension setup that improves ride comfort, while the bodywork features better sound insulation. Powertrain options for the Korean-spec K5 remains the same as before, which includes a 2.0-litre 4-cyl nat-asp mill option rated at 158 HP, a turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-cyl TGDi option delivering 178 HP, as well as a sole hybrid option with the peppiest total system output of 192 HP.

Already available for purchase in the South Korean market, the updated Kia K5 is set to enter other international markets as early as next year

The facelifted Kia K5 is now available for order in South Korea, with prices ranging from KRW 27.84 million (RM98,223) to KRW 39.54 million (RM139,502), depending on the powertrain options and added trims. As for now, Kia has yet to announce any plans to introduce this updated sedan to other international markets, though we’d reckon it’ll eventually arrive sooner or later.

Unfortunately, the Kia K5/Optima is officially not on sale in the Malaysian market for now, with the last model brought to the market being the facelifted fourth-gen model back in 2019. With demands for D-segment sedans in our local market becoming scarcer in recent years, the likelihood of Dinamikjaya Motors (Bermaz Auto) bringing this updated sedan into our market is very low.