Compare the2025 Audi A5VS 2026 Kia K5

The A5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The K5 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Audi A5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The K5 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The A5 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The K5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The A5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The K5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A5. But it costs extra on the K5.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The A5 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The K5 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

Both the A5 and the K5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi A5 weighs 494 to 860 pounds more than the Kia K5. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The A5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the K5’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

The Audi A5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the K5’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 2 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 77 more horsepower (268 vs. 191) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 181) than the K5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi A5 is faster than the Kia K5 4 cyl.:

	A5	K5
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.3 MPH	87.9 MPH

Regenerative brakes improve the A5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The K5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the A5 and the K5 LX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All A5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

For better stopping power the A5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the K5:

	A5	K5
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.2 inches

The A5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the K5 are solid, not vented.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The A5 has a standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The K5 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The A5 stops shorter than the K5:

	A5	K5
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the A5 has larger standard tires than the K5 (235/45R18 vs. 205/65R16).

The A5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the K5 LXS’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the K5 LXS.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the A5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The K5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A5’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the K5 (113.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The A5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the K5’s (59% to 41%). This gives the A5 more stable handling and braking.

The A5 handles at .84 G’s, while the K5 GT-Line AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the K5 GT-Line AWD (26.4 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The A5 is 3 inches shorter than the K5, making the A5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the A5’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the K5’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A5. The K5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the A5 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The K5 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The engine in the A5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the K5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The A5’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the K5, and is not available on all models.

The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The K5 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The A5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The K5’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the A5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the K5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The A5’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the K5 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The A5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The K5’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The K5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The K5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The A5’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The K5 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Audi A5 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the K5 and aren't offered on the LXS/GT-Line.

The A5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the K5 GT-Line/EX/GT. The A5 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the K5.

Both the A5 and the K5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A5 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The K5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Audi A5 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the K5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi A5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the K5 GT-Line/EX/GT offers wireless charging.

The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The K5 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.