Are you searching for a striking midsize sedan that’s as energetic and stylish as the Bayou City? The Kia K5 should be on your radar. It blends the fuel economy and spacious interior that drivers appreciate with performance-forward perks for those who love to drive. And if you’re after a Kia K5 for sale near Houston, we have it. For the 2025 model year, the K5 is available in five distinct trims. The best part is that there really is no "base-level" trim here. The starting trim has what many consider to be luxury perks, and it only gets better from there. Let’s take a look.
LXS
The starting trim of the 2025 K5 is built to impress. Its 2.5L four-cylinder engine (which is standard on all trims besides the GT) gives you solid fuel economy and enough power for regular driving. Plus, it’s paired with a Drive Mode Select system offering three drive modes: Normal, Sport, and My Drive. Normal is perfect for everyday driving around Houston, combining optimal fuel efficiency with a smooth ride. Sport gets you a more exhilarating behind-the-wheel experience. My Drive lets you customize vehicle dynamics for the places you go and how you like to drive.
The LXS also boasts a generous driver assist suite. It has Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, which alerts you to vehicles in your side blind spots when you’ve activated your turn signal. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can take over braking to avoid crashes with not only vehicles in front of you but also pedestrians and cyclists. It even takes over when a potential collision is detected while turning at an intersection.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist takes over braking when a vehicle passes behind you when you’re in reverse. You also get standard Park Distance Warning in the front and rear to help avoid small dings when parking. Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Lane Following Assist help you maintain your lane. Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go can maintain a set speed, stop when necessary, and resume when traffic picks back up. Every subsequent trim also contains all of these driver assist features and then some.
Inside this trim, you’ll sit on cloth seats with a six-way manual driver seat. Wireless smartphone compatibility comes standard, and you can control your favorite apps on the 12.3-inch touchscreen display. Plus, you’ll listen to tunes on a six-speaker audio system. The LXS trim boasts Remote Start, allowing you to activate the dual-zone automatic climate control before getting into your vehicle. At the back, it has a Smart Trunk, which opens on its own when it senses you standing nearby with your Smart Key on you.
GT-Line FWD
Now, we get into the first of the two GT-Line trims, the GT-Line FWD. It builds on the LXS with some enhanced technology, comfort, and convenience features. Let’s start with the driver assist features. In this trim, you’ll get enhanced Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go. This feature automatically slows your vehicle when driving in curved sections of the road. Then, you get Highway Driving Assist, which builds on Smart Cruise Control by also maintaining your lane for you.
Inside this trim, you’ll enjoy a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats. You move from cloth seats to SynTex, a leather-like upholstery. Meanwhile, the flat-bottom sport steering wheel and gear shift knob feature genuine leather wrapping. Plus, the front door window glass is sound-absorbing for a peaceful interior.
Look to the sides, and you’ll find heated side mirrors with LED turn signals. These can melt away ice and notify nearby vehicles of your next move. A wireless phone charger enables you to leave the USB cords at home and still keep devices powered. And, of course, you get the GT-Line's unique aesthetic details, like 18-inch gloss black and machined finish wheels, LED fog lights, and striking GT-Line body styling.
GT-Line AWD
The GT-Line AWD tells you what makes it different from the GT-Line FWD right in its name. It gets you all-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive for better command on slippery roads. This K5 trim is ready for the rainy season in Houston. It’s even ready for the occasional snowy Texas day, thanks to its more robust Drive Mode Select, which adds Snow mode for improved traction. You’ll also benefit from a heated steering wheel on this trim to keep your hands warm and toasty. These are the main differences between the GT-Line AWD and GT-Line FWD.
GT
The GT-Line trims just give you a little sporty styling; the GT gives you real sporty performance. It’s the only trim in the 2025 K5 lineup that gets you a turbocharged 2.5L engine, bumping the output up to 290 hp instead of the 191 hp of the other trims. This trim also enjoys a sport-tuned suspension and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for easy gear changes while keeping your hands on the wheel. You also move away from the eight-speed automatic transmission of the other trims to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission here, offering super crisp shifts and impressive power delivery.
The GT’s performance features are complemented by some luxury perks. You get a standard panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade, so you can enjoy summer days in the city more with natural light and fresh air. Plus, you get rear A/C vents in this trim to keep backseat passengers comfortable. Note that the heated steering wheel is no longer standard here, but it is optional, along with ventilated front seats that are perfect for Houston summers.
EX
The EX is the top-of-the-line luxury trim of the K5. It drops the performance features of the GT, taking you back to the standard 2.5L four-cylinder engine. However, it builds on all the other convenience, technology, and comfort features from the previous trims. It adds a Blind-Spot View Monitor, which displays real-time footage from your side cameras in your instrument cluster when you activate your turn signal. It also adds Park Distance Warning-Side, helping you avoid incidents with people or objects around your vehicle when you’re parking or driving slowly. Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse is another addition, taking over braking when a potential crash is detected while in reverse. A Surround View Monitor rounds out the EX’s robust driver assist suite, showing views from 360 degrees on your center display.
Some added perks include a memory function for your driver’s seat and exterior mirrors. If a valet at a Houston restaurant changes the settings, your vehicle will return to how you like it at the push of a button. You also get the addition of standard ventilated front seats in this trim for four-season climate comfort. On the style front, you’ll find beautiful wood graphics adorning the interior. Finally, this is the only trim where you get the optional Bose 12-speaker sound system as a standard feature.
Find the 2025 Kia K5 at Parkway Family Kia
Whether you’re building your career in Houston or living the life of a socialite, the Kia K5 possesses refinement and power that we think you’ll love. Its base-level LXS is a sight for sore eyes, boasting the upscale features you’d expect from a top trim. The GT-Line trims deliver sporty style and added comfort features, while the GT is ready to satisfy performance aficionados with its sport-tuned suspension, turbocharged engine, and other track-ready features. Finally, the EX is the epitome of luxury and will make you fall in love with driving with its upscale additions like ventilated seats and wood trim accents. Find your K5 at Parkway Family Kia today!