2021 Kia K5 vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from the drab and unattractive sedans of the past. It was a symbolic break from the Optima, which had gained solid recognition since 2011. The K5's design was striking, with a fastback form reminiscent of the Kia Stinger. The GT-Line trim, with its Wolf Gray paint and red seats, gave it an Audi A5 Sportback vibe. The K5 featured unique taillights, a polished black trim, and a killer front with Z-shaped amber LED running lights. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions made it sportier, lower, and longer than the Optima. The interior was equally impressive, with a driver-focused dash, quality materials, and a sporty feel.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over its modern, low-slung, coupe-like design into 2022. It looked like a downsized Altima, a significant improvement over the cartoonish 2019 model. The Sentra's interior was a highlight, with a modern yet simple layout that combined form and function. The front cabin featured a touchscreen rising from the dash, serving as the visual centerpiece. The Sentra offered trims like S, SV, and SR, each adding more features and amenities. The Midnight Edition package for the SR trim added dark accents and unique badging, giving it a more aggressive look. The Sentra's interior was spacious, with comfortable front and rear seats, and plenty of storage options.

The 2021 Kia K5's GT-Line trim, despite its aggressive styling, lacked the verve of a true sports sedan. It had a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, providing decent acceleration but falling short in handling. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, but it was only available in front-wheel drive. The K5's fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models. The ride was balanced and isolated, making it a good family sedan, but the sporty trim didn't match the hype.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The engine provided solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road conditions well, though it struggled with harsher bumps. Overall, the Sentra was great for commuting, driving around town, and occasional road trips.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered comfortable seating for two adults in the back, despite its raked profile. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a wireless charging pad conveniently located. The trunk provided 16 cubic feet of space, expandable by folding the rear seats.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. The trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a button on the dash. The Sentra's interior was spacious, with comfortable front and rear seats. The front row had large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the center console offered plenty of storage options.

The 2021 Kia K5 came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. The GT-Line trim added features like 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, and a power driver's seat. The EX trim offered heated and ventilated seats, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment system. The GT trim included paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and advanced performance hardware. The K5 also featured adaptive cruise control and semi-automated lane centering.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. The system was easy to navigate, with hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics needed updating, and it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were becoming more common in non-luxury vehicles.

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to score highly due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, cyclist detection, and rear emergency braking.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from IIHS, with high ratings for crash testing and driver-assistance features.