Does the Kia K5 have a manual transmission option?


World Car Kia North



Unfortunately, the new 2021 Kia K5 does not come with a manual transmission.


Kia’s 2021 K5 is an all around break from traditional midsize sedans like the Kia Optima. Despite the sportier design and optional sport trims, the 2021 Kia K5 will not be offered with a manual transmission. Why? Since the late 1980’s, there has been a dwindling interest in manual transmissions. In 2006, 47% of all vehicles came with a standard transmission option. That number dropped to 37% by 2011 and is down to just 13% as of 2020.

In October of 2019, it was shown that only 1.2% of all new vehicles sold were manuals. The general consumer doesn’t want a manual vehicle and, as such, the manufacturers have stopped offering them. As a result, most car manufacturers are no longer implementing them in new vehicle production. While standard transmissions are cheaper to build, not to mention cheaper to fix, most manufacturers don’t want to waste the time or money providing two drive trains when one will surely outdo the other in terms of gross profit.


Manual transmissions can still be seen in many sports cars

(Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is exclusively sold with a standard transmission), however Kia opted not to go that route with their first generation of the 2021 Kia K5. In lieu of a manual transmission, the Kia K5 comes with several upgrades and improvements over the Kia Optima.

Each of the five trims will come with an 8-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The LX, LXS, GT-Line and EX models have 195 ft-lb of torque and 180 hp@5500rpm, better than similar midsize sedans in the market. The LXS and the GT-Line will also offer AWD packages for the first time in Kia’s history, making it one of the few manufacturers on the market that offers an AWD option.


The 2021 Kia K5 has an automatic transmission

Despite not having a manual transmission, the 2021 Kia K5 GT is a beast! The Kia K5 GT, the most expensive model of the new K5, has a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and Multi-Port Injection (MPI), has 290 hp @ 5800 rpm and has 311 lb-ft of torque at 1650-4000 rpm.

While the 2021 Kia K5 has an automatic transmission, the driver can still feel the power of the vehicle and engage in the driving process. The sleek new design, interior and exterior upgrades, and powerful engine make the K5 a real competitor to other similar sports sedans like the BMW 330i.


The Kia K5 LX, LXS, GT-Line and EX were released

Over the summer of 2020 in the midst of the COVID chaos, but the 2021 Kia K5 GT is scheduled to hit the market in November of 2020, just in time for Christmas. Each model of the Kia K5 is spacious and comes standard with entertainment and top-of-the-line safe-driving technology. The Kia K5 is the only vehicle on the market that offers a wide variety of technological, aesthetic and safety innovations for the price.


So, no -- the Kia K5 does not come with a manual transmission – yet

The K5 is only the first generation of this new Kia luxury sports sedan. Who’s to say, down the road, that they won’t improve upon this version and implement a manual transmission for those enthusiasts who enjoy the feel of the vehicle? The Kia K5, in any trim, is a top-of-the-line, high performance vehicle with a lot of gusto. If you want a sleek, sexy and powerful sedan without the price tag of an Audi, the K5 is just what you’re looking for!


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