Kia K5 pricing holds the line at $27,690 before destination as the EX grade exits, tightening the three-trim lineup against the Toyota Camry.
Kia America priced the 2027 K5 on September 22, and the headline number is what disappears from the window sticker. The EX trim is gone, leaving just three grades, and the cheapest one still starts under $28,000 before destination.
That base LXS trim carries a 2.5-liter engine making 186 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, unchanged from before. Kia trimmed the lineup and buyers cross-shopping the Toyota Camry now have a simpler decision to make.
The LXS front-wheel-drive model opens the range at $27,690 before a $1,245 destination charge, which brings the starting figure to $28,935 before taxes. That is just $200 higher than the outgoing model, according to Kia America’s pricing announcement.
Move up and the GT-Line front-wheel-drive lists at $28,690, with all-wheel drive adding $1,600 for a GT-Line price of $30,290. The GT-Line keeps the base engine’s output, so the extra money buys styling and equipment rather than power.
The GT sits at the top of the range at $33,790 before destination, a gap of $6,100 over the LXS. That premium buys a turbocharged engine rated at 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, a substantial jump for shoppers who want the K5 to feel quick.
None of the three trims offers a hybrid powertrain, which still sets the K5 apart from Kia’s existing US hybrid SUVs such as the Sportage, Sorento, and Niro. Kia’s long-term investor roadmap outlines plans to add a K5 hybrid around 2027, but this generation of the US-market sedan arrives without one.
2026 Kia K5
Cutting the EX trim leaves a tighter, easier to analyze range. LXS for buyers who just want the sedan, GT-Line for looks and available all-wheel drive, GT for anyone chasing power. It mirrors the streamlined approach Kia already took with the K4 hatchback’s trim lineup.
The Toyota Camry undercuts the K5 on powertrain variety by offering a hybrid across its whole range, something no K5 trim can match this year. Kia’s patient approach fits a strong sales run, as the K5 posted its best sales month ever in August 2026, leaving little incentive to rush a hybrid or overhaul pricing before the next redesign.
The 2027 K5 reaches dealers with pricing that undercuts most Camry trims and keeps the turbocharged GT as the performance play, even without a hybrid on the options list.
Motor1’s Take: Kia is focusing on value and performance instead of chasing every powertrain niche. The K5 stays a budget-friendly alternative to hybrid-heavy rivals while still offering a turbocharged GT for drivers who care more about performance than fuel economy.
The risk is that midsize buyers focused on fuel costs will keep drifting toward the Camry and other hybrids. If gas prices climb again, the lack of a K5 hybrid could matter more than the simplified trim offering and modest price bump.
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