Head-to-head
2025 Kia K5 vs 2025 Lucid Air
The Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 58.1, on fuel & range. The Kia K5 is ahead on safety.
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2025 Kia K5
The 2025 Kia K5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas large sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K5, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. N…
vs
D2025 Lucid Air
The 2025 Lucid Air is sold in the U.S. as an electric large sedan with 9 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Air G Touring XR AWD with 19 i…
Verdict · default weights
2025 Lucid Air
Clear winThe Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 58.1, on fuel & range. The Kia K5 is ahead on safety.
Fuel & range 2025 Lucid Air leads by 78.4
Safety 2025 Kia K5 leads by 27.2
| Category · weight | 2025 Kia K5overall 58.1 | 2025 Lucid Airoverall 76.2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 21.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 85.5 | 58.3 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 58.1 | 76.2 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Lucid Air
Lucid Air: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Kia K5: base trim LXS FWD · Lucid Air: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Lucid Air wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (17 against 54 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 146 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($500 against $2,250).
Where the 2025 Kia K5 answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 61).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,190 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L I-4, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) THETA-III engine | — |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | — |
| Torque | 182 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 37 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.195:1 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | — |
| Overall length | 193 in | — |
| Overall width | 73.2 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 121 cu-ft | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.2 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 46.1 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,230 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,230 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,365 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | McPherson strut | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS), Electric Motor | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 36 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | epb | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 284 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P205/65R16 95H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.8 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 56.1 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
119 features · differences first, then sharedSafety40 differ · 40 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Cyclist Detection (includes Car / Pedestrian) / Junction Turning Detection (Car) (Camera and Radar based) | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC w/ S&G) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| 12.3-inch ccNC Lite Radio, Satellite Digital Radio, Rear view Camera, Telematics, Wireless CP/AA | std | — |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | — |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning-Forward (PDW-F) | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | — |
| Anti-lock Brakes System (ABS) | std | — |
| Auto door lock AT position | std | — |
| Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist - Rear (BCA) | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Driver seat-belt warning system | std | — |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with auto-hold | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | — |
| Emergency internal trunk release | std | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | std | — |
| Front seat-belt pretensioners and load limiter | std | — |
| Front seat-belt reminder | std | — |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | std | — |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Impact sensing door unlock | std | — |
| Key operated warning system | std | — |
| Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA) | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | std | — |
| Parking brake warning system | std | — |
| Rear child-safety door locks (power) | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) (door logic based) | std | — |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch ccNC Lite Radio, Satellite Digital Radio, Rear view Camera, Telematics, Wireless CP/AA | std | — |
| 6 speakers (including 2 tweeters) | std | — |
| Bluetooth® wireless technology | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth®, and cruise controls | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Smart key with Push-Button Start, Remote Engine Start, Climate and Smart trunk (open) | std | — |
| Auto Engine Control (Vehicle Automatic Shut-Off) | std | — |
| Front and rear power windows | std | — |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | std | — |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | std | — |
| Central door lock switch | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Zone - Full Automatic Temperature Control (D-FATC) | std | — |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split-folding rear seat | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable driver seat including double recline, sliding and height adjuster | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | — |
| Rear outboard adjustable headrests, up/down | std | — |
| Rear center arm rest with cup holder | std | — |
Interior34 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch Color TFT LCD Color Super Vision display panel | std | — |
| Assist Grips (x4) | std | — |
| Black paint B/C Pillar trim | std | — |
| Cargo lamp | std | — |
| Coat hook (x1) | std | — |
| Dark silver metal paint power window switch panel | std | — |
| Door scuff plates with vehicle name logo | std | — |
| Front console tray with 12V power outlet (x1), USB-C (x2 - 1 data and 1 charge port) | std | — |
| Front console with armrest, storage and cup holders | std | — |
| Illuminated ignition key cylinder | std | — |
| IMG skin front upper door trim | std | — |
| Leather wrapped door upper armrest trim | std | — |
| Low density Tricoat Cloth head liner | std | — |
| Metallic paint center fascia panel | std | — |
| Metallic paint dash pad and door trim accents | std | — |
| Overhead front map lamp | std | — |
| Plastic center door trim | std | — |
| Plastic cover door side armrest trim | std | — |
| Plastic lower dash pad | std | — |
| Plastic rear upper door trim | std | — |
| Plastic side garnish armrest trim | std | — |
| Polyurethane wrapped gearshift knob | std | — |
| Polyurethane-wrapped (Metal Paint finish) steering wheel | std | — |
| Rear room lamp | std | — |
| Second row USB-C charge ports (x2) | std | — |
| Silver metallic paint inside door handles | std | — |
| Sun visor with vanity mirror ticket holder and extension | std | — |
| Upper crash pad with in-mold artificial stitch | std | — |
| Day & night rear-view mirror | std | — |
| Illuminated sun visor | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Front seatback pockets with back panel | std | — |
| Front and rear door map pockets with bottle holder | std | — |
| Rheostat (Dimmer Switch) | std | — |
Exterior22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic laminated windshield | std | — |
| Black windshield molding, door pillar and frame cover | std | — |
| Body-color outside door handles | std | — |
| Body-color outside mirrors with black base | std | — |
| Body-color side sill molding | std | — |
| Bright chrome DLO front and rear molding | std | — |
| Gloss black rear bumper | std | — |
| Hyper Silver metallic radiator grille | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | — |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) Head Lights | std | — |
| LED rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Outside door handle pocket lighting | std | — |
| Power adjustable heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Single exhaust with simulated dual muffler | std | — |
| Solar control glass (windshield, doors, back window, backlite) | std | — |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Auto light control | std | — |
| Rear-window defroster | std | — |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp | std | — |
| Temporary spare tire | std | — |
| Low washer fluid warning system | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| 2.5L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) | std | — |
| 8-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Column Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | std | — |
| High Performance Damper (HPD) shock absorbers | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia K5
Safety Signal 89 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 54 · 4 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Tires (15), Electrical System (12), Power Train (6)
Top recalls
- high Structure 25V493000 · 100,063 vehicles
- minor Exterior Lighting 25V351000 · 82,281 vehicles
Lucid Air
Safety Signal 61 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 7 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 17 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (6), Power Train (4), Unspecified (4)
Park-outside advisory — open NHTSA recall with a consumer advisory.
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V540000 · 27,185 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V309000 · 2,039 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V193000 · 3,627 vehicles
- high Power Train 25V669000 · 225 vehicles
- high Electrical System 24V836000 · 1,539 vehicles
- minor Back Over Prevention 26V017000 · 10,816 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia K5LXS FWD | Lucid Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,190 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $27,190 – $34,690 5 trims | — |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | K5 | Air Pure RWD with 19 inch wheels |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 146 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $500 |
| EV range | — | 420 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Kia K5 or the 2025 Lucid Air?
The Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 58.1, on fuel & range. The Kia K5 is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Lucid Air scores 76.2 and the 2025 Kia K5 58.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Kia K5 or the 2025 Lucid Air?
2025 Kia K5: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. 2025 Lucid Air: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 7 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Kia K5 and the 2025 Lucid Air?
Where the 2025 Lucid Air wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (17 against 54 filed with NHTSA), is rated 146 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $1,750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($500 against $2,250). Where the 2025 Kia K5 answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 61). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.