Head-to-head
2026 Honda Civic vs 2026 Kia K5
The Kia K5 edges it, 91.1 to 87.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
A
2026 Honda Civic
The 2026 Honda Civic is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Civic 4Dr, is EPA-rate…
vs
A2026 Kia K5
The 2026 Kia K5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas large sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K5 w/Stop-Start, is EPA-rated at 30 mp…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Kia K5
Slight edgeThe Kia K5 edges it, 91.1 to 87.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
Tech & comfort 2026 Kia K5 leads by 42.3
Fuel & range 2026 Honda Civic leads by 39.9
Safety 2026 Kia K5 leads by 12.5
| Category · weight | 2026 Kia K5overall 91.1 | 2026 Honda Civicoverall 87.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 90.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 60.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 98.9 | 86.4 | |||||||||||||||
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 & cargow 2 | 100 | 94.9 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 79.6 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 57.7 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 91.1 | 87.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Kia K5: base trim LXS FWD · Honda Civic: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and the answer flips.
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 2026 Kia K5 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (14 against 32 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (52 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It lists 39 standard driver-assist features against 28.
Where the 2026 Honda Civic answers
- It costs $850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,100).
- It is rated 49 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
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
52 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,490 | $24,995 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L I-4, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) THETA-III engine | Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | 150 hp |
| Torque | 182 lb-ft | 133 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | 32 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | 36 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 37 mpg | 41 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.195:1 | 3.941 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | Continuously Variable Transmission |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in | 70.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 108 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.6 cu-ft | 14.8 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 121 cu-ft | 99 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.2 in | 39.3 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.1 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 46.1 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 37.4 in |
| Third-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,230 lbs | 2,875 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,230 lbs | 2,875 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,365 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | McPherson strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS), Electric Motor | Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 36 ft | 36.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Electric |
| Rear brake diameter | 284 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | Full Covers |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P205/65R16 95H | 215/55R16 93H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.8 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | HondaLink |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 36 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58 in | 57 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 56 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
183 features · differences first, then sharedSafety43 differ · 55 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Cyclist Detection (includes Car / Pedestrian) / Junction Turning Detection (Car) (Camera and Radar based) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM) | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning-Forward (PDW-F) | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) with Lock Combined with Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Power Child Lock | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Auto door lock AT position | std | — |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | std | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | — | std |
| Driver seat-belt warning system | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold | — | std |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with auto-hold | std | — |
| Emergency internal trunk release | std | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | std | — |
| Front seat-belt pre tensioner and load limiter | std | — |
| Front seat-belt reminder | std | — |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | 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 | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row Outboard), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All) | — | std |
| Parking brake warning system | std | — |
| Rear child-safety door locks (power) | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) (door logic based) | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder (RSR) | — | std |
| Rear seat-belt pre tensioner | std | — |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat-Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Advanced Front Airbags (SRS) | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Front Side Airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | std |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Rear Outboard Passenger's Side Airbags | std | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Knee Airbags (SRS) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch ccNC Lite Radio, Satellite Digital Radio, Rear view Camera, Telematics, Wireless CP/AA | std | — |
| 160-watt Audio System with 4 Speakers | — | std |
| 6 speakers (including 2 tweeters) | std | — |
| 7-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 7-Inch TFT Meter | — | std |
| Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | — | std |
| Bluetooth® wireless technology | std | — |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| Second row USB-C charge ports (x2) | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna | std | — |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth®, and cruise controls | std | — |
| USB-C 3.0A Charging Port (1) Front Seats | — | std |
| USB-C 3.0A Smartphone/Audio Interface (1) - Front Seats | — | std |
Convenience9 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Front and rear power windows | std | — |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door Locks | — | std |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | std | — |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Driver's and Front Passenger's Windows | — | std |
| Security System with Remote Entry and Trunk Release | — | std |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | std | — |
| Central door lock switch | std | — |
| Push Button Start | std | std |
| Cruise Control | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Climate Control System | — | std |
| Dual Zone - Full Automatic Temperature Control (D-FATC) | std | — |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way manual adjustable driver seat including double recline, sliding and height adjuster | std | — |
| 5-Person Seating Capacity | — | std |
| 60/40 split-folding rear seat | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | — |
| One Piece Fold-Down Rear Seatback | — | std |
| Rear center arm rest with cup holder | std | — |
| Rear outboard adjustable headrests, up/down | std | — |
Interior42 differ · 42 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch Color TFT LCD Color Super Vision display panel | std | — |
| 4.2-inch Color TFT LCD Color Super Vision display panel | std | — |
| Assist Grips (x4) | std | — |
| Black paint B/C Pillar trim | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Cargo lamp | std | — |
| Center Console Armrest with Storage Compartment | — | std |
| Coat hook (x1) | std | — |
| Dark silver metal paint power window switch panel | std | — |
| Door scuff plates with vehicle name logo | std | — |
| Front Beverage Holders | — | 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 | — |
| Gauges (Engine RPM, Temperature Meter, Speedometer, Fuel Meter, Engine Oil Sensor) | std | — |
| Illuminated ignition key cylinder | std | — |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Illuminated sun visor | std | — |
| IMG skin front upper door trim | std | — |
| Leather wrapped door upper armrest trim | std | — |
| Low density Tricoat Cloth head liner | std | — |
| Map Lights | — | 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 | — |
| Silver metallic paint inside door handles | std | — |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Upper crash pad with in-mold artificial stitch | std | — |
| Day & night rear-view mirror | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Floor Mats | — | std |
| Front seatback pockets with back panel | std | — |
| Front and rear door map pockets with bottle holder | std | — |
| Rheostat (Dimmer Switch) | std | — |
Exterior30 differ · 31 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminate 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 | — |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| Gloss black rear bumper | std | — |
| Heated Side Mirrors | std | — |
| Hyper Silver metallic radiator grille | std | — |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off | — | std |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) Head Lights | std | — |
| LED rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Outside door handle pocket lighting | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Single exhaust with simulated dual muffler | std | — |
| Solar control glass (windshield, doors, back window, backlite) | std | — |
| Two-Speed Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | std | — |
| Auto light control | std | — |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp | std | — |
| Temporary spare tire | std | — |
| Low washer fluid warning system | std | — |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | std |
Powertrain12 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) | std | — |
| 8-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder (Engine Type) | — | std |
| Auto Engine Control (Vehicle Automatic Shut-Off) | std | — |
| Column Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | std | — |
| Continuously Variable Transmission | — | std |
| Direct Fuel Injection | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
| Dynamic Drive Modes | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| Honda Maintenance Program 1yr / 12k miles | — | std |
| Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive | std | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| High Performance Damper (HPD) shock absorbers | std | — |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia K5
Safety Signal 97 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 14 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (5), Engine (5), Electrical System (3)
Top recalls
- minor Electrical System 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
Honda Civic
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 32 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (12), Steering (7), Service Brakes (5)
Top recalls
- high Steering 24V744000 · 1,693,199 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia K5LXS FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,490 (base trim) | $24,995 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,490 – $34,990 5 trims | $24,995 – $32,695 4 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | K5 w/Stop-Start | Civic 4Dr |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 49 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Kia K5 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
The Kia K5 edges it, 91.1 to 87.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia K5 scores 91.1 and the 2026 Honda Civic 87.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Kia K5 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
The 2026 Honda Civic starts lower — $24,995 against $27,490, a gap of $2,495 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Kia K5 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
2026 Kia K5: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Honda Civic: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 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 2026 Kia K5 and the 2026 Honda Civic?
Where the 2026 Kia K5 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (14 against 32 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (52 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and lists 39 standard driver-assist features against 28. Where the 2026 Honda Civic answers: it costs $850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,100) and is rated 49 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.