Head-to-head
2027 Audi S8 vs 2027 Kia K5
The Kia K5 wins clearly, 93.4 to 63.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Audi S8 is ahead on performance.
A
2027 Audi S8
The 2027 Audi S8 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid large sedan. The most efficient version, the S8, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaig…
vs
A*2027 Kia K5
The 2027 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
2027 Kia K5
Clear winThe Kia K5 wins clearly, 93.4 to 63.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Audi S8 is ahead on performance.
Tech & comfort 2027 Kia K5 leads by 83.7
Fuel & range 2027 Kia K5 leads by 47
Safety 2027 Kia K5 leads by 23.8
| Category · weight | 2027 Kia K5overall 93.4 | 2027 Audi S8overall 63.3 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 53 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 76.2 | ||||||||||||
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 | 93.2 | 86.7 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 60.4 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 16.3 | ||||||||||||
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 | 93.4 | 63.3 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Kia K5: base trim LXS FWD · Audi S8: base trim A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD. 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 2027 Kia K5 wins
- It lists 41 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (49 points against 8 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $2,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,250 against $4,550).
Where the 2027 Audi S8 answers
- It turns out 369 lb-ft of torque against 179.
- It makes 335 hp against 186.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
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.
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Specifications side by side
47 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,690 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5-Litre Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Engine with 8-Speed Automatic Transmission | Six-Cylinder 24-valve DOHC with Audi valvelift system and variable valve timing |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | Roller Swing Arm | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 186 hp | 335 hp |
| Torque | 179 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 37 mpg | 27 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.195 | NA |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 58.3 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 210 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in | 76.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 123 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.6 cu-ft | 12.5 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 121 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.2 in | 38.3 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 38.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 46.1 in | 41.5 in |
| Third-row legroom | 35.2 in | 44.3 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,230 lbs | 4,773 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,230 lbs | 4,773 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,365 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | McPherson strut | Audi adaptive air suspension (comfort) five-link front |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | Audi adaptive air suspension (comfort) five-link rear |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS), Electric Motor | Electromechanical progressive steering system (Dynamic steering available) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 36 ft | 42.3 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electric brake operating on rear wheels | Electro-mechanical |
| Rear brake diameter | 284 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 20 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P205/65R16 95H | 265/40 R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.8 gal | 21.7 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58 in | 59.1 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 56.1 in | 57.6 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
165 features · differences first, then sharedSafety39 differ · 41 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Radio, Navigation, Satellite Digital Radio, Rear view Camera, Telematics, VR, 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 | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Parking brake warning system | std | — |
| Rear child-safety door locks (power) | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) (door logic based) | std | — |
| Rear seat-belt pre tensioner | std | — |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) | std | — |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | std | std |
| Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
Infotainment5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
Convenience7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart key with Push-Button Start, Remote Engine Start, Climate and Smart trunk (open) | std | — |
| Front console tray with 12V power outlet (x1), USB-C (x2 - 1 data and 1 charge port) | std | — |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | std | — |
| Second row USB-C charge ports (x2) | std | — |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | std | — |
| Central door lock switch | std | — |
| Front and rear power windows | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Zone - Full Automatic Temperature Control (D-FATC) | std | — |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split-folding rear seat | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | — |
| Manual Driver and Front Passenger Seat with Double Recline, Sliding Adjustment, and Height Adjustment | std | — |
| Rear outboard adjustable headrests, up/down | std | — |
| Seating Capacity | — | std |
| Rear center arm rest with cup holder | std | — |
Interior38 differ · 38 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| EPA Class - Midsize Car AWD | — | std |
| Head room, front (in) | — | std |
| Head room, rear (in) | — | std |
| Illuminated ignition key cylinder | std | — |
| IMG skin front upper door trim | std | — |
| Leather wrapped door upper armrest trim | std | — |
| Leg room, front (in) | — | std |
| Leg room, rear (in) | — | 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 | — |
| Shoulder room, front (in) | — | std |
| Shoulder room, rear (in) | — | std |
| Silver metallic paint inside door handles | std | — |
| Upper crash pad with in-mold artificial stitch | std | — |
| Day & night rear-view mirror | std | — |
| Front console with armrest, storage and cup holders | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Sun visor with vanity mirror with LED lights, ticket holder and extension | std | — |
| Front seatback pockets with back panel | std | — |
| Front and rear door map pockets with bottle holder | std | — |
| Rheostat (Dimmer Switch) | std | — |
Exterior34 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | — | std |
| Drag Coefficient | — | std |
| Gloss black rear bumper | std | — |
| Height (in) | — | 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 | — |
| Length (in) | — | std |
| Outside door handle pocket lighting | std | — |
| Overall width with mirrors (in) | — | std |
| Power adjustable heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Single exhaust with simulated dual muffler | std | — |
| Solar control glass (windshield, doors, back window, backlite) | std | — |
| Track, front/rear (in) | — | std |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Wheelbase (in) | — | std |
| Wheels/Tires Available - 21" 10-Y-spoke-design, matte neodymium gold finish wheels with 265/35 R21 all-season tires | — | opt |
| Wheels/Tires Available - 21" 10-Y-spoke-evo-design, bicolor finish wheels with 265/35 R21 all-season tires | — | opt |
| Wheels/Tires Available - 21" 5-double-spoke-star-S-design, anthracite-black finish wheels with 265/35 R21 all-season tires | — | opt |
| Wheels/Tires Standard - 20" 10-parallel-spoke-design wheels with 265/40 R20 all-season tires | — | std |
| Width without mirrors (in) | — | 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 | — |
Powertrain24 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| quattro® all-wheel drive | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| 0-60 mph (sec) | — | std |
| 2.5-Litre Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Engine with 8-Speed Automatic Transmission | std | — |
| Arrangement - Front mounted | — | std |
| Auto Engine Control (Vehicle Automatic Shut-Off) | std | — |
| Bore (mm) | — | std |
| Column Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | std | — |
| Compression Ratio | — | std |
| Cylinder head - Aluminum alloy | — | std |
| Displacement (cc) | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
| Eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission with shift-by-wire technology and quattro® all-wheel drive with center differential | — | std |
| EPA-estimated City mpg | — | std |
| EPA-estimated Combined mpg | — | std |
| EPA-estimated Highway mpg | — | std |
| Fuel Tank (gal) | — | std |
| Horsepower (SAE) | — | std |
| Maximum torque, lb-ft | — | std |
| Recommended Fuel | — | std |
| shift-by-wire technology | — | std |
| Six-Cylinder / Eight-cylinder engine type | — | std |
| Stroke (mm) | — | std |
| Valvetrain - 24-valve DOHC with Audi valvelift system and variable valve timing | — | std |
Chassis8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes (front/rear) | — | std |
| Front Suspension - Audi adaptive air suspension (comfort) (five-link front and rear) | — | std |
| High Performance Damper (HPD) shock absorbers | std | — |
| Parking Brake - Electro-mechanical | — | std |
| Rear Suspension - Audi adaptive air suspension (comfort) (five-link front and rear) | — | std |
| Steering Ratio | — | std |
| Steering Type - Electromechanical progressive steering system and Dynamic steering available | — | std |
| Turning Circle (ft, curb to curb) | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume, with seatbacks fixed (cu ft) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia K5
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Audi S8
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia K5LXS FWD | Audi S8A8 L 55 TFSI quattro® AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,690 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,690 – $33,790 4 trims | — 2 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | K5 w/Stop-Start | S8 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 18 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $4,550 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Kia K5 or the 2027 Audi S8?
The Kia K5 wins clearly, 93.4 to 63.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Audi S8 is ahead on performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Kia K5 scores 93.4 and the 2027 Audi S8 63.3. 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 2027 Kia K5 or the 2027 Audi S8?
2027 Kia K5: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Audi S8: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 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 2027 Kia K5 and the 2027 Audi S8?
Where the 2027 Kia K5 wins: it lists 41 standard driver-assist features against 2, lists more comfort and tech equipment (49 points against 8 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and costs $2,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,250 against $4,550). Where the 2027 Audi S8 answers: it turns out 369 lb-ft of torque against 179 and makes 335 hp against 186. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.