It’s kinda odd that a mass-market, mid-sized sedan has become a respected style icon, but here we are. And that’s not a slight against the all-new Kia K5. Quite the opposite, in fact. As the latest version of what used to be known as the Optima, the 2022 K5 GT signals that Kia remains a powerhouse in the world of automotive design.

Credit designer Peter Schreyer and his daring reinterpretation of the Kia Optima. His design for the third-gen Optima was not just revolutionary, it was transformational, singlehandedly elevating Kia’s image from that of a sub-par budget brand to something bordering on aspirational. The man is so important to Kia’s success, he now oversees design across the entire Hyundai group. Replacing Schreyer at Kia is Karim Habib, formerly of BMW, who’s using products like the 2022 Kia K5 to establish an entirely bold new visual identity for the brand.

Its face is unmistakable. Technically the fifth-gen version of the Optima, the K5 reinterprets Kia’s signature tiger nose grille, stretching it out and flanking it with a set of triple-beam headlights that are nothing short of wild. Their aggressively zig-zagged LED accent lights look like nothing we’ve seen, and despite their radical nature, look completely at home on this family sedan. As with Optimas of the past, the K5 possesses an athletic stance and, in GT trim, sits nicely over its massive 19-inch alloy wheels. The sleekness of the K5’s silhouette feels similar to the past two generations of Optima, and the design resolves nicely with a blade-inspired taillamp punctuating the rear.

Inside, it’s all good news. As it does have to pull duty as a family sedan, the K5 doesn’t have the enclosed cockpit feel of the Stinger, but for everyday drives, that’s actually a good thing. The cabin feels spacious both front and rear, with seats that offer the right amount of comfort and support. The dash and door panels almost feel as intricate as the headlights, with surface details subtly jutting out to create a multi-leveled design, yet it all feels cohesive. And more importantly, it all feels well-constructed, with solid material selection and excellent fit and finish. The driving position is good, and we’re stoked that physical buttons and knobs are used for most of the primary controls.

While the Kia K5 is obviously no Stinger, it’s not exactly a slouch, either. Riding atop Kia’s new N3 platform, the K5 is longer, lower and wider than the Optima it replaces. Center of gravity, as you’d expect, is also lower, but it’s not like anyone will now be flinging a K5 around Big Willow anytime soon. It’s good enough for what it is, though, offering a smooth ride, accurate steering and minimal body roll in the corners.

We have yet to sample the base 1.6-liter engine, but the top-spec 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four is impressive. Kia rates this engine at 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission handling shifting duties. Launch it right, and Kia claims that this car will run from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds.

In real, non-instrumented driving, the K5 GT feels fast, with minimal turbo or transmission lag. Again, this isn’t a sports car, so the throttle doesn’t feel racecar-sharp, but it’s more than good enough for city and highway driving. Not much to say about the brakes other than they work as expected. The calipers get some GT branding, but they still don’t have that performance pedigree, or bling, of the Brembos you’d find on a Stinger.

It was not so long ago that the mid-priced, mid-sized sedan lived in the space where dreams go to die. The cars were adequate, if not uninspired, and are the reason the segment still carries the stigma of “appliance” to this day. That third-gen Kia Optima proved that good design could have a home here, and we’d be so bold as to say it was the car that convinced other manufacturers to inject some passion back into the segment. Once again, it’s Kia’s K5 that is setting a radical new standard for design here. That the rest of the car is just as good means, in terms of cool factor at least, that it also remains the benchmark against which all other mid-sized sedans are judged.

The undeniably provocative Kia K5 GT