If your vehicle has any specific issues, please send it to JD Auto, Kemuning Utama. They even open on Sundays. Ah Ho is the head mechanic and he's really good.

Yes it was a junk review. They spoiled it by turning it into a comedy show. Should have had more technical inputs. The K5 isnt the best but they left out many positive aspects of the car.

Ive been a K5 owner for the past 27 months. Before this was a loyal Toyota supporter for 9 years. So let me give you a brief run down:

1) After sales service - still poor especially Red Cube PJ. But the Chinese operated SC's offer much much better after sales service and technical know how. Service centres in Puchong, Kota Damansara, Kemuning Utama are quite good.
2) Maintenance cost - spare parts are slightly more expensive compared to Japanese makes.
3) Build quality - so far quite good. No squeeks or rattles except a minor rattling round at the steering shaft when going over bumps.
4) Durability - unsure as its a new model. But because build quality is good, i expect durability to be much better than previous Kia models
5) Power - its slightly underpowered because of the body weight. A 2.4L engine or a 2.0L turbo would be far better. But still more powerful than the Camry, Accord or Teana 2.0L models. Using Total engine oil instead of the rubbish Syntium also gives you a small power boost.
6) Driving - power delivery and the auto transmission isnt as smooth as Japanese makes. So some of the extra hp & torque gets 'lost' before it reaches the wheels. But mid range pickup is still quite good especially with the pedal shifters.
7) Design - top class in my opinion. The car is a looker and gives a rather sleek / commanding impression on the road. The DRL LED lights gives the car that extra aura. Internal legroom is also very generous.
8) Resale value - all D segments cars dont enjoy good resale value compared to B or C segments. But of the lot, the K5 will probably be slightly worse because its Korean. But dont forget that ure also paying less in the beginning.
9) Value for money - an important criteria and at <150K, the K5 is great value. The specs on offer is top class for this price range. Even the Mazda 6 (the K5's closest competitor in terms of specs) doesnt offer as much for the base 2.0L model.
10) Safety - the MOST important criteria. The K5 excels in safety standards. Very good safety specs. The 2013 Optima K5 obtained higher frontal crash ratings by the NHTSA than even the mighty 2014 BMW 528i although both got the overall 5 star rating. In the IIHS test results (as of 2013), the 2013 Optima K5 is among only 25 vehicles worldwide who have received the Top Safety Pick (+) rating which even the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class failed to get. The other Korean car which was rated Top Safety Pic (+) was the 2013 Hyundai Elantra.
11) Warranty claims - so much easier compared to Toyota. Naza not reluctant to replace parts to satisfy customer.

So overall, i have no regrets whatsoever buying a K5. Im not just saying this cuz i already own the car but for 143K, its certainly very good value. Now with the almost 15K discounts, i wouldnt even think twice. RM134K for the facelift model with so many extra's, why are u even asking? Its a no brainer actually!

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Jul 28 2014, 09:18 PM

Whats the price? Interest rate? Warranty period?

Go to Hin Leong, Klang. Their prices are unbeatable. I replaced my Michelin PSS with Goodyear Assy 2 in Nov last year for only RM2,950 (4 tyres, allignment, balancing, valves). The tyres were Jan 2013 tyres. But well worth the price if u ask me. More quiet than PSS for sure but in terms of performance, the PSS is unmatched.

Both the PSS and Assy 2 are manufactured in Germany.

When is Kia planning to resolve the old problem of the knocking sound from the steering column? Its been there from Day 1 and yet nothing resolved.

Not sure. I just started using in Nov last year. But wear and tear depends mainly on how you drive. What tyre u using now?

Do u know which SC did this?

Bro, pls get rid of all 4 Nexen's. They are rubbish tyre with poor wet grip and aquaplaning resistance. Sidewall strength is also poor which increases the risk of sidewall separation at high speeds.

Go for Goodyear Assy 2 or Michelin PS3. No point having top class safety specs if your tyres are bad.

Who are these ppl who gave u such info? You cant compare the new generation models like the K5 and Forte with previous generation Korean models. So wait a few more years and ull get an answer to your question whether its problematic or not.

U can use the closest size which is 235-45-18. Get it from Hin Leong, Klang 03-33439100.

No regrets based on what? Many ppl drive Proton's for decades and say the same thing. No regret. That's until they're in an accident.

Your tyres are the most important safety feature in your car. You can have the best safety features but if your tyre fails you, then ure screwed. Don't ever compromise safety by choosing a cheap tyre. All it takes is once and your life or the lives of your passengers are out the window.

And speed does NOT kill.

Nope. My view on Nexen was bad before that. I already knew it had poor wet grip and longer braking distance. But I continued using it until the incident happened 1 year later. So that incident was a wake up call for me. We don't need to wait for incidents to happen before we take action.

Funny why K5 sales are poor despite an attractive price tag and good specs.

None of the other Japanese D segments are powerful.

Nah...I beg to differ on this. I know of a few Kia service centres in Klang Valley which are operated as well as Toyota. The service centres in Puchong, Kota Damansara, Shah Alam are among those with really good service standards. And no in my 3 years of ownership, ive never experienced a wait for spare parts. Ive had parts changed under warranty and it was never a hassle. Kia's warranty claim process is also better than Toyota. I know Toyota well after 9.5 years of servicing at their service centres in Penang, KL and Ipoh.

Yes for the first time Toyota has dropped way down while Kia has come right up to No 5.

Well done Kia. I hope Naza Kia uses this survey as publicity to tell Malaysians that Kia has improved their quality.

What's the best trade in price I can get for my April 2012 K5?

Well, after 3.5 years of service my K5 has been sold and i've moved on to another brand. I must say that I still got the 'look' whenever I drove the K5 around. Its still among the best looking cars on the road. With its features, interior space & high safety standards, its still very much value for money.

520i