The Kia EV5 is a 4.6-metre long, mid-sized electric SUV that sits below the posher, executive-focussed Kia EV6, and above the more compact Kia EV3 and EV4 in the lineup.
This is actually the electric car that I think Kia really needs, right now as – peculiarly – it’s been lacking a direct alternative to the likes of the VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Peugeot 5008 and the like. After all, the Kia EV6 is a bit too pricey and is more of a plush fastback than family SUV, while the e-Niro and EV3 are smaller than those big-selling rivals. What Kia needed was a pure electric Sportage.
Well, here it is. The EV5 is exactly that; the South Korean brand’s answer to those who want an electric Sportage.
It sits on a modified version of the Kia EV3 platform and will be offered with front-wheel drive and a 78kWh battery. At the moment, Kia says that it has no plans to introduce any other batteries into the EV5 lineup, despite there being a smaller-battery variants available in some other markets. Ditto for four-wheel drive. Execs told us that it might join the range eventually after sales start later in 2025, but nothing definite for now.
Range, battery and charging
The Kia EV5’s lithium-ion NMC battery has a usable capacity of 78kWh (81.4kWh total capacity). This gives an official WLTP range of 329 miles. All well and good, but it’s got to be pointed out that the Skoda Enyaq, Peugeot E-3008, Ford Explorer, Renault Scenic and Vauxhall Grandland all have models that go further in their range.
Still, I’ve generally found Kia’s to perform slightly better than the majority of the competition when it comes to efficiency so you might find that the real-world range is closer than you might think to some of those rivals that have longer official range. We’ll report back on that when we’ve driven it!
Charging maxes out at 150kW on a DC rapid charger and you can top up form 10- to 80% in 30 minutes, which is on a par with most of that competition. Don’t go thinking that the EV5 has the ultra-rapid charging of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 – those cars come with an 800V system, which enable much faster rapid charging of over 200kW. The EV5 has 400V electricals, so 150kW is the best that you’ll see.
Still, you can charge at up to 11kW on AC charging in the EV5, which is useful for kerbside charging and the like. Most buyers will charge at home the majority of the time, where you’ll likely only be able to support a 7kW charger for a full battery in around 12 hours.
A heat pump is optional on the top-spec Kia EV5 GT-Line S, but it’s debatable if it’s worth paying extra. It’s a pricey option, so you need to be doing a lot of winter miles to make up the additional cost in the marginally improved efficiency that you’ll see.
Practicality and boot space
The EV5 is very decent for practicality and space. There’s tons of room in the back, and there’s even space for your feet underneath the front seats, although it does annoy me that you have to go for the mid-spec GT-Line EV5 to get charging ports in the back. Come on, Kia, everyone needs these if you’ve got kids to ferry around – it should be on the base Pure model!
Anyway, there’s a centre armrest and two pairs of Isofix, as well as reclining seat backs. It’s the same lever to recline the seat as it is to fold it forward, though, so do be careful that you don’t sandwich yourself up into the seat. I’m speaking from personal experience, here, as you can see in the video!
Sadly, there’s no picnic box and fold down picnic tables that you’ll find in the EV5 variants that are on sale in other parts of the world. At least there are some convenient wipe-clean plastic seat backs, as well as a big slide-out storage drawer and climate control for rear seat passengers.
As for the boot, there’s a very decent 566-litres, which extends up to 1650-litres with the seats folded flat. There’s also a decent amount of underfloor storage, and a useful 44-litre frunk, which goes some way to making up for the fact that you get a bigger boot in the Skoda Enyaq and Peugeot E-5008.
There’s no seven-seat variant of the EV5; for that you’ll have to consider the Kia EV9, Peugeot E-5008 or Mercedes EQB.
Interior, design/styling and technology
Slip into the Kia EV5’s driver’s seat, and yes - you know that this is a car related to the EV3 and EV9. It has the same practical blend of touchscreen for your media and nav, haptic shortcut buttons to help you hop between functions quickly, and physical switches for the climate control and a few other important functions. Plus, the steering wheel has nice, clear buttons that also help to reduce your touchscreen dependence.
There’s also the off-centre Kia logo on the wheel, as seen in the Electrifying Car of the Year – the EV3. It all feels smart, and it’s one of the best dash layouts in the class when it comes to user friendliness. I’m still not sure that the little touch screen behind the steering wheel that controls your more climate control settings is really necessary. It seems a bit fussy and Ijust never use it, given that you’ve got the proper air-con buttons for the temperature, not to mention a new voice control system with ChatGPT.
Anyway, the other tech you get is really impressive. On the top-spec GT-Line S you’ll be able to have a head-up display with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – hurrah, for those of us who prefer to use our smart phones for navigation! You can also pay a monthly subscription to to have Netflix, Disney+ or other streaming services on the central screen.
Another bit of tech that’s getting me excited is the Pet Mode, which allows you to set the cabin temperature if you need to leave your pet in the car, and it’ll beam a message on the screen so that passers by know that the car is being kept cool and comfortable. Other tech features of the Kia EV5 include the fact that your smartphone can be the key, as well as your portal to remote control of the car’s climate control and charging.
Running costs and pricing
The Kia EV5 will start at around £38,500 in the EV5 Air model, which means that it undercuts entry level models like the Skoda Enyaq, Nissan Ariya, ID.4, Peugeot E-3008, and even the Tesla Model Y.
As with all EV5 models, the Air is front-wheel drive and will get a 214bhp electric motor for 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds. It’ll also get LED lights at the front and back, heated front seats, auto lights and wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous drive mode, and all of the touchscreen infotainment goodness that we’ve already mentioned.
Fancy a used electric Kia? Check out the hundreds of examples for sale on Electrifying.com
GT Line will likely come in at around £42,000 and adds bigger alloy wheels, style upgrades and leatherette upholstery. Top-spec GT-Line S will cost close around £45,000 and gets an opening sunroof, ventilated front seats and V2L charging, among other extra features.
As you’d expect, you get Kia’s seven year, 100,000 mile warranty on the EV5, which covers the car and the battery.
2025 Kia EV5 - Verdict
At this point, the Kia EV5 seems like a great all-round package. All the great stuff about modern Kia electric cars that have made them such a hit, but in a mid-sized family SUV that will be exactly what a lot of buyers are looking for. We’ll have to wait to drive the EV5, and see finalised pricing before we can say for sure what our final verdict is, but this is definitely going to shake up the family car class.
