Our opinion on the Kia EV5
There is little wrong with the new Kia EV5 in isolation, yet it struggles to stand out in the increasingly crowded mid-size SUV class. Customers coming from the hybrid-powered Sportage will revel in its familiarity, yet we can’t help but feel that an EV leader such as Kia could have done more to offer something genuinely unique. This is a spacious electric car that’ll take on family duties with ease, but it lacks any true stand-out qualities, such as the tech-fest that is the Tesla Model Y, or the temptingly low pricing of the Citroen e-C5 Aircross.
About the Kia EV5
The mid-size electric SUV segment has morphed into one of the most overpopulated areas of the new-car market. Almost every mainstream manufacturer has put a flag in the ground, with many now seeing strong conversion from their equivalent petrol, diesel or hybrid alternatives.
But Kia, a brand widely considered a leader in electrification, has taken longer than most to stake its claim with the EV5. This car is a rival to mighty competitors such as the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y, but is it a case of too little, too late?
To get a taste of what buyers can expect from the Kia EV5, we’ve tested this electric SUV on a variety of British roads, and we even travelled to Korea to drive a top-spec, front-wheel-drive model prior to its UK launch.
Kia EV5 prices and latest deals
The Kia EV5 starts from around £39,400 and tops out at just over £48,000, so all models limbo below the luxury road tax bar for cars costing £50,000 or more. However, those who want more kit (and the option of an energy-saving heat pump) can’t add options, but have to upgrade to higher trim levels instead.
On the road, Kia’s entry into the mid-size electric SUV class is safe, predictable and almost entirely unremarkable. That might sound like we’re damning the car with faint praise, but such traits have never held the similarly sized Kia Sportage back from topping the segment sales chart, and we doubt they’ll do the EV5 any harm either.
The steering is light, but precise, feeding more than enough shove to the front wheels, which never feel overwhelmed by your inputs. You can restrict power and boost range by selecting one of the lesser drive modes, and doing so doesn’t make the car feel overly lethargic.
Flicking through to Sport mode doesn’t transform the EV5 into a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-rivalling hot hatch, but it does add a modicum of engagement complete with a subtle sci-fi soundtrack. We’re pleased to say that this isn’t annoying enough to have you delving into the menus desperately trying to turn it off again.
The car resists body roll just as well as can reasonably be expected from an SUV of this size and weight (2,580kg), and we found it to be quiet and comfortable on almost every road surface we encountered. Again, that feeling of familiarity is what shines through, mostly for the better. There are no nasty surprises, but it’s not oozing with character either.
An honourable mention goes to Kia’s expertly tuned, best-in-the-business regenerative braking system. It varies from a full coast mode to a strong one-pedal drive, plus an intuitively calibrated adaptive setting, and you can flick through the wide-ranging spectrum on the fly, via paddles on the steering wheel. We wonder why all car companies haven’t carbon-copied this feature; much like engine braking, it allows you to slow the car more efficiently, all the while feeding precious power back into the battery.
Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
The only powertrain that’s currently on sale in the UK is the Long Range, which consists of a single electric motor mounted to the front axle. Regardless of trim level, this set-up has a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds, and a 102mph top speed.
In 2026, a dual-motor all-wheel drive car with 261bhp will join the range, cutting the 0-62mph time to 7.3 seconds. The flagship GT should also arrive around the same time, boasting 302bhp and a 0-62mph time of six seconds flat. That’s quick, but not as potent as the Skoda Enyaq vRS, which completes the same sprint in just 5.4 seconds.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The EV5’s light steering and generous glasshouse make it one of the easier mid-size SUVs to pilot around town. It inevitably feels large when hitting a narrower street, but it’s still pretty easy to place on the road and thread through traffic. If you need to perform an awkward manoeuvre such as a three-point turn, the gear selector is well placed to the right of the steering column, so moving between drive and reverse can be done quickly, thus preventing any fellow motorists from becoming too frustrated and impatient.
