2025 has been a good year for Kia. The Korean brand has managed to crack the top three in Spain for 100% electric vehicles, just behind Tesla and BYD, and the compact SUV Kia EV3 was the third best-selling car.
Kia is firing on all cylinders with new electric vehicle launches, and the model we’re looking at today, the bigger sibling of the EV3, is especially important for the brand: the Kia EV5. With the Tesla Model Y in sight, this new C-SUV offers a remarkable amount of space and up to 530 km of range. We’ve tested it in an initial first contact, and these are our impressions.
A Sportage-like model with a lot, a lot of space
The Kia EV5, like the EV4 that has just been released in our market, sits on the 400V electric E-GMP platform of the Hyundai Motor Group. Design-wise, it presents a robust, squared-off silhouette, paired with the slim lighting elements that characterize its latest launches.
In terms of size, it is quite close to the Kia Sportage. It measures 4,610 mm in length and 1,875 mm in width, making it only about 10 cm larger than Kia’s best-seller in Spain. It isn’t a small car, and that shows in its interior space. If needed, the second-row seats can be folded almost completely flat, delivering more than two meters of loading space and a total of 1,650 liters.
In this way, they integrate with the trunk of 566 liters to form a continuous space. In this regard it is also fairly comparable to the Sportage, which, mechanically, ranges from 526 liters to 587 liters. The Kia EV5 also features a front trunk, or the so-called ‘frunk’, which is also larger than average: 44 liters.
|
length |
4.610 mm |
|---|---|
|
width |
1.875 mm |
|
height |
1.680 mm |
|
wheelbase |
2.750 mm |
|
trunk capacity |
566/1.650 l |
Another noteworthy aspect of the EV5 is the storage pockets. The central armrest compartment has hardly any depth: it can hold a wallet, a phone, or keys. But in exchange, in the rear row there is a large fold-out compartment from the central tunnel. It is about 20 cm deep, 30 cm long and 20 cm wide.
Interior of the Kia EV5
Inside the cabin the main feature is the panoramic screen, combining a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, and a 5-inch climate-control monitor (13 cm).
It is welcome that it is accompanied by several physical buttons: we find several on the central column to regulate temperature or the flow to its three climate zones, among other things. The steering wheel controls are also physical. Under the screen, however, the direct shortcuts are haptic and cannot be operated by touch.
The new unified Kia user interface is integrated into the EV5’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system.
Behind the wheel of the Kia EV5 GT-Line
Equipped with a battery of 81.4 kWh and a 160 kW motor, the EV5 offers a WLTP maximum range of up to 530 km. Technologies such as regenerative braking, Kia’s heat pump system, and fast charging capability (10 to 80% in just 30 minutes) help improve efficiency and practicality in real-world conditions.
During our initial driving we were able to test the Kia EV5 GT-Line—the sportiest trim—on snowy mountain passes, and the main takeaway was that it’s a five-seat SUV for everyone, especially aimed at those who require a lot, a lot of space.
The interior doesn’t offer anything new that we don’t already know from the Korean brand: materials are well finished and of good quality—Kia has chosen to use less glossy piano black plastic, which we appreciate—and everything is arranged so you don’t have to search. The space it offers is remarkable, and all around you can find places to store things; perhaps the only drawback is that the central tunnel can feel bulky and the steering wheel rim blocks part of the instrument display. The same thing happens as with the Kia EV3.
Rear-seat space is crazy-large, and it’s clear this is a car designed for long trips, because you can fit everything you need. The driver’s seat is set high, and during drive the noise level is almost nonexistent, with ride comfort taking precedence: power delivery is gradual and it is a pleasant car to drive.
It’s true that in corners there is a slight body roll, so it isn’t especially agile, but the suspension is fairly firm. Keep in mind that the EV5 weighs over two tons, so it isn’t a car built to deliver wild sensations behind the wheel.
It has a top speed of 165 km/h and its 218 hp are more than enough to keep it dynamically balanced as an electric vehicle. It claims an official WLTP average consumption around 17 kWh/100 km, which is obviously much higher if the route climbs a mountain pass in cold temperatures, as was our case.
Prices of the Kia EV5
The new Kia EV5 is available from 39,490 euros with all available discounts (customer, renewal, financing, not counting the Auto+ plan that is not active yet). Without those, the MSRP starts at 46,070 euros:
|
Kia EV5 Air |
46.070 € |
|---|---|
|
Kia EV5 Earth |
47.570 € |
|
KIA EV5 GT-line |
53.070 € |
The costs associated with attending this presentation were borne by the brand. For more information, consult our guide to corporate relations.
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