Car review: 2025 Kia EV5
Kia’s pursuit of an electric future has brought us the EV6, the EV9, and now the smaller EV5.
It joins the competitive midsize electric SUV market, and the Korean car manufacturer is on a winner.
Tech
The EV5 is as big as a Tesla Model Y but cheaper. It includes front-seat heating and Kia Connect across the range, and driver’s seat power adjustment in Air and Earth grades.
Inside, the EV5 has a long dash with two 12.3-inch touchscreens for infotainment and basic data like speed and energy consumption. They’re separated by a five-inch touchscreen for climate controls, but the car has some traditional switches and toggles.
The EV5 has a wide, oddly shaped front passenger seat akin to an old-fashioned bench seat, but with a pocket for smartphones and tablets.
Design and function
The Korean-designed, Chinese-built EV5 is slightly larger than a Toyota RAV4, but has a longer wheelbase and more internal space than a Tesla Y. It also has a 67-litre front boot (frunk) for a couple of bags of shopping and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities to power laptops or other appliances.
The EV5’s boxy design provides decent rear passenger leg room and excellent boot space, but no spare wheel. Moveable floorboards in the boot allow luggage to be securely transported, or they can function as a table.
Range
Kia’s claimed charging rates for both battery sizes vary slightly. The smaller 64.2kWh battery charges at a maximum rate of 102kW. A 350kW DC ultra-rapid charger will produce a 10 to 80 per cent charge of about 36 minutes, or 10 hours at home via a single-phase, 7kW AC wall box.
The larger 88.1kWh battery can accept a maximum rate of 140kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of about 37 minutes on a compatible charger.
On the road
Despite weighing nearly two tonnes, the EV5 is easy to drive, with its Australian-designed ride and handling package matched to an intuitive and comfortable one-pedal driving system. Regenerative braking can be controlled with paddles behind the squarish steering wheel.
EV5 Air Standard Range’s battery has a claimed reach of 400km while the Air Long Range claims 555km. Both all-wheel-drive variants have less range as they’re powering a second motor.
The bottom line
Medium SUVs remain popular and with EV sales becoming more price-sensitive, the EV5 is the right car at right time for the right price.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | $56,770-$75,990 |
| ANCAP safety rating | Not rated |
| Range | Up to 400km (Standard Range) and 555km (Long Range) |
| Warranty | Seven years with unlimited kilometres; seven-year/150,000km battery warranty |
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