SUV lovers, tremble: Kia has cooked up a scaled-down EV9 and given it the EV5 badge. The result? A boxy charmer with up to 329 miles (≈ 530 km) of range, a price tag under forty thousand, and a bunch of tricks that the Korean — slyly — borrowed from Tesla.
If you are big Kia EV9 cute, but missing Queen Elizabeth's courtyard, is the new Kia EV5 ideal laundry shrinkageWith 4,615 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width and 1,715 mm in height, it maintains tiger face, cubed hips and Star Map taillights, but it parks in any average European parking space. The 2,750 mm wheelbase promises stability, while ensuring that each passenger has more knee room than in the Sportage.
Powertrain and performance
Under the cubed skin it spins 160 kW (214 hp) engine in front; drives onto asphalt 310 Nm and catapults you to 100 km/h in 8.4-8.9 s, until the electronics say "enough is enough" at 185 km/h (115 mph).
Anyone who wants four-wheel drive will have to wait for the version Earth/GT-Line AWD, which abroad already pushes up to 230 kW and 6.1 s.
Battery and charging
Heart it is new NMC battery with capacity 81.1 kWh gross (78 kWh usable), which is sufficient for up to 329 miles WLTP. (
If you are in a hurry to the seaside, it will DC charger up to 150 kW took care of 10–80 % in about 30 minutes — not a rocket like the EV6, but perfectly adequate for a coffee and croissant.
He will be at home. 11 kW the three-phase charger charged the battery in just over eight hours, if you are among those lucky ones with your own charging station and a lower nightly rate.
Space and practicality
Trunk with 566 l (20 cu ft) it surpasses the VW ID.4 and almost catches the Skoda Enyaq; with the bench folded down it increases to 1,650 l. Up front we find 44-liter frunk – just right for cables or a quick picnic.
There are two in the back. ISOFIX anchorages, the seat bench is Japanese It tilts and provides comfort on long journeys. The plastic in the prototype still creaks, but Kia promises better materials in the production vehicle – we'll take them at their word.
Technology and infotainment
Dual 12.3-inch screens and a separate 5-inch climate panel prevent “scroll-to-heart attack” syndrome. Head-up projection with Apple CarPlay navigation is standard on the GT-Line S.
The loudest applause goes to “Five Modes” – response to Tesla Dog FashionThe car maintains the air conditioning, and a calm message appears on the screen: “Don’t panic, the owner will be back soon; Fido is at 21°C.”
If Netflix is keeping you bored, Kia will bring it to your car for a few euros a month - OTA update coming in 2026.
New Kia EV5: Price and Competition
Initial version EV5 Air should be in Britain ~£38,500 (≈ €44,500); top-notch GT-Line S starts at just under £45,000.
With this, the Korean subverts:
- Skoda Enyaq 85x (from £48,600, up to 359 miles) (ev-database.org, electrifying.com)
- Tesla Model Y RWD (£44,990, 282 miles) (evspecs.org)
- Peugeot e-3008, Ford Explorer EV, Opel/Vauxhall Grandland EV… The list of losers is longer than the bill for a full tank of gasoline.
Conclusion: the new Kia EV5
Kia is with EV5 hit the sweet spot between oversized EV9 and trendy EV6. Offers more luggage space than direct competitors, intuitive infotainment without touch-infinitely, solid fast charging and – what is almost the most important thing these days – a price that does not require a mortgage supplement. True, it does not accelerate like an athlete and with its 400-volt architecture does not break records at charging stations, but for families who want a comfortable, spacious and technologically fresh transition to electricity, it is new Kia EV5 currently the healthiest choice. If Kia fixes the plastic by the time it goes into production and keeps the promised price, it will probably convince even the most die-hard "petrol heads" to hold a charging cable in their hands.
