Once absent from the most congested segment of the UK car market, Kia is finally making its long-awaited entrance to the mid-size electric SUV market with this – the all-new EV5. It takes the number of ‘EV’-badged cars in the manufacturer’s line-up to six and joins the recently launched EV4 which we tested earlier this year, and the chunky, funky little EV2.
The EV5 has its work cut out if it hopes to sway buyers away from rival offerings that span Skoda’s Enyaq to Tesla’s Model Y – and everything in-between. At the five-seater’s heart is an 81.4kWh battery that powers a front-mounted electric motor for up to 329-miles of zero emission driving. On the larger 19-inch wheels found on higher specification models, this takes a small dip, but across the board power and torque are unchanged at 214bhp and 217lb ft respectively. Performance is adequate as opposed to fast but should meet the demands of most day-to-day demands. Later this year, a dual motor set-up is being added to the range; serving up 261bhp, it cuts the 0-62mph dash to 7.3 seconds. After this, the headline grabbing, sports-focussed ‘GT’ should arrive boasting over 300bhp.
Charging times are decent, so going from 10 per cent to 80 per cent when linked up to a 150kW DC charger should take half-an-hour or seven hours on an AC home charger. It is worth pointing out a heat pump is not standard and can only be had as an option on the priciest trim for £900. By comparison, Nissan Ariya and Renault Scenic buyers don’t pay. Extra range can be eked out by opting for the more efficiency-focused drive modes and the good news is the car does not become sluggish should you need, or choose, to do so.
Styling-wise, the EV5 has Kia writ-large across the squared nose where the firm’s digital ‘Tiger Face’ and ‘Star Map’ LED lighting dominates, while at the back sculpted shoulders around the C-Pillar area create a purposeful look. The rear, meanwhile, is characterised by sharp, horizontal, and vertically sculpted lines and incorporates LED taillights that give more than a hint of moon buggy to create a tech-forward presence out on the open road.
There is no denying the EV5’s footprint and boxy side profile – but hours have been spent meticulously trying to ensure it is as aerodynamic as possible. This has been achieved, say Kia, with the adoption of active air flaps in the deep front bumper, an extended roof-mounted spoiler, and underbody packaging to aid air flow and cut down on total drag.
As well as how it looks, the EV5 adopts the same trim grades as the EV2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 – ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’ and lastly ‘GT-Line S’. With the optional ‘Red Magma’ paint (£675) it brings the on-the-road price of our example to £39,345. For that, heated front seats, a 6-speaker audio system, two 12.3-inch displays, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear parking sensors, a parking camera, and a suite of active safety gizmos are all standard.
In terms of build quality, the EV5 scores highly. The overall layout is clean if a little bland and ‘Air’ models resemble the inside of a cave; a burst of colour really would work wonders as is found in mid- and top-spec examples where split colours are used on the new-shape steering wheel, seats and door cards, ambient lighting and paler roof lining. However, the EV5 hits its spacious and practicality briefs impeccably, helped along by a wheelbase that is 70mm longer than its Sportage sibling.
A flat floor is a nice bonus and means mountains of foot space for those travelling up top and in the back. Added comfort comes by way of being able to adjust the seat backrests in the second row as well. The good news extends to the cargo area; at 566-litres it comes second to Skoda’s Enyaq but the difference is minimal thanks to the super useful shape and entirely flat floor. Order the back seats down via a clever mechanism whereby the bases and backs move in sync and an area capable of swallowing 1,650-litres reveals itself.
So, the EV5 is easy to live with and the same applies to how it drives. Kia has not tried to reinvent the rulebook. Instead, Kia’s engineers have delivered a driving experience that is composed, predictable and, for the most part, entirely undramatic. That might not sound especially exciting, but the same formula has served the Sportage incredibly well – and there’s little reason to think it will not appeal to buyers here, too. From behind the wheel, the emphasis is clearly on ease of use as the steering is light yet accurate, and while all 214bhp is sent to the front wheels, they never feel flustered or overworked at any point.
Select Sport mode and the EV5 gains a touch more urgency, along with a faint, futuristic soundtrack. It doesn’t turn the car into anything resembling a hot hatch, but it adds just enough involvement to make a difference. And despite tipping the scales at 2,580kg, the EV5 keeps body roll well in check, behaving much as you would expect from a large SUV. It is quiet, comfortable and deals with a variety of road surfaces with little fuss. That sense of familiarity carries through strongly: there is nothing here to surprise or unsettle, though equally, it stops short of delivering any real sense of excitement or character.
