The Kia EV5 has been one thing of a breakout success story for the Korean automaker Down Underneath, rapidly changing into the model’s top-selling electrical automobile (EV) regionally in addition to one among this nation’s favorite EVs, interval.
After launching in October final 12 months, the Chinese language-built EV5’s gross sales have steadily grown, to the purpose the place within the first half of 2025 it was Australia’s fourth best-selling EV behind the Tesla Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3, in addition to the BYD Sealion 7.
To the top of July, Kia is sitting at 3227 deliveries for the EV5, which isn’t far off the less expensive, petrol-powered K4 small sedan and Stonic mild SUV when it comes to outright quantity, which is spectacular.
What makes it so standard? Nicely, the trusted Kia model little doubt helps entice foot site visitors by seller doorways, as does the very fact the EV5 strains up properly as a zero-emissions companion to the already-popular Sportage mid-size SUV.
Additional, it’s pretty properly priced – ranging from $56,770 drive-away – and it affords heaps of house courtesy of its boxy physique, plus it’s coated by Kia’s prolonged seven-year guarantee, roadside help and capped-price servicing program.
Certainly, many mid-size electrical SUV consumers could view this Chinese language-made Kia as a safer guess than a comparatively unknown Chinese language-branded newcomer…
Watch: Paul’s video evaluation of the Kia EV5 Earth
On take a look at right here we’ve got the 2025 Kia EV5 Earth (AWD Lengthy Vary), the penultimate variant in a four-strong vary that begins inthe excessive $50,000s and tops out within the mid-$70,000s.
Other than including all-wheel drive, it ups the featureset and aesthetics over the entry-level Air, and also you additionally get the choice of an attention grabbing Nougat Brown inside, as examined, which isn’t accessible on some other variant within the vary.
May this be the Goldilocks of Kia’s mid-size electrical SUV lineup? Or are you higher off selecting both the cheaper grades or the pricier however totally decked-out GT-Line flagship?
How a lot does the Kia EV5 price?
The Earth AWD on take a look at right here is the second costliest variant within the Australian EV5 vary, ranging from $64,770 earlier than on-road prices or $68,990 drive-away.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-roads | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia EV5 Air 2WD Commonplace Vary | $56,770 | $56,770 |
| 2025 Kia EV5 Air 2WD Lengthy Vary | $61,170 | $63,990 |
| 2025 Kia EV5 Earth AWD Lengthy Vary | $64,770 | $68,990 |
| 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line AWD Lengthy Vary | $71,770 | $75,990 |
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
What’s the Kia EV5 like on the within?
I’ve to present Kia props for maintaining the manufacturing EV5 so near the idea that previewed it.
The EV5 continues Kia’s pared again inside design that has been filtering out all through its newest fashions, however the non-compulsory Nougat inside provides a pop of color that’s attention-grabbing whereas lightening up the cabin a bit.
Whereas it will not be to all tastes, it’s removed from boring and helps spotlight the assorted design particulars all through the cockpit, and in addition contrasts properly with the gray accents on secondary surfaces.
Up entrance you get Kia’s ccNC (related automobile Navigation Cockpit) show module, housing twin 12.3-inch shows for the motive force’s instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, and bookending a 5.0-inch digital local weather management pod.
It’s grow to be commonplace fare for all new Kias, and as we’ve skilled beforehand it’s simple to make use of, fast to reply, and totally featured with Kia Join providers, in addition to wi-fi smartphone mirroring, DAB+ digital radio and on-line navigation.
The retro-futuristic graphics are a pleasant contact, although I’d wish to see the choice of dial-aping meters for the motive force’s show. In the event you discover contact controls for the local weather controls too fiddly, there are bodily toggles on the sprint too.
Kia’s related providers suite extends to app compatibility and distant features which you can toggle through your smartphone, and there’s additionally an clever voice assistant that may enter locations, verify the climate, and the like.
The open plan-style cabin format brings a lounge-like airiness, however to some that would make the EV5 really feel somewhat… sparse. The floating centre console doesn’t have a wi-fi telephone charger on this specification, so there’s only a tray that sees your stuff sliding about on a regular basis.
The bench-style entrance seat has carried over from the idea, however in lieu of a sixth perch between the motive force and entrance passenger, there’s an odd pocket nook that can be utilized to cover a telephone or pockets, however not a lot else.
Huge-ish bottle holders and shallow door pockets bolster the entrance glovebox and the house forward of the floating console for one thing like a purse, however apart from the soft-touch sprint and door inserts, and the capacitive-style shortcuts on the base of the touchscreen embedded into the sprint fascia, it might probably come off fairly minimalist and virtually too naked.
That is mirrored within the rear as properly, the place the boxy physique and excessive roofline make for an open and ethereal really feel, however there’s not a complete lot in the best way of design aptitude. It’s very purposeful, although.
House for six-footers is plentiful, and there are facilities like air vents mounted to the B-pillars, in addition to USB-C cost ports on the entrance seat backs.
There’s a fold-down centre armrest with two cupholders too, making for a typically snug house that may simply accommodate a number of passengers on longer drives.
Rear-seat occupants are capable of make use of the sliding storage tray, which resides behind the centre console underneath the entrance center ‘seat’. Kiddies are catered for with ISOFIX and top-tether baby seat mounts, as you’d anticipate.
The Kia EV5’s boot measures a claimed 513 litres with the rear seats in use, increasing to an enormous 1714 litres with them folded – they usually fold just about flat. An underfloor tray affords room to place cables or conceal issues out of sight.
On both aspect of the boot are movable pegs, which can be utilized for hanging small baggage and different cargo. Kia has additionally fitted six mounting areas for these pegs on both aspect for better versatility.
There’s a 250V household-type energy outlet within the cargo areas as properly, which is the EV5’s V2L (vehicle-to-load) socket that can be utilized to energy or cost electrical home equipment or gadgets within the rear of the cabin.
You’ll discover there’s no spare wheel although – only a tyre restore equipment, sadly.
| Dimensions | Kia EV5 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4615mm |
| Width | 1875mm |
| Peak | 1715mm |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm |
| Cargo capability – VDA | 513-1714 litres |
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The EV5 Earth is just supplied regionally with the flagship AWD Lengthy Vary drivetrain, which is shared with the GT-Line.
| Specs | Kia EV5 2WD Commonplace Vary | Kia EV5 2WD Lengthy Vary | Kia EV5 AWD Lengthy Vary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical | Single-motor electrical | Twin-motor electrical |
| Batterycapability | 64.2kWh | 88.1kWh | 88.1kWh |
| Battery chemistry | Lithium iron phosphate | Lithium iron phosphate | Lithium iron phosphate |
| Voltage | 396.8V | 399.4V | 399.4V |
| Energy | 160kW | 160kW | 230kW |
| Torque | 310Nm | 310Nm | 480Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Entrance | Entrance | All-wheel drive |
| Weight – tare | 1910kg | 2054kg | 2198-2229kg |
| 0-100km/h – claimed) | ~8.5 seconds | ~8.9 seconds | ~6.1-6.3 seconds |
| Energy consumption – claimed | 18.2kWh/100km | 18.0kWh/100km | 20.1-21.0kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 400km | 555km | 470-500km |
| Max AC cost charge | 6.6kW | 11kW | 11kW |
| AC cost 10-80 per cent | 9h 43m – 7kW | 8h 10m – 11kW | 8h 10m – 11kW |
| DC cost 10-80 per cent | 57 min – 50kW 36 min – 350kW |
72 min – 50kW 38 min – 350kW |
72 min – 50kW 38 min – 350kW |
The Earth’s smaller wheel and tyre bundle means it delivers faster acceleration and an extended vary than the top-shelf GT-Line in keeping with claimed efficiency and vary metrics – ie: 6.1 seconds to 100km/h (versus 6.3s) and a claimed 500km of driving vary (versus 470km).
I believe Kia Australia can be sensible to supply the Earth-spec with the 2WD Lengthy Vary drivetrain, which sees driving vary eclipse 500km and would doubtless deliver down the asking value by a pair grand, too.
It’s additionally value noting the EV5’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are equipped by Chinese language large BYD, at the least for the China-sourced automobiles we get in Australia.
Abroad markets like South Korea and Europe get a Korean-made EV5 which utilises nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries with totally different capacities.
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
How does the Kia EV5 drive?
Kia Australia has subjected the EV5 to its in depth chassis localisation program, with the suspension and steering programs each tuned particularly for Australian roads and circumstances, along with native ADAS tuning.
This has been a key Kia promoting level for years, and within the case of the EV5 it’s up in opposition to quite a few Chinese language rivals which appear to obtain frequent complaints round experience high quality that’s too tender and physique management that’s too flaccid.
My each day drive between Melbourne’s jap suburbs and the Victorian CarExpert workplace in Docklands features a multitude of highway surfaces, posted pace limits and naturally climate circumstances; and in actuality these are the sorts of eventualities most EV5 homeowners will drive in – in contrast to some launch applications that take us on flat, quick highways and tight and testing B-roads within the nation.
My colleague Max Davies was pretty complimentary of the EV5’s on-road manners and dynamics on the native launch final 12 months, so I used to be eager to see if Kia’s first battery-powered medium SUV felt identical to an electrical Sportage. I didn’t come away with that feeling, sorry to say.
On the town, the EV5’s suspension communicates the lumps and bumps of interior metropolis roads fairly clearly, however the softness of the suspension additionally means it might probably ship the physique up and down within the course of.
The place a whole lot of Kia’s regionally tuned merchandise – just like the aforementioned Sportage – are normally capable of settle after an preliminary affect like tram tracks, the EV5 felt prefer it wanted one or two actions earlier than settling.
Not solely does it really feel somewhat unfastened, it’s frankly considerably annoying which you can spent a whole lot of time ready for it to relax. I’m unsure if the Earth’s bigger wheels (in comparison with the Air) play a job right here, however the Earth simply by no means actually settled on roads arounds across the Melbourne CBD like I assumed it ought to.
The steering is sort of mild and fairly fast to reply, which additionally feels somewhat out of whack with the suspension tune. You’re additionally perched fairly excessive within the cabin – it feels such as you’re sitting on prime of the automobile moderately than in it – which exacerbates the difficulty.
Maybe I’m overly essential as a result of I’m used to Kia usually getting the experience/dealing with stability nearly excellent. And to be honest, the EV5 is much from the worst in its class on this respect. Many rivals both are too agency or too tender – this leans in direction of the latter.
Not less than the steering feels extra dialled in than among the overly mild and sometimes inaccurate electrically assisted racks present in its rivals, significantly among the cheaper Chinese language options.
As soon as I hit the freeways and higher surfaced roads of the suburbs, I used to be rather more impressed. The EV5 Earth could be very snug and settled at freeway speeds, and does job at maintaining ambient noise at bay regardless of the dearth of powertrain noise.
It additionally affords loads of efficiency on this spec. 230kW and 480Nm is lots for this class of automobile, and the immediacy of response from the dual-motor electrical drivetrain makes fast overtakes a cinch. It’s definitely peppier than any Sportage I’ve pushed.
Being all-wheel drive, you additionally received’t mild up the entrance tyres and take a look at the traction management’s friendship while you speed up too exhausting off the road, which you’ll be able to very simply do in FWD variations of the EV5.
That stated, the dual-motor model might be extra environment friendly. After 760km we noticed power consumption of twenty-two.3kWh/100km on the journey pc, which was admittedly skewed by the very fact Paul Maric spent a whole lot of time driving it on the freeway between Geelong and Lang Lang – I often noticed 17-19kWh/100km throughout my each day commute in combined circumstances.
Nonetheless, when one thing like a Mannequin Y can simply eat 13-14kWh/100km, it’s like evaluating a RAV4 Hybrid to a turbocharged Mazda CX-5 when it comes to relative effectivity.
Not less than the help programs work fairly properly, which is one other space the place a whole lot of Chinese language rivals fall flat.
Kia’s semi-autonomous Freeway Driving Help 2 makes use of navigation information in live performance with the adaptive cruise and lane-keeping programs to take the load off freeway stints, maintaining the automobile at a set pace and distance from the automobile forward and within the centre of its lane.
It really works properly and doesn’t have the tendency to slam on the brakes when somebody cuts you off. At instances the lane centring help (or Lane Comply with Help) is usually a contact overbearing, but it surely’s very simply switched off through a button on the steering wheel.
Hyundai and Kia’s audible pace warnings can get somewhat annoying too, although within the EV5 they’re not as loud as they as soon as had been, and will be simply switched off by holding down the mute button.
Annoyingly, the Earth grade misses out on encompass cameras and Kia’s funky Blind Spot View Monitor options, that are reserved for the flagship GT-Line – boo.
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
What do you get?
The Earth sits between the entry-level Air and the flagship GT-Line grades within the EV5 lineup.
2025 Kia EV5 Air tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 225/60 R18 tyres
- Tyre mobility equipment
- Tyre stress monitoring
- LED headlights – reflector sort
- Automated high-beam
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED tail-lights
- Matte plastic roof racks
- Satin Silver window surrounds
- Acoustic windscreen
- Photo voltaic glass – windscreen, entrance door
- Photo voltaic glass – rear home windows, tailgate
- Auto up/down home windows – entrance
- Material, synthetic leather-based trim
- 8-way energy driver’s seat incl. 4-way lumbar
- 4-way handbook entrance passenger seat
- 3-cell therapeutic massage operate – driver
- 2nd row centre armrest
- Shift by Wire – column sort
- Paddle shifters – brake regen management
- 2 x USB-C cost ports – entrance
- 2 x USB-C cost ports – rear
- LED inside lighting
- Built-in Panoramic Show
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 5.0-inch local weather monitor
- Kia Join
- Over the air (OTA) updates
- Satellite tv for pc navigation incl. 10 years site visitors data, updates
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wi-fi Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- AM/FM/DAB radio
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Heated entrance seats
- 2nd row air vents – door pillar-mounted
- i-Pedal one-pedal driving operate
- V2L inside socket
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EV5 Earth provides:
- 19-inch alloys
- 235/55 tyres
- Gloss black exterior accents
- Gloss black roof racks
- Gloss black window surrounds
- Powered child-proof rear door locks
- Synthetic leather-based trim – Smoky Black or Nougat Beige
- Sensible energy tailgate
- Privateness glass – rear home windows, tailgate
- V2L exterior socket
EV5 GT-Line provides:
- Energetic Sound Design
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- 255/45 tyres
- Gloss black exterior mirrors
- Auto flush door-handles
- LED dynamic indicators
- Laminated glass – driver window
- GT-Line two-tone leatherette upholstery
- 4-way energy entrance passenger seat incl. 4-way lumbar
- Premium Rest Seat – driver
- Driver seat reminiscence operate
- 6-cell therapeutic massage operate – driver
- 3-cell therapeutic massage operate – passenger
- Sports activities steering wheel
- Fingerprint authentication module
- Alloy sports activities pedals
- Auto up/down home windows – entrance, rear
- Rear seatback desk – passenger aspect
- Ambient temper lighting – 64 colors
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Heated, cooled rear sliding storage tray
- 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system
- Augmented actuality head-up show
- Heated second row outer seats
- Ventilated entrance seats
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
Is the Kia EV5 secure?
The Kia EV5 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on native testing performed in opposition to 2024 standards. This ranking covers all variants offered in Australia and New Zealand.
| Class | Kia EV5 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 88 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 86 per cent |
| Susceptible highway consumer safety | 74 per cent |
| Security help | 82 per cent |
Commonplace security equipment consists of:
- 7 airbags incl. front-centre
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Automotive, pedestrian, bike owner detection
- Junction turning, crossing help
- Direct, oncoming lane change detection
- Blind-spot help
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Freeway Driving Help 2 (HDA 2)
- Lane Following Help (lane centring)
- Lane-keep help
- Lead Automobile Departure Alert
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Rear occupant alert
- Reversing digital camera incl. dynamic tips
- Secure exit warning
EV5 GT-Line provides:
- Blind Spot View Monitor
- Parking Collision Avoidance Help – reverse, aspect, ahead
- Encompass cameras incl. 3D mode
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
How a lot does the Kia EV5 price to run?
The EV5 is roofed by the identical seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee as the broader Kia vary. Nonetheless, the high-voltage EV battery and associated componentry is warranted for 150,000km.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Kia EV5 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres – automobile 7 years or 150,000 kilometres – EV battery, elements |
| Roadside help | As much as 8 years – service initiated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | As much as 7 years |
| Service plan price | $980 – 3 years $1535 – 5 years $2431 – 7 years |
To see how the Kia EV5 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia EV5
The EV5 has rapidly grow to be a preferred alternative within the Australian EV house, and it’s fairly simple to see why.
Distinctive seems, a spacious inside, a widely known badge on the nostril and suite of on-board tech make the EV5 a well-recognized expertise for any current Hyundai or Kia proprietor trying to transfer to zero tailpipe emissions transport.
Whereas the driving expertise might be higher, particularly given the Korean model’s current kind, it’s removed from off the tempo on this section and there are lots of some robust factors like easy energy, first rate vary and a well-tuned driver help suite.
The Earth specification ought to, in idea, be the choose of the EV5 bunch, however Kia has made it fairly costly whereas additionally withholding key options like encompass cameras, Blind Spot View Monitor, a wi-fi telephone charger and the ventilated entrance seats from the flagship GT-Line – which is a complete $7000 pricier.
At almost $70,000 on the highway, I believe the Earth variant needs to be cheaper and a few of these options needs to be commonplace, or at the least accessible as an possibility pack.
I’m additionally of the mindset that almost all EVs, and particularly electrical SUVs, don’t want high-output dual-motor drivetrains. Sure, you get the peace of thoughts that AWD traction affords in moist circumstances, however for essentially the most half you’re simply sapping vary and including weight. I believe the Earth spec with a single-motor drivetrain for round $65,000 drive-away would make a whole lot of sense for a lot of extra consumers.
Whereas the EV5 Earth is sweet for what it’s, I’d recommend the perfect EV5 is the most affordable one. But when cash isn’t any object and also you need every part this strong nameplate has to supply, the GT-Line range-topper is the place it’s at.
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