First test drive: Kia EV5, Tesla's affordable electric SUV
The new benchmark for mainstream electric vehicles? We test drive the all-new Kia EV5.
In some ways, the Kia EV5 is the perfect car, born in perfect times. Following the Korea automaker's launch of two niche electric vehicles (the almost sedan-like EV6 and the huge EV9), the EV5 has resonated more mainstream.
This midsize SUV is a good value for money and quite reasonably priced. It may be a little tiresome to compare this latest electric SUV to the Tesla Model Y, but the EV5's similarities to the most popular electric vehicles in the United States (and the world) cannot be ignored.
Kia says the car has been tested locally for more than 25,000 kilometers before the EV5 is introduced.
Of course, there is a big "but" here. It's not 2023 anymore, and this year's local EV sales are only a fraction of last year's. Industry momentum has changed. Plug-in cars, once competitive, have been put to the test in 2024. Kia believes the market will bounce back soon, and when it does, the EV5 will be the frontrunner.
Make me an expert right away: what do I need to know?
The EV5's advantage over the Tesla Model Y is its battery and pricing. Each EV5 is equipped with a massive 88.5kWh LFP battery, manufactured from the famous BYD Blade hardware. In the WLTP-3 cycle, the range is between 500 km and 555 km, depending on whether you choose all-wheel drive with more fuel guzzling or the default front-wheel drive.
Prices start at $67,990 for the entry-level EV5 Light, with other models including the Light+ ($70,450), Earth 2WD ($75,490), Earth AWD ($80,450) and flagship GT-Line AWD ($85,490) that we drove at launch.
In the case of the Tesla Model Y, the EV has a longer range, comes from a mainstream brand that is at the top of the EV space, and has a pretty much identical starting price. In fact, if you add in Tesla's usually quite expensive on-the-road costs, the EV5 could be a little less expensive. Considering how well-known the Kia brand is these days, you have a nice little competitive tip.
Is this better than the Tesla Model Y? You tell me......
exterior
We're big fans of the Kia EV9 – we've listed it as a finalist in the Stuff Top Cars category. We especially like its minimalist, futuristic style. But there's no denying that it's expensive and huge. The car is great for those who want a sturdy 7-seater, but it's not exactly mainstream.
So it's no surprise that a model that takes the same style and philosophy and is downsized has been appreciated by us. The EV5 has a better look than the EV9 because it is less pompous in its positioning.
It's slightly shorter than its Sportage sibling, but considering it offers more space than the Sportage, the two cars can be considered direct competitors. Obviously, its chassis isn't as cheap as the Sportage, but it's close to the top-of-the-line Sportage X-Line at $63,290 — all while being cheaper to run and more refined to drive.
The EV5's instrument cluster borrows a lot from the EV9's design. Also pay attention to the arrangement of the benches.
inside
Yes, space. Not only is the second row of the EV5 more spacious than the Sportage, but it's also more spacious than its rival Tesla. On the other hand, the EV5 has a much smaller trunk than its United States counterpart.
Open the trunk (the Light+ in the picture is completely manual and does not have a power tailgate), with the rear seats folded, the trunk space is 513 litres, and with the seats folded, the boot space is 1713 litres. In addition, unlike many other electric cars produced by mainstream manufacturers, this car also has a 67-liter trunk under the hood. A few hundred liters less than a Tesla, but only 40 liters less than a Sportage.
Aside from those flashy numbers, the EV5's cabin feels airy, bright and open. The cabin fabric and plastic (many of which are made from recycled materials) come in light gray tones, and this is a very intimate electric car.
The rear seats are spacious and reclineable.
Another factor that makes the EV5 more relatable is Kia's decision to equip it with a miniature version of the EV9 dashboard instead of the EV6 and Sportage layouts. This means that it skips the switchable touch panel located at the bottom, which is a feature that one loves and hates.
Some parts need to be slowly adapted, mainly the EV9-style tactile "touch bar" shortcuts, which are cumbersome to choose at times, but work well most of the time. Another interesting quirk is the front bench. This almost makes it a pseudo-6-seater (no sixth seat belt, records show.) It's a 5-seater car), this space makes it easy to drop off your bag. And you can still find a pretty useful center console storage underneath.
The perfect combination of physical and touch controls ensures that the EV5 is both futuristic and easy to operate.
Speaking of technology, the EV5 comes with what Kia calls a 29.6-inch "panoramic display" on top of the dashboard. It consists of two large screens with a small connected screen in the middle. Together, they look almost like a giant screen.
As for its built-in software, it connects with the Kia Connect app. This provides the necessary remote features such as climate control and locking/unlocking. The EV5 is also equipped with a satellite navigation feature that tells you where all the nearest charging stations are, and if they are occupied. Since it's still in development, we can't test it, but Kia says it's coming soon.
The EV5's blocky surface looks great from most angles.
On the way
Our first test drive of the EV5 was at the Auckland Museum, and Kia had us drive around the city for a few hours before heading back to our headquarters in Highbrook. It's not the longest, but it's enough to give us a taste of the brand's latest toy.
Those of you smart people and EV fans may have realized from the FWD mention that the EV5 is not based on the same E-GMP platform as the EV6 or Hyundai EVs. Instead, it's based on Kia's all-new N3 eK architecture, which is a revised version of the old ICE platform, but now tailored to the battery.
While the N3 platform doesn't feel as sporty as the E-GMP, it still has a refined feel – exactly what you'd expect from such a mainstream, high-volume family tourer. The steering controls are light and unmistakable, and the suspension feels comfortable on our rough New Zealand roads. Want to tow with it? Kia says it has a rated braking weight of up to 1250 kg.
Kia expects the local EV market to rebound in 2025.
And for good reason, too. Kia claims to have sent about 70 engineers to New Zealand to test the EV5 on roads and highways. The test program includes safety and software testing, as well as suspension tuning to refine the EV5. And, based on our short drives, they did an excellent job.
Although it is a quiet and comfortable family car, it is not particularly fast from an electric vehicle point of view. Its 8.5-second 0-100kph acceleration time isn't fast, but it's only a tenth slower than the Sportage HEV. Those who want a little more power might choose the AWD GT-Line, which we haven't test-driven yet.
In New Zealand, the battle for the electric vehicle market may have faded into obscurity. But Kia expects the market to rebound in 2025. At that point, the EV5 is expected to be the strongest contender in the field.
Expect this iconic styling to appear on more Kia SUVs in the future.
The EV5's trunk has several modular elements, including dual hidden compartments and an adjustable luggage rack area.
We think the basic wheels are also the most aesthetically pleasing.
Features such as the wireless charging pad and downhill control are located on the center console.
The EV5 Light and Earth classes look almost identical. Those who want a little more excitement will want the GT-Line.