Kia EV5 (2026) Review

Introduction

There’s no denying the success story that is the Kia Sportage, which is currently ranked as the Korean carmaker’s best-selling model. And, in a bid to give customers a full range of powertrain options, Kia has launched the EV5 which is similarly-sized to the Sportage.

That means it boasts the same all-round practicality and clever packaging as its sibling, but is fully electrified rather than powered by a traditional combustion engine.

With prices starting from £39,345 and rising to £48,045, customers can choose from trims called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S with the latter also offered with a heat pump. At this time, all EV5 cars are front-wheel drive, although we are expecting an all-wheel drive version to be landing quite soon.

Additionally, when it comes to the powertrain, all models feature a long-range 81.4kWh battery that can deliver up to a combined 329 miles between charges. We opted for the GT-Line model for our test drive.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Kia EV5?

Pros:

• Practical and spacious SUV
• Easy to drive with decent range 
• Modern interior with upmarket and intuitive technology
• Competitively priced

Cons:

• Stiff opposition from a number of rivals
• Boxy design may divide opinion
• Some competitors boast faster charging

What are the first impressions of the Kia EV5?

At first glance, the five-door EV5 looks like a scaled back version of the mighty six- or seven-seat EV9 with quite a squared-off, SUV-styled look. It boasts plenty of kerb appeal with strong lines, a muscular bonnet, chunky bumpers, 3D daytime running lights, privacy glass, sculpted wheel arches, vertical tail lights, a wide tailgate and the choice of 18- or 19-inch alloys. Our test car was riding on 19-inch GT-Line wheels.

As you move up through the trim grades, sportier kit is added to the mix. For example, the GT-Line car gains automatic flush door handles, along with a solar glass windscreen, LED headlights with adaptive beam, plus gloss black door mirrors, wheel arches, side sills and door trims.

Finally, top-of-the-range GT-Line S models introduce a panoramic sunroof with tilting and sliding function, alongside a raft of additional interior features, which we will get to a little later on.

What are the Kia EV5’s key features?

Every Kia EV5 model, no matter what trim, is generously equipped as standard - that is the Kia way. It means customers can select the specification that best meets their needs and they are not presented with a vast list of optional extras to wade through.

All cars have a high-tech interior centred around a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays that are separated by a 5.3-inch climate control section behind a curved display panel. The left screen offers access to the many on-board features, while the right one shows all the vital driving data, such as speed, speed limits, range and battery charge levels, plus navigational directions.

Expect to find full smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth with music streaming, automatic air conditioning, four USB-C ports, and lots more besides.

Another clever feature on the GT-Line S car is the fingerprint profile set-up. It sounds very sci-fi, but it allows up to two users to store their fingerprints and when they get into the car and activate the system by touching the scanner, the car will automatically adjust the seats, set the preferred climate settings and switch to the favourite radio station. This is really useful if the vehicle is shared.

What’s the range and battery options with the Kia EV5?

Every EV5 features the same 81.4kWh battery and all cars are front-wheel drive so have a single electric motor driving the front axle.

The EV5 Air sits on smaller wheels so can achieve the best mileage between charges of a combined 329 miles.

Both the GT Line and GT-Line S can deliver 313 miles, although this increases to 448 miles of city driving because more energy can be captured during stop, start driving and that helps to boost battery levels accordingly.

How does the Kia EV5 drive and handle?

Powering the Kia EV5 is an 81.4kWh battery with single electric motor driving the front axle. An all-wheel drive version will be added to the line-up later on.

With 214bhp and 295Nm of torque, our GT-Line test car could complete the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 8.4 seconds (it felt faster) and has a top speed of 102mph. The driving range is 313 miles between charges and this will increase to 448 miles if the vehicle is used predominantly for city driving where there is lots of braking and little need for speed and rapid acceleration.

Speaking of handling, the EV5 delivers smooth electric performance with responsive acceleration and ample power on tap to swiftly overtake slower-moving traffic, or to join a motorway from a slip lane.

Despite its SUV styling with quite high sides, the vehicle is deceptively agile when faced with twisting country lanes. There is minimal sign of body sway and the grip through tighter bends impresses with confident balance and composure even when pushed on.

The large windows offer excellent driver visibility which is also appreciated in busier areas with cars, cyclists and pedestrians darting out from all angles. And that will also be an important factor for parents who tackle the dreaded school run on a regular basis too.

The drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport, MyDrive and Snow alter the characteristics of the car and the steering wheel paddles are ideal for adjusting the strength of the regenerative braking with four settings to choose from. Additionally, a single-pedal driving mode can bring the vehicle to a complete stop without touching the brakes.

Refinement levels impress with occupants well protected from outside road surface or wind noise, while the well-tuned suspension set-up does a worthy job of smoothing out all but the roughest road surfaces along the way. In fact, the EV5 is a very comfortable place to be on both short and long journeys.

How fast can the Kia EV5 charge?

The EV5 has a peak charging rate of 127kW, which is not as fast as some competitors. However, the 81.4kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes using a 350kW port, or in 1 hour, 10 minutes if plugged into a 50kW outlet.

Charging from home or at work will be the wisest option, not only to cut costs but also for convenience. With that in mind, a 10 to 100 per cent charge from an 11kW port takes 7 hours, 20 minutes.

What are the day-to-day running costs with the Kia EV5?

Prices for the 2026 Kia EV5 start from £39,345 for the entry-level Air version. Step up to GT-Line and the price increases to £42,645 and the GT-Line S is £47,145, or £48,045 if customers opt for the additional heat pump.

Unfortunately, as the car exceeds the £37,000 Electric Car Grant threshold, owners will not be given any government incentives. However, the first-year road tax bill is just £10, although this will increase to the standard fee of £200 after 12 months. But the competitive pricing means owners will not face an Expensive Car Supplement charge which is introduced on new cars costing over £50k. Insurance-wise, our EV5 GT-Line test car sits in group 41.

Most owners will try to charge their vehicle at home or in the workplace to help keep costs down, but there are additional ways to fully maximise the driving range between charges. The driving style is important as is the use of regenerative braking whenever possible to capture energy when slowing down. The EV5 has paddles to control the strength of the regenerative braking with four settings alongside a single-pedal function which is really practical in busy stop, start city driving.

Kia has an excellent reliability record and confidently backs this up with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty package as standard, increasing to eight years for the battery pack. This also includes roadside assistance for 12 months across the UK and Europe.

What’s the interior of the Kia EV5 like?

The Kia EV5 has been designed to accommodate the practical needs of busy lifestyles and the vehicle draws inspiration from the larger Kia EV9. That means it has a lounge-like interior packed with mod cons, plus a blend of physical and haptic controls.

The air vents are neatly hidden flush to the dashboard and there is a three-spoke GT-Line steering wheel featuring the Kia logo. The powered seats are crafted from two-tone artificial leather upholstery and, along with the outer rear seats and steering wheel, can be heated for added comfort.

Standard across the line-up is a pair of 12.3-inch infotainment screens that flank a smaller 5.3-inch climate control panel. There is full navigation, wireless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice control, plus Bluetooth with music streaming. While Air and GT-Line models have a six-speaker sound system, the GT-Line S vehicle gains a premium Harman Kardon audio with eight speakers and a sub-woofer.

The Kia AI assistant, powered by ChatGPT can help with a range of tasks such as travel planning, suggested stop-off points, answering questions about the car’s manual, and even tell jokes and provide entertainment such as music recommendations, games and other trivia.

Despite having a wealth of on-board technology to explore, the whole set-up is very user-friendly and there will be no nasty shocks for anyone converting to EV driving.

How practical is the Kia EV5 and how big is the boot?

The EV5 is a cleverly designed vehicle that is easy on the eye, but still covers practicality bases well. It stretches 4,610mm in length, is 1,875mmm wide, 1,675mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,750mm. Compared to its sibling, the Kia Sportage, the EV5 is 70mm longer, 10mm wider and 30mm taller. And the wheelbase is also increased by 70mm.

The cabin is deceptively spacious with bundles of room for four adults to travel in exceptional comfort. Add a third back seat passenger and it gets a little cramped, but it would be fine on a shorter journey. Ideally though, three youngsters will fit without any complaints. The completely flat floor means there is no transmission hump to straddle and there is room for feet beneath the front seats.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and the EV5 can hold 566 litres of kit, a capacity that can be increased to 1,650 litres by dropping the 60:40 split-folding rear seats. The boot floor can be raised or lowered by 100mm which either maximises storage space or provides a flat loading lip which is really handy if transporting heavy or awkwardly-shaped items.

Beneath the bonnet is a frunk offering an extra 44 litres of storage room, making it ideal for keeping the charging cables out the way. And there are plenty of practical storage compartments scattered throughout the vehicle too, including a well-sized glovebox, a large area beneath the centre console area, front and rear cup holders, seat back pockets, a wireless charging pad, four USB-C ports and some trays. The central cubby is massive with 16.5-litres of storage space. It consists of trays, along with a drawer that pulls out for rear seat occupants. There is also a bag hook on the dashboard so the front passenger can safely transport a take-away without any spillage.

The EV5 can pull a braked trailer weighing up to 1.2 tonnes and all trims apart from entry-level Air models offer Vehicle-to-Load functionality, meaning the vehicles can be used to power up external appliances such as e-bikes, camping lights and laptops.

How safe is the Kia EV5?

The Kia EV5 was awarded the maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating back in November. It was assessed in four categories and achieved 83 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupants, 74 per cent for vulnerable road users and 80 per cent in the safety assist category which evaluates the availability and performance of advanced collision-avoidance systems.

All EV5 models have anti-lock brakes with emergency stop signalling, blind spot collision avoidance, electronic stability control, forward collision avoidance featuring pedestrian and cyclist detection, highway driving assist with hands-on detection, safe exit warning, hill-start assist, dynamic brake control, intelligent speed limit assist, lane follow assist with lane keep assist, vehicle stability management, tyre pressure monitoring, driver attention warning, smart cruise control with stop and go function, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, a full suite of airbags, rear occupant alert, and Isofix child seat anchors to the outer rear seats.

GT-Line models have the same level of safety kit, but if you step up to GT-Line S the vehicle gains a blind spot view monitor, parking collision avoidance assist, remote smart park assist, a 360-degree surround view monitor and side parking sensors.

Can I choose optional extras with the Kia EV5?

The Kia EV5 is generously-equipped as standard with a very limited selection of optional extras.

Premium paintwork is an £840 extra, while a heat pump can be added to the GT-Line S models and that costs £675.

Customers can explore a number of optional entertainment packages that require an additional monthly subscription fee. These offer access to music streaming via Amazon Music and Soundcloud with links to Netflix, TikTok, YouTube and Disney+. There is also the opportunity to develop a personal Wi-Fi hotspot for the car.

What are the main rivals to the Kia EV5?

The Kia EV5 has a number of rivals vying for sales in the C-SUV sector. These include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Peugeot E-5008, XPeng G6 and the Volkswagen ID.4.

What’s the final verdict on the Kia EV5?

Kia is certainly on quite a roll with its EV line-up and there is still a lot more to come with the compact EV2 currently on the horizon.

The EV5 is an accomplished family vehicle that covers all practicality, comfort, performance and technology bases really well.

Additionally, it is competitively priced and comes with a first-class safety rating plus a world class warranty package.

Those positive vibes make it a worthy sibling to the ever-popular Sportage.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Kia EV5.

**Correct as of 28/05/2026. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £4,162.80 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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All vehicles listed are subject to manufacturing availability and images and descriptions used are for illustrative and reference purposes only. Please visit the manufacturer’s website for more accurate specification. All data listed comes from the CAP database and is subject to change. Terms and conditions apply.

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