► Prices for Kia’s mid-size SUV announced
► Sportage-sized but with elements of the EV3 and EV9
► Perfect for when an ICE, HEV or PHEV Sportage isn’t right for you
There is good news if you are one of the many thousands of Kia Sportage owners who want to move to an electric SUV of the same size – the new Kia EV5 is now available to order.
It slots between the EV4 and the EV6 and sits on the group’s E-GMP electric platform, the same hardware you’ll find underpinning the other ‘EV followed by a number’ Kias, and arrives in what has been a big year for the South Korean carmaker.
It can trace its roots back to the EV5 concept of 2023, unveiled at the same time as the EV3 and EV4. And while the EV5 has been available in China and the land down under for some time, there have been some substantial changes to ready the car for Europe and the UK.
It can trace its roots back to the EV5 concept of 2023, unveiled at the same time as the EV3 and EV4. And while the EV5 has been available in China and the land down under for some time, there have been some substantial changes to ready the car for Europe and the UK.
You’d be right, EV5 bound for the UK looks identical to the Kia EV5 currently sold in China, but there’s more. Unlike with Hyundai’s – admittedly cool – laissez-faire approach, Kia has a very cohesive language for the brand’s EVs. There’s almost a Russian-doll likeness to the range, all stemming from the box-like Kia EV9.
Those side profile unmistakably take inspiration from it, with its boxy silhouette, high roofline and squared-off wings. The front meanwhile has more than a whiff of EV3 about it with Kia’s ‘Tiger Face’ design and ‘Star Map’ headlights clear as day.
Again, think shrunken EV9 or expanded EV3. The dashboard with its disguised air vents, haptic controls and four-spoke wheel is clear-cut EV9. It also sports the rather pointless toggleable HVAC control screen seen in the EV3.
The EV5 for China features a front bench seat a la ‘60s Cadillac Eldorado, the EV5 destined for Europe sprouts a centre console and two individual front seats.
Interior space is a stand-out. The boot is a chunky 566 litres of boot space, swelling to 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded completely flat. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a 44-litre frunk for storing the charging cable.
This is perhaps the largest difference between an EV5 destined for the UK and one for China – battery chemistry. While Chinese examples use LFP (lithium iron phosphate), we’ll be getting NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides).
To cut out a GCSE Chemistry lesson, the batteries for Europe and the UK will be lighter and easier to charge in the winter but cost more to produce.
It uses an 81.4kWh battery, also used in the EV3 and EV4, offering a range of 329 miles. All examples will be front-wheel drive, offer 214bhp and have a top speed of 102mph. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging is included as standard and there’s a three-pin plug in the interior from which you can run fridges, TVs and even charge another car.
Meanwhile, entertainment packages will be offered, allowing for premium subscriptions to Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and some mildly addictive casual games from the main infotainment screen.
And good news for cats and dogs, this is the first Kia to offer a pet mode. They can expect constant air con, locked doors and interfaces to avoid and paw-related mishaps, as well as a polite message on the dashboard to notify passers by that all is okay.
Orders for the Kia EV5 are now open, with prices starting from £39,295. Trim levels will mirror Kia’s other electric models, with Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S grades available.
In typical Kia fashion, standard equipment levels are generous, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen merged with a digital instrument cluster of the same size and a wide range of driver assistance kit.
GT-Line trim starts from £42,595, adding 19-inch alloys, automatic flush door handles, two-tone artificial leather upholstery, electric front seats, an electric boot and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.
At the top of the line-up, the GT-Line S costs from £47,095, with extra equipment including a sunroof, ventilated front seats, a head-up display and a 360-degree surround camera system.
First EV5 deliveries are expected before the end of 2025.
Ryan joined CAR as a commercial content writer back in 2020 and has since moved to be the Car Buying Editor over on Parkers.co.uk. Now he spends his time looking after the used, leasing and finance sections of the website, also sharing the best deals on CAR. When he's not researching market trends, keeping up with industry news or helping out on photoshoots he's usually found trying yet another recipe, at the gym or all over the Parkers social pages.
With contributions from
Ted Welford Senior Staff Writer
By Ryan Gilmore and Ted Welford
