Kia EV5

A ‘go-to’ electric family SUV

Words by Mark Slack

There’s an increasingly generic design style to SUVs nowadays, especially it seems where EV models are concerned. Like oversize Tonka toys there’s a brashness to the designs and it’s a look that has found favour with many buyers, smooth and svelte appears to have had its time.

Korean car maker Kia has almost become the middle class of EV car makers with generous standard equipment levels, space and comfort allied to, by today’s standards, affordable pricing. Their EV5, think of it like an electric version of the Sportage, is a family sized SUV with prices starting from £39,345 and peaking at £47,145 for the top of the range model.

Standard fare even on the lead-in ‘Air’ model is generous with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and start, automatic air conditioning, auto dimming rear view mirror, auto lights and wipers, rear privacy glass, powered and heated folding door mirrors, LED lights, front heated seats and heated steering wheel along with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera all included. 

On the technical front there’s a choice of single motor front-wheel-drive with 214bhp, or twin motor all-wheel-drive offering 261 bhp with both options having an 81kwh battery.  

As ever real-world range depends upon many factors but Kia’s official figures indicate 329 miles in combined driving for the lead-in Air model with the others lacking only slightly behind but all over the 300-mile mark. In reality all the models should average 250-270 miles.

Inside the EV5 there’s lots of space for both passengers and in-car necessities and general odds-n-sods. It’s quiet and refined on the road and although no sports SUV it packs enough performance to nip past slower moving traffic and for comfortable motorway cruising.

There are actual physical controls for the essentials such as temperature, sound system volume and door mirror adjustments. A row of touch-sensitive menu buttons sit below the central touchscreen (excellent, crisp graphics) but are remarkably easy to catch when using the touchscreen. 

There are competitors with a more premium feel and more individualistic styling but as a ‘go-to’ electric family SUV the EV5 has much to commend it. Despite not having multiple adjustment possibilities I found the EV5’s seats to be comfortable and supportive. Allied to good levels of standard equipment the lead-in Air model appears to offer the best value in the line-up. It’s a mix of that standard equipment level, decent range and a practicality worthy of a much larger vehicle.

Words by Mark Slack