OVERVIEW
Kia lengthy promised that the EV5 would undercut the top-selling electrical automotive Tesla’s Mannequin Y.
That job acquired harder all through 2024 as Tesla carried out substantial worth reductions on what can also be the third best-selling SUV in Australia.
However Kia delivered with a beginning worth of $56,770 drive-away (the listing worth is equivalent, with Kia together with on-road prices for nothing) for the entry-level Air Customary Vary with a 64.2kWh battery.
A Lengthy Vary model of the identical automotive with an 88.1kWh battery sells from $61,170 plus on-road prices, or $63,990 drive-away.
Each battery packs are BYD-sourced lithium-ferrous phosphate (LFP), that are cheaper to fabricate than the extra frequent nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries utilized by many manufacturers.
Every EV5 Air will get twin 12.3-inch screens and a 5-inch show for the air flow system in addition to Kia Join to watch the automotive remotely by way of an app.
The seat trim is a mixture of material and artificial leather-based and there are heated entrance seats and a therapeutic massage operate for the driving force.
The Air rides on 18-inch wheels and has a single 160kW/310Nm electrical motor driving the entrance wheels.
With the Customary Vary battery the claimed WLTP vary is 400km whereas the Lengthy Vary ups that to a extra helpful 555km.
The Earth comes solely as a Lengthy Vary with two motors and prices $64,770 plus on-roads or $68,990 drive-away. That additional rear motor makes 70kW/170Nm for a mixed most output of 230kW and 480Nm, however claimed vary drops to 500km.
It provides 19-inch alloys, full artificial leather-based, a powered tailgate and a vehicle-to-load system that enables family units to plug into an onboard powerpoint.
Topping the EV5 vary is the GT-Line with 20-inch alloys, fingerprint recognition, 360-degree digicam, panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled rear storage field, augmented actuality head-up show, distant park help and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
It has 470km of vary.
The EV5 is roofed by a seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, though the excessive voltage battery pack is just lined for 150,000km.
Servicing is required each 12 months and 15,000km and Kia provides pre-paid service packs overlaying three years/45,000km, 5 years/75,000km and seven-years/105,000km. They’re priced at $980, $1535 and $2431 respectively.
Oh, and in the event you dwell in Western Australia you’ll be paying extra for an EV5. The Air and Earth price one other $1000 and the GT-Line an additional $2000. Kia says it’s to account for larger stamp obligation within the west.
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS
The Kia EV5 is a automotive with huge expectations.
Its price ticket makes it immediately comparable with the top-selling Tesla Mannequin Y, whereas additionally offering strong artillery in opposition to relative newcomers such because the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The EV5 begins off strongly.
Being based mostly on a devoted EV structure means its five-door physique delivers on house.
Broad entrance seats are break up by an attention-grabbing (borderline odd) padded space that appears like a center seat. It’s not designed for individuals however has a pouch that’s good for telephones or keys. The arm relaxation on high has no storage.
Additional ahead there’s a centre console with cupholders and a decrease space to retailer luggage or bigger gadgets.
A plethora of recycled plastics tick the eco bins however don’t exude status as some might anticipate at this worth level.
Silver and copper highlights raise the cabin considerably, though there’s nonetheless a component of cost-down.
The tech, too, is respectable with out setting any benchmarks.
The now acquainted duet of 12.3-inch screens intersected by a 5-inch show devoted to air flow capabilities takes care of infotainment and instrumentation properly.
Contact pads under the central display can typically get an unintended activation in the event you relaxation your palm whereas navigating the display.
You’ll get used to disabling the driving force help programs that may typically be too wanting to beep and bong. Maybe a future over-the-air software program replace will tackle the customarily pointless interruptions.
The rear seat additionally delivers on house whereas sustaining that practical (nearly utilitarian) flavour.
There’s oodles of headroom and beneficiant leg house together with air vents on the central pillars close to occupants’ outer knees. And whereas the center occupant might not get a lot be perched ahead barely as a result of form of the seat, they’ll have little to complain about with leg and headroom courtesy of the flat flooring.
These within the rear may also entry a deep drawer that slides out from beneath the console. Households might respect having one thing to retailer something from garbage to toys.
For those who select the GT-Line that drawer can also be heated and cooled, so you possibly can have a miniature fridge.
At 513 litres the boot isn’t big however is capacious sufficient and incorporates some shallow compartments beneath the ground.
Together with separate binnacles on both facet of the boot it makes for a helpful house. A 60/40 split-folding again seat helps with cumbersome gadgets, too.
There’s no baggage cowl on the Air and Earth however the GT-Line will get one thing that doubles as a shelf or desk. It’s a nifty answer that provides to its performance.
Getting the automotive shifting entails twisting the steering column-mounted drive selector.
Even in single motor Air guise acceleration is appropriate, the near-instant entry to pulling energy making it really feel brisker than its 8.5-second 0-100km/h declare (or 8.9 seconds for the Lengthy Vary that weighs 145kg extra).
Channelling that torque by way of the entrance wheels retains them busy, although, with a good nook or slippery floor triggering the traction management as Nexen tyres battle for grip.
There’s additionally some torque steer, or wheel tugging when powering out of corners.
It’s the primary signal that the EV5 doesn’t have the dynamic nous of the EV6 or EV9 that set a excessive bar.
That torque steer can also be evident within the all-wheel drive Earth mannequin (we didn’t drive the GT-Line however anticipate it to do the identical factor); that’s maybe not stunning given the entrance finish offers a lot of the thrust.
Sport mode sharpens the throttle response with Regular extra relaxed.
The driving force can regulate the regenerative braking utilizing paddles on the steering wheel.
Unsurprisingly the Earth is much slicker when accelerating, the chunky SUV zipping round faster than most petrol powered SUVs.
As with all EVs the WLTP vary is a information and our expertise suggests you possibly can knock at the least 10 per cent off for on a regular basis driving. That makes the Air Customary Vary’s circa-360km of actual world vary greatest left to the suburbs.
Charging, too, isn’t significantly fast. The Customary Vary can take as much as 102kW of DC cost for a 10-80 per cent top-up in 36 minutes. That’s torpid in contrast with some rivals – and different Kia EVs.
That’s partly as a result of the EV5 has a 400V electrical structure versus the 800V system within the EV6 and EV9.
The Customary Vary additionally accepts solely 6.6kW of single part AC cost, for a circa-11-hour house cost.
EV5 variants with the larger battery can take three-phase energy and as much as 11kW of AC cost, for a circa-8.5-hour cost.
DC charging is quicker, too, at as much as 140kW. However the claimed 38-minute 10-80 per cent cost remains to be not very fast in the event you like your highway journeys.
Talking of which, the EV5 does its greatest work within the suburbs.
It’s an EV constructed for consolation forward of tempo and thrills.
Its steering is a tad lifeless, albeit trustworthy in its responses.
The entrance wheels can get busy in bends and ultimately run out of grip in the event you dial up the tempo. There’s extra grip within the 19-inch tyres of the Earth, though it’s nonetheless no dynamic maestro.
Fortunately it offers with bumps adeptly, making certain occupants are snug and bumps don’t unduly upset the trip.
The EV5 is quiet, too, its hushed cabin quelling outdoors noises properly.
All of which provides as much as an EV that has a delightful Kia familiarity however doesn’t set any new EV benchmarks.
Its standout attribute is sharp pricing, one thing that makes it a tempting Tesla antidote. However even then, there are areas the place you possibly can see cash has been saved.
With the lure of presidency incentives akin to the perimeter advantages tax exemption which may be greater than sufficient to tempt consumers away from petrol alternate options.
They’ll be shopping for a automotive that ticks loads of bins and outclasses many EV rivals, however one which doesn’t match the aptitude of different Kia EVs.
