Kia EV5 (2025): between the small EV3 and large EV9, a long shot?
It fills the gap in terms of size and design flawlessly. It’s about time, too, since there is now a lot of competition. But what is striking: the EV5 does not share the technical base with the EV6. No 800V volt architecture, no ultra-fast charging capabilities. The question arises: is it still a successful overall package, or do you miss here the refined technology that makes the EV6 so strong?
Where was this EV5 left?
C-segment SUVs have been the most popular format on the European market for years. Not too big, not too small, and just right for families looking for space as well as maneuverability. The electric range is also teeming with compact SUVs. Think of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, the Škoda Enyaq and the new Peugeot e-3008. So it is actually surprising that Kia is only now coming out with a model in this segment. Although “now” is relative: the Kia EV5 has been driving around on the other side of the world for some time, including in China and Australia. But now it is finally coming to Europe and nicely complements the Kia range here.
Powertrain: one choice for now for the Kia EV5
For now, the engineering for the EV5 is fairly straightforward. It comes with an 81.4 kWh battery pack, good for a preliminary estimated WLTP range of about 530 kilometers. Drive is via the front wheels, with a system output of 218 hp (170 kW) and 295 Nm of torque.
Fast charging is possible up to a maximum of 150 kW, which is thus just a bit less than you would expect from Kia, especially considering the EV6’s charging performance (240 kW). Still, it was a conscious choice by Kia to opt for 400V technology; it ensures a stable charging curve. No spikes up or down, as you sometimes see with higher charging capacities, but a solid way of charging. This one is still good for recharging from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes, so that’s not wrong. The towing weight of 1,200 kg is not wrong either.
The Kia EV5 also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which allows you to power external devices through the car. An electrical outlet can be found in the trunk. Vehicle-to-Grid is also among the possibilities; the EV5 is prepared for this by software. By the way, so far this is the only available powertrain, but it is obvious that in the future there will also be a version with a smaller battery, there is talk of 60 kWh, a variant with all-wheel drive and an EV5 GT.
Design: Kia EV5 is a kind of small EV9
In terms of design, the EV5 is definitely a genuine Kia. The design is recognizable thanks to the robust and angular body and the LED lighting with the now familiar light signature. All in all, it is strongly reminiscent of a compact EV9. The EV5 has a tough, modern look that fits well with the brand’s electric family face.
In the back, the Kia EV5 offers surprisingly spacious luggage space. The trunk measures 566 liters and grows to a maximum of 1,650 liters with the rear seats flat. What is noticeable, however, is that the rear seats do not fold down as flexibly as in the Sportage. The EV5 has a 60:40 split, missing the finer 40:20:40 split that offers more variety. Still, you can easily fold down the handrails from the back seat itself, and they form a flat cargo floor. And also in the front we find a small frunk, good for 44 liters and thus a total luggage space of 610 liters.
The rear passengers are also comfortable. Thanks to the length of 4.61 meters, width of 1.87 meters, wheelbase of 2.75 meters and especially the height of 1.68 meters, the interior is spacious. This leaves a remarkable amount of legroom in the rear even for tall people. The center tunnel stands out with a kind of extendable drawer, which offers passengers in the rear more storage space than usual.
Smart gadgets in the Kia EV5
Up front, you can clearly see that the EV5 is related to other electric Kia’s. The dashboard is sleek and spacious, with an open center console that provides a spacious feeling between the front seats. The digital cockpit consists of two screens of 12.3 inches each, one for the instrument cluster and one for the infotainment system.
What’s new is that Kia now uses Google Points of Interest. That does not mean that the entire navigation system runs on Google services, but you can easily navigate to locations from the Google database. A smart addition that makes the system just a little more user-friendly. A striking detail is the finger scanner, which you can use to “start” the car.
So … successful total package?
The EV5 is spacious, sleekly designed, well-equipped and targets a wide audience. It still lacks some technical sophistication – such as superfast charging or all-wheel drive – but compensates with ease of use, tough looks and smart solutions.
The pure technology may not be as advanced as in the EV6, but Kia is clearly aiming at a different target market here. Not the tech enthusiast looking for ultra-fast charging and sporty performance, but rather the family looking for a practical, well-designed electric SUV. The price is unfortunately not yet known at the time of writing, but Kia promises that the EV5 will be competitively priced.