TRIED AND TESTED
Kia EV5
Kia adds a new Sportage-sized EV promising more than 300 miles on a charge. By Simon Harris.
TRIED AND TESTED
Kia EV5
Kia adds a new Sportage-sized EV promising more than 300 miles on a charge. By Simon Harris.
It’s becoming increasingly rare for a new EV to come to market wide of the mark for its intended buyer, and Kia’s recent strike rate for its zero-emission models is among the best in the industry.
The EV9 rattled some of the premium brands a few years ago, while the EV6 proved a great all-rounder that could perhaps wean people off their perceived need for an SUV – in EV Land, hatchbacks and saloons can liberate extra range from batteries through superior aerodynamics.
Since then, the EV3 has pushed the boundaries of expectations with compact family cars, while the EV4 offers another alternative to those who value range over SUV-looks.
But for those who prefer the upright stance and slightly more versatile interiors of SUVs, the EV5 is the latest newcomer to help the brand cover as many bases as possible.
It’s equipped with the same 81kWh battery as the EV3 and EV4, and with the platform’s 400V architecture, capable of charging from 10% to 80% capacity in 30 minutes when connected to a suitable charger.
Kia points to the very minor increases in length, width and height over the Sportage, although being a flat-floored EV, it’s noticeably more spacious inside.
We would like to see the automatic ‘pop-out’ feature of the door handles extended to Air, as in previous Kias with the manual flush door handle, passengers are often unable to understand how they work.
The EV5 is also available with subscriptions to streaming services, but those are best left to retail customers.
Although the Kia warranty of seven years/100,000 miles is rarely bettered in the industry, the brand is following a trend of offering only a year’s free roadside assistance, so fleets will need to ensure there is a third-party provider lined up later in the car’s lifecycle.
The EV5 delivers 214hp through the front wheels, with 295Nm of torque available, ensuring the car has more than adequate performance, even when running in ‘eco’ mode.
Range on the WLTP cycle is 329 miles for the Air, fitted with 18-inch wheels, or 313 miles for other versions, which have 19-inch rims.
Which model is right for you?
On some Kia models, the entry-level Air grade has seemed to be the poor relation, built to hit a certain price point and missing many of the comforts of the GT Line and GT Line S.
The EV5, happily, seems a bit better appointed in base specification, at least cosmetically, with rear privacy glass, some chrome and body-coloured mirrors, although upgrading to the GT Line (a £3,300 premium in P11D value) brings a sportier black gloss treatment to some exterior trim among other feel-good features.
The GT Line S is priced £4,500 higher than the GT Line and adds upgraded audio, a greater array of exterior cameras for parking proximity, a head-up display and the option of specifying a heat pump to save a few extra miles of range on those chilly mornings.
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VERDICT
Overall, the EV5 is a very impressive addition to the Kia range, and combines style, practicality and usable EV range, with perhaps the broadest appeal yet for any electric SUV.
