Kia EV5 review: Can the electric Sportage steal the family SUV crown?

December 19, 2025 Matt Allan

The Kia EV5 aims to be an all-electric equivalent to the Sportage but in a family SUV segment stacked with great rivals, is there space for it to succeed?

The C-SUV segment might just be the most competitive part of the UK car market.

We’ve got everything from budget options like the Leapmotor C10 and MGS6, to established names like Skoda Enyaq and Renault Scenic, plus the ever-present Tesla Model Y.

But if anyone knows about succeeding in the family SUV world it’s Kia, whose Sportage has been repeatedly among the UK’s top-selling cars in recent years.

Kia also knows a thing or two about building a compelling EV – just look at the awards success of cars such as the EV3, EV6 and EV9.

So expectations are high for the EV5, which aims to blend those two successful strands together and offer a new challenger for the title of best electric family SUV.

Kia EV5 design, interior and technology

Showing pictures of the EV5 to friends, one commented that “all Kias look the same now”. I’m not sure that’s fair, but there is a clear relationship between the EV5 and its EV3 and EV9 stablemates.

There’s the same deliberately upright and boxy shape designed to give a feeling of “strength and stability”, and the same use of sharp creases to give the body some definition.

The EV5 evolves it with a new take on the “Star Map” lighting, with slimline elements that stretch between the leading edge of the bonnet, the wheel arches and the lower bumper to create a striking new light signature. At the rear there’s a BMW-like flavour to the thin lights which run nearly the full width of the car and scoop down in a C shape towards the chunky rear bumper. Silver trim elements on high-spec cars help break up the shape a little but it’s not quite as striking looking as its smaller or larger siblings.

Where it is similar to those other Kias is in the user-friendly interior. There’s always a pleasing logic and simplicity to Kia’s interiors and the EV5 is no different. Unlike the Chinese obsession with stripping away buttons, the Koreans have used physical controls for key driving and other control functions – think lights, climate control and driver aids – and supplemented them with haptic buttons on the dashboard and touchscreen controls.

I’m still not convinced about the touch-sensitive shortcut keys on the dashboard, but the central screen’s menu system is clear, concise and logically laid out, so you don’t spend hours wading through submenus. That screen flows into a rather pointless 5.5-inch climate control panel which then runs into the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel – supplemented in top-spec cars with a head-up display.

To avoid a flat slab of dashboard, Kia’s designers have given the EV5 an angular design that apes the exterior body work and pinches in around the main screen. It adds some character in an otherwise slightly dull cabin. There’s no faulting the quality – everything feels built to last a lifetime – but almost everything is a uniform grey colour. GT-Line S cars get some white panels on the faux-leather seats and armrests but they’re virtually the only splash of colour anywhere. Compared with the multi-material Citroen E-C5 Aircross or Skoda Enyaq, it’s all a bit miserable.

However, like the quality, there’s no faulting the EV5’s practicality. There’s a wealth of storage spaces, from the broad lower bin between the front seats to generous door pockets and a neat slide-out table/storage unit for the rear passengers. There’s even a bag hook under the dashboard, plus wireless charging and USB ports galore.

And there’s acres of space for a family on board. The EV5’s long wheelbase means some of the best rear legroom in the class, with space for three across the wide rear bench and plenty of room for those in front. A 566-litre boot means there’s plenty of space for luggage, too, although some rivals offer even more. And there’s a 44-litre frunk for cables, picnic bags or other odds and ends.

Kia EV5 battery, motor and performance

The Kia EV5’s battery and motor choice is nice and simple. There’s one of each.

An all-wheel-drive version and a hot GT model will arrive later but, for now, every version gets an 81.4kWh battery and a 214bhp motor driving the front wheels and delivering a very average 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds.

In entry-level Air specification the EV5 has an official range of 329 miles while the GT-Line and GT-Line S with their bigger wheels and heavier equipment offer up to 313. Unusually for Kia, that’s some way off the class best. The Enyaq offers up to 360 miles in its longest-range form, the Scenic 379 miles and the new Citroen E-C5 Aircross a remarkable 421 miles.

Charging, too, is a little off the pace at 127kW. Rivals offer anything between 150kW and 280kW, which on a 10-80% top-up will shave between five and 10 minutes off the EV5’s 30-minute wait.

On the road, the EV5’s 214bhp translates into perfectly adequate but unremarkable performance. It definitely lacks the punch of something like the 282bhp Enyaq but pulls well enough for most situations and feels willing even at higher speeds. There are multiple driving modes, including sport – which sharpens the throttle and activates the pneumatic seat bolsters in GT-Line S cars – and snow, which dampens the throttle to reduce wheel slip.

As with other Kia EVs there are also multiple braking regeneration settings that range from off to one-pedal driving, with an auto option as well. Whatever your driving style, it’s nice to be able to choose a setup that suits you.

Kia can generally be trusted to deliver a controlled, reassuring driving experience and the EV5 is no different. The GT version might unlock new levels of dynamic ability but the regular car feels connected and composed whether meandering through town or pressing on along country lanes. The ride is a little firm, especially on higher-grade cars’ larger wheels, with a slightly stiff feel over badly broken surfaces. However, it is still far more settled and comfortable than any Chinese alternative and no less comfortable than something like a Scenic.

Kia EV5 price and specification

Prices across the C-SUV segment now range from the low £30,000s to the high £50,000s, so the EV5 is priced neatly in the middle of that.

Three trim levels start with the Air grade, priced from £39,345. GT-Line starts at £42,645 while range-topping GT-Line S comes in at £47,145 before options. Those options are limited to a heat pump, various fancy paint finishes and entertainment packages for the connected infotainment system.

Every version of the EV5 gets alloy wheels, full LED lights, heated front seats, tinted rear windows, dual-zone air conditioning and wireless smartphone mirroring. Standard driver assistance ranges from adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist to front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

GT-Line upgrades the Air’s 18-inch wheels to 19-inch units and adds powered pop-out door handles, adaptive LED headlights, a powered tailgate and heated rear seats along with cosmetic upgrades.

To that, the GT-Line S adds a panoramic roof, Harman Kardon stereo, upgraded front seats with cooling and back-care Ergo Motion for the driver, plus a head-up display and fingerprint recognition.

Verdict

The Kia EV5 doesn’t feel like quite the same slam-dunk superstar as Kia’s other EVs but that’s down to a broad pool of very capable rivals.

Some of those offer more power, more range, faster charging or lower prices, meaning the EV5 doesn’t stand out as a class leader.

Nonetheless, it does offer a fantastic all-round package that blends space and practicality with a good everyday powertrain, decent range and generous equipment list.