As well as offering just a single powertrain, the EV5 will be available in a simple selection of three trim levels: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. While specifications are still being finalised, every model should get dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a separate 5.3-inch touchscreen for the climate controls, LED headlights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, numerous other bits of driver-assistance tech and Kia’s renowned seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
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Key specs |
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| Fuel type | Electric |
| Body style | Mid-size family SUV |
| Powertrain | 1x electric motor, 81.4kWh battery, front-wheel drive |
| Price | £38,000-£45,000 (est) |
What powertrain options and performance can we expect?
The EV5 will use its 81.4kWh battery to power a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. With 214bhp and 295Nm of torque on tap, the 0-62mph sprint should take 8.4 seconds, which should be plenty for day-to-day life, and once again is on par with the Kia’s rivals from Skoda and Ford. Plus the EV5 will offer one-pedal driving, with paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking on the move.
Kia has confirmed a hot EV5 GT is coming, but the only detail the firm has shared so far is that it’ll ride on 20-inch wheels. We expect this version to get dual-motors for all-wheel drive and more than 300bhp at least, in order to match the Skoda Enyaq vRS. It’s also likely to get the virtual gearbox and synthesised combustion engine soundtrack that was recently added to the Kia EV6 GT, to help create a more engaging driving experience.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Kia EV5 | 214bhp | 8.4 seconds | 102mph |
What do we know about the efficiency and running costs?
The entry-level EV5 Air is set to go the furthest on a single charge (329 miles), while GT-Line models get an estimated 314-mile range, likely due to their larger 19-inch wheels. The car’s maximum charging speed of 130kW means a 10 to 80 per cent top-up will take half an hour. Kia has also added a new heating and cooling function for the battery to help preserve the driving range in colder temperatures, and make warming the cabin more efficient.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Efficiency |
| Kia EV5 Air | 81.4kWh | 329 miles | TBC |
| Kia EV5 GT-Line | 81.4kWh | 314 miles | TBC |
What is the exterior and interior design like?
We’re still a few months away from taking the EV5 on the open road, but we have had the opportunity to take a look around, and inside, the car in a studio. Despite this being a family-friendly, value-driven SUV, it has a surprisingly aggressive front end, with its large but super-slim ‘Star Map’ daytime running lights that wrap around onto the wings, vertical headlight units, heavily sculpted bonnet and a similar interpretation of Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose’ design to the EV3 and EV9.
