How do you stand out in the most popular segment in Australia and compete against a rival that has dominated the electric SUV market for years?
You offer sharp pricing and a long seven-year warranty. It doesn't hurt that the defining descriptors for the mid-spec EV5 Earth model on test for this review would be 'plush' and 'comfortable'.
Are these ingredients enough to bake Kia the winning pie? Let's find out.
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Kia EV5 2024: Earth AWD LR Nougat
| Engine Type | 0.0L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | 0.0L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $61,270 - $70,400 |
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 9/10
9 / 10
There are three EV5 grades available and the Earth on test for this review is the mid-spec model.
Its price tag of $64,770 MSRP makes it the most affordable compared to its rivals, and that’s big considering it competes against the Tesla Model Y Long Range, which has long dominated when it comes to value at $69,900 MSRP.
Another competitor is the fun-loving Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD Dynamiq at $85,300 MSRP.
Equipment highlights includes synthetic leather upholstery, powered front drivers seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, dual 12.3-inch technology screens and satellite navigation with 10 years of map updates.
Standard tech includes a 5.0-inch climate monitor, wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 'Kia Connect' app (with over-the-air updates), dual-zone climate control, four USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket, 240-volt plug port, Bluetooth connectivity, digital radio and a six-speaker sound system.
Practical items include keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers, a powered tailgate (with proximity feature), dusk-sensing LED headlights and - my personal favourite - extendable sun visors.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
8 / 10
This is the Kia EV9's mini-me. Looking at them side by side, you'd be forgiven for thinking the EV5 has just been scaled down in the design stages!
Despite sharing a similarly boxy shape as it's bigger sibling, the EV5's dimensions manage to be better balanced and while it's certainly not small, it never looks ungainly.
The interior will be the winning factor, though, as it looks far more premium than its grade level with the 'Nougat Beige' synthetic leather of our test vehicle blending practicality with sophistication.
The dashboard is interesting to look at because of the origami-like pleating and mixture of textures which all feel nice underhand. Shiny copper accents have been subtly placed throughout the cabin and again reinforce that it's a rather plush space to spend time in.
Headlining the dash is a massive panel that houses the dual 12.3-inch technology screens and 5.0-inch climate display.
The most intriguing element in the cabin, though, is the middle non-seat that takes the place of a traditional middle console. There is a little device pocket but other than adding a certain cosy charm to the interior, it’s just odd.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10
8 / 10
The EV5 is a mid-size SUV, but inside it feels like a large SUV as both rows enjoy ample (and I do mean ample) leg- and headroom.
Access can be a punish at times due to the finnicky flush-door handles which require a two-step operation to use. A little annoying when you have your hands full or for little hands, like my eight-year-old's. He remains unimpressed with the system.
Storage throughout is decent but up front, the weird middle 'non-seat' means you miss out on any middle console storage. You do get a handy tray and two cupholders in the centre, as well as a shelf that can fit a small handbag but they can be finnicky to access and/or use. Stuff slides around in the tray and the opening to the shelf is narrow.
Each door gets a drink bottle holder and storage bins. The rear door also gets two map pockets and cupholders in the fold-down armrest.
The boot has 513L of capacity which is large enough for a proper roadie or trip to Costco! Unsurprisingly, you only get a tyre mobility kit in the EV5 but the underfloor storage pocket is handy, as is the level loading space and powered tailgate.
There is also a great sized frunk, offering 67L of storage and it's here I'd be popping the charging cables as it frees up your boot.
Amenities are good with the heated front seats, powered driver's seat and dual-climate control. Rear passengers enjoy directional air vents, which are ideally positioned on the B-pillar and there are a total of four USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket in the car.
Other technology is rounded out by the dual 12.3-inch screens and 5.0-inch climate control panel. The touchscreens are responsive and the multimedia system is easy enough to use once you spend some time with it.
The system has wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but I couldn't get the wireless function working with my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The built-in satellite navigation gets 10 years of map updates which keeps it relevant and the Kia Connect app with over-the-air updates.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10
8 / 10
The EV5 Earth is an all-wheel drive with dual electric motors, one positioned at the front and one at the rear. Together they produce up to 230kW of power and 480Nm of torque.
However, both the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD have higher outputs. Still, the Earth can do a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds, so it’s not exactly slow!
The Earth features a one-speed automatic transmission and one of the best one-pedal braking functions I've sampled.
Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 8/10
8 / 10
The Earth has a lithium iron phosphate battery with a large 88.1kWh capacity and in the EV5 family, the Earth has the second-best official driving range of up to 500km, compared to the Air Long Range variant which gets up to 555km. This means you won't get any real range anxiety.
I beat the claimed 20.1kWh/100km consumption figure this week, as my average popped out at 19.5kWh, after doing mostly urban driving and that's a good result for an SUV of this size.
The EV5 has a Type 2 CCS charging port which means you can hook it up to the faster DC chargers and it accepts up to 140kW on this type of system.
On an 11kW AC charger, you can go from 10 to 100 per cent in just over eight hours.
On an 50kW system that time drops down to 72 minutes but in real life, I managed to go from 26 to 100 per cent in 1.5-hours (averaging 48kW of power during my charging session).
On a 350kW system, the time drops again to just 38 minutes.
The Earth has a vehicle-2-load (V2L) function, which means it can power or charge larger appliances and features a 240-volt house plug in the boot.
However, you can’t use this plug port while the vehicle is charging. So make sure your device or laptop is fully charged if you plan on using it to pass the time while the car is charging!
Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10
8 / 10
The EV5 is a very comfortable open-roader and power is promptly delivered when you need it. It feels nimble in the city and relaxed on the open road thanks to its responsive steering.
Kia tunes the suspension on its cars for our market and there was a delay in the EV5's arrival because of it. But the tuning has made for a comfortable ride overall. You can tend to float over bumps at times but you notice it most in corners as there is some roll.
The cabin is mostly quiet, even on the highway, and visibility is great with the wide windows. The rear window is a smidge too small for my liking, though.
The Earth gets a reversing camera with dynamic reversing guidelines and the picture quality is amazing. However, it’s hard to gauge the dimensions of the car when you’re parking and a 360-degree view set-up would have been much better in this SUV.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10
7 / 10
The EV5 hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP yet and is thus unrated but features seven airbags, including a front centre bag.
Standard safety kit includes the biggies like AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, driver monitoring, lane keeping/departure aids, rear occupant alert and safe exit assist.
Other highlights include an eCall button, LED DRLs, traffic sign recognition, a reversing camera, rear and front parking sensors, seatbelt reminders and adaptive cruise control.
The traffic sign recognition, driver monitoring and lane keeping aids are annoyingly intrusive (a common theme with Hyundai and Kia) and the latter creates a jerky on-road experience.
The rear row features two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tether anchor points and the width of the seat may accommodate three child seats if they're not too big, but two will fit best.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10
8 / 10
The EV5 is offered with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, which is very good for the class but the battery is only covered by a seven year/ 150,000km warranty and it’s more common to see an eight-year term for EVs.
You can pre-purchase a three-, five- or seven-year servicing program. The three-year package costs $980, the five-year $1535 and the seven-year is a flat $2431.
All pricing is competitive but the servicing intervals are a bit of a punish for an EV at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
Verdict
The new Kia EV5 Earth is an electric SUV that has plenty of power while still being efficient. The cabin is downright plush and it’s lovely to drive if you mute some of those safety systems.
It’s also not ridiculously big but will still comfortably fit a family of five. There are some little niggly items but no substantial deterrents and most will find something to like.
Pricing Guides
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