Road tested by Hugh Maguire.
I can barely keep up with the constant announcements of new models from Kia.
While Kia have kept petrol hybrid and even diesel in some of their model line up they have truly grasped the EV market by launching a succession of new EV models.
They started out with the big ones, the EV9 and EV6 and both it must be said have done well enough in particular the EV6.
At the recent Brussels motor show they showcased the little EV2 a car that we will see here in Ireland in the future also. Just a week or so ago they launched the K4 (see our news section for more) which is powered by a petrol engine and a choice of either a 1.0 litre T-GDI petrol mild hybrid or a 1.6 litre petrol GDI hybrid. However the focus of this road test is the new EV5.
So if your not yet confused hang in there! What is the new EV5? Well think of it as the electric version of the Kia Sportage. A mid size SUV to rival the likes of the Tesla Model Y, VW ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq to name but a few. So does it better them in any way?
Pricing kicks off at €47,625 for the EARTH 2 model, the EARTH 3 costs €49,800 while the top of the range GT-Line on test here costs €54,000. All are powered by the same long range 81.4 kWh battery. At launch they are all front wheel drive but an all wheel drive version is expected later this year.
First Impressions
The new EV5 maintains much of the design language of the latest new Kia models and that is no bad thing as they all look well. The EV5 is in my opinion a good looking SUV its squared off profile gives it real presence on the road and with a choice of some interesting new colours its fair to say the new EV 5 will stand out in the car park for all the right reasons. So yes first impressions are good.
What’s it like inside?
The interior of the new EV 5 mirrors that of its stablemates with a well executed design.
The now familiar Kia digital dash is really excellent. One of the best in my opinion. It consists of two 12.3 inch screens with a smaller 5.3 inch display allocated to climate control functions all which blend to look as one large rectangular sweeping display. I really like that design and the information available on the drivers display is configurable while the head up display proves a nice addition for driver info. One niggly point though is that the heating and ventilation screen is mostly hidden by the steering wheel.
They also have a row of well illuminated haptic ‘Buttons’ beneath the main screen for menu selection, map etc, while below that are some toggle switches for the climate control. However in the new EV 5 they are matt plastic whereas in the EV 4 they are nicely designed chrome effect switches. Are Kia cost cutting here? Frankly that change and some of the plastics used here cheapens the otherwise good interior.
Standard kit on the GT-Line is comprehensive highlights of which include, 19 inch alloy wheels, GT-Line specific exterior styling, vehicle-2-Everything (load, Home, Grid) driver head up display and a digital key with fingerprint recognition, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging to name but a few.
Family SUV’s are all about practicality and accommodation and here the new EV 5 scores very well indeed. Lots of storage space, plenty of USC ports and handy centre trays. Accomodation is very good with plenty of leg and headroom both front and rear. The boot has a capacity of 566 litres with the rear seats in place which is bigger than its VW rival the ID 4, and that gets vast with those seats folded down.
So what did I feel could be better?
Well certainly there are some plastics used in the cabin that could look and feel a bit more upmarket for this price point and also I would welcome more colour choices for the interior rather than the dark black/grey of the current range.
Living with the car there are of course a plethora of annoying dings and bongs to “warn’ drivers of their presumed wrongdoing. You can deselect these warnings but its a bit of a chore through the touchscreen and they default back on again at each start up.
What’s under the bonnet?
The EV5 GT-line is powered by an 81.4kWh battery and an electric motor driving the front wheels with a total power output of 214 bhp. Performance is good and as with all EV’s acceleration is linear and smooth with the EV5 hitting 100km/h from a standstill in about 8.4 seconds.
Claimed range in this long range version is some 505km but as with all EV’s the EV5 falls a bit short of this under normal driving conditions. The on-board trip computer gave an average consumption of 22.6 kW/100km. I could not get close to Kia’s WLTP result in real life. Therefore from my road test results in mixture of motorway, urban and country road driving expect a real world range of around 360km. Fast charging takes about 30 min from 20% to 80%. Road tax is €120.00.
How does it drive?
The new EV 5 aquits itself fairly well whether on the motorway, about town or on our country roads. Its easy to drive if somewhat uninspiring and you do feel that 2.6 tonne mass if you try to hustle it along a twisty country road. The overall handling is good enough aside from some body roll in tight corners.
Most people who buy this type if car probably don’t care too much about driving dynamics and if that is you then the EV 5 will deliver.
Hugh’s Verdict
The new EV 5 leaves me with a quandary. It does everything well and nothing badly but that in many ways that is it’s Achilles heel. It just does not stand out in any particular area. The Skoda Enyaq delivers a bit more of an involving drive while the Tesla scores for individualism. There is of course Hyundai’s (the rival sister company) IONIQ 5 to consider and it is very good too with maybe a dash more character.
So in summary the new Kia EV 5 is without doubt a good all rounder. I do think it is competitive against rivals for most family use and daily needs. So I would give the EV 5 the nodd over its rivals for its more balanced virtues. But its close!
Likes:
Very spacious.
A good all rounder.
Practical and versatile.
Disslikes:
Some interior plastics do not match the price tag.
Uninspiring driving and handling.
Driving position not ideal for some.