While EV sales may not be hitting those high numbers, carmakers are globally incentivised to plough ahead with more electric offerings to be ready for upcoming regulations. As such, the most logical product would be an electric midsize SUV and a new one is arriving in Australia – the Kia EV5.

The Kia EV5 2025 is about to be launched later this month or early November but the carmaker has announced the prices and specifications. It is the next best thing after Kias Niro EV, and fits in below the pure EV Kia range of the EV6 sporty crossover and EV9 seven-seat SUV. Here are the 5 key things you need to know about the new Kia EV5.

Price

Kia EV5 is offered in 3 variants and 4 specifications. Each variant of the EV5 has a long list of features to try and justify that hefty price tag.

Model	Price*
Kia EV5 Air 2WD Standard Range	$56,770
Kia EV5 Air 2WD Long Range	$61,170
Kia EV5 Earth AWD Long Range	$64,770
Kia EV5 GT-Line AWD Long Range	$71,770

*These prices are excluding government charges, which vary depending on the state of purchase.

Performance, range & charging

Sized similar to the Kia Sportage, the Kia EV5 is actually a tiny bit smaller but packs more of a punch to shift that extra weight. There are two battery sizes on offer with a single electric motor driving the front wheels as standard, and a dual-motor setup in the higher variants. The specifications for both drivetrains are as follows:

Specifications	2WD Standard Range	2WD Long Range	AWD Long Range
Battery Size (kWh)	64.2	88.1	88.1
Power (kW)	160	160	230
Torque (Nm)	310	310	480
Transmission	1 Speed Automatic Transmission (Reduction Gear)
Acceleration (0-100)	8.5s	8.9s	6.1s & 6.3s (GT Line)

Range

The variant-wise claimed energy efficiency figures for the Kia EV5 are as follows:

EV5 Variants	EV5 Air	EV5 Earth	EV5 GT-Line
Battery Size	64.2 kWh/ 88.1 kWh	88.1 kWh	88.1 kWh
Drive Type	2WD	AWD	AWD
Energy Consumption (kWh/km)	18.2/ 18	20.1	21
All Electric Range (WLTP)	400km/ 555km	500km	470km

The entry-level variant with the smaller battery has the least range on offer by quite a margin. Meanwhile, the difference between the top AWD variants is almost negligible at 30km but if range is your topmost priority then the base trim with the larger battery is the one to consider.

Charging

Kia EV5 uses a Lithium Ion Phosphate battery which is an innovation of the Chinese electric automotive experts, BYD. It also supports V2L functions which comes in handy more than youll realise.

Read more about the different types of charging modules here.

Following is the AC charging chart of the Kia EV5

Variant Type	Standard Range (64.2kWh)	Long Range (88.1 kWh)
On Board Charger (OBC) Maximum Capacity	6.6kW (Single Phase)	11kW (3 Phase)
AC Charge 10-100% – with 7kW Charger	Approx. 9h 43m	–
AC Charge 10-100% – with 11kW Charger	–	Approx. 8h 10m

Following is the DC fast charging chart for the Kia EV5

Variant Type	Standard Range (64.2kWh)	Long Range (88.1 kWh)
DC Fast Charge 10-80% (50kW Charger)	Approx. 57m	Approx. 72m
DC Fast Charge 10-80% (350kW Charger)	Approx. 36m	Approx. 38m

Design

Exterior

The Kia EV5 is a sharply designed car and follows the same styling as the much-bigger EV9. The front end is mostly closed off making the front-end look more boxier than it needs to be. The open vents are on the lower end of the Kia EV5 where the radar sits at the centre. The headlights are fully LED lighting front and rear, with sleek daylight running lights (DRLs). It also has a huge panoramic glass roof, however, that is available only in the GT-Line variant. There are pop-out door handles for extra aero-efficiency points.

Kia EV5 also has different tyre sizes for each variant. All variants get Kumho/Nexon tyres and the following are the sizes.

• Kia EV5 Air 2WD Standard range & Long range – 18-inch Alloy wheels
• Kia EV5 Earth AWD Long range – 19-inch Alloy wheels
• Kia EV5 GT-Line AWD Long Range – 20-inch Alloy wheels

Interior

Like previous models in Kias new generation of pure EVs, the EV5 has a somewhat minimalist cabin and dashboard.

There are multiple practical conveniences here – an electrical outlet in the rear, USB-C outlets in both rows along with foldable coffee containers and bins. While the panoramic screen is hardly distinct, theyve at least given physical buttons to control the temperature and climate controls which makes it better than most EVs. There are also touch-sensitive buttons on the runner under the screen which works as a quick menu which seems to come in handy.

There is ample space in the second row almost as much as the Tesla model -Y, even though the Kia EV5 is a smaller vehicle than the top-selling Tesla. The headroom, legroom and knee room are ample and comfortable. Theres a bin for the second row right under the space of where youd expect your storage space for the front row to be. The second-row also gets a table attached to the front drivers seat which can be dropped down by the push of a button. Additionally, the second-row falls flat entirely giving you an almost queen-size bed in the back.

The boot of the Kia EV5 is quite ample. With all the seats up you have access to around 513 litres of space and if you collapse the second row you have a whopping 1714 litres of boot space. However, if that isnt enough for you, you can always use the frunk space. Yes, thats what it is called. A trunk in the front makes it a frunk space and Kia EV5 has 67 litres of luggage room where an engine would be if this were not an EV.

Features and Safety

Kia has delivered on expectations with a rich list of technology features and safety tech with the EV5. While there is a long list of standard features and safety tech, here are some of the most sought-after Kia features.

Safety Features

• Downhill Brake Control
• Multi-Collision Braking
• Lane Following Assist 2
• Parking Collision Avoidance Assist – Reverse, Side, Forward (GT-Line variant only)
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Parking Sensors with Dash Display
• Surround View Monitor with 3D Mode
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Rear Occupant Alert
• Dusk-Sensing Automatic Headlights

Interior Features

• Driver Monitoring In-Cabin Camera
• Panoramic sunroof
• Fingerprint Authentication Module (GT-Line variant only)
• Ambient Mood Lighting (64 Colours)
• Integrated Panoramic Display (12.3″ Digital Driver Cluster + 5″ Climate Monitor+12.3 infotainment touchscreen)
• Kia Connect
• Satellite Navigation Multimedia System with 10 Years Traffic Information and Map Updates
• Augmented Reality head-up display
• Dual-zone Climate Control Air-Conditioning
• Powered tailgate
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system

Servicing & Warranty

Kias servicing and warranty are far better than the Tesla Model Y. While the Model Y comes with a 5-year warranty, Kia offers an industry-leading 7-year warranty for all their EVs. Additionally, the capped service pricing and an intricate system of Kia outlets across Australia make owning, maintaining and servicing your Kia easier than ever.

Following are the key warranty points that you get with Kia EV5.

• 7 years or 150,000 kilometres EV battery, components
• 8 Years of roadside assistance
• 7 Years fully transferable warranty
• Pre-paid Service Plans – Yet to be announced for Kia EV5.

Conclusion

Kia EV5 is a direct competitor of the Tesla Model Y which is also the top-selling Tesla in Australia. It comes in at a more aggressive price, especially for the entry-level variant.

These are the things that wed want you to know before you rush to get your hands on the latest Kia EV5. Kia aims to start with a 1000 Kia EV5 in their inventory for Australia, however, were yet to see how eager the market is for this new electric SUV given the current sales trends.