The Kia EV5 is the latest pure electric addition to Kia showrooms and is set to offer families and company car drivers a zero emission alternative to the beloved and AM Award-winning Sportage, which features so often in the UK’s best-sellers list.
The EV5, imported from South Korea, blends design, family-friendly practicality and great technology into a package that starts from around £39,000 for the entry-level Air trim, and rises through the GT-Line derivative to nearly £48,000 for top spec versions badged GT-Line S.
All have an 81.4kW battery pack and a 160kW electric motor which, depending on the variant, can provide a maximum WLTP range of 329 miles from a full charge and it will accelerate the car from standstill to 62mph in just over eight seconds.
The standard equipment on all models is pretty generous and practical. No matter which Kia EV5 derivative the buyer chooses they will get a SUV equipped with front and rear parking sensors plus a rear camera, a twin 12.3in infotainment and navigation touchscreen and driver display, regenerative braking controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddles, wireless APple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, and a Kia AI Assistant, powered by ChatGPT, which helps occupants interact with the car’s features.
The GT-Line specification, which is expected to account for the highest demand, adds heated rear seats, LED headlamps with adaptive beam, artificial leather upholstery, a smart powered tailgate, wireless phone charger and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability for those who want to charge laptops or boil a kettle away from home.
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And for those who want the highest equiped EV5, a smartphone-accessed ‘digital key’ is a standard addition with the GT-Line S trim, as is a panoramic roof, a head-up display, eight speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a 360-degree surround view camera, and a system that allows the driver to park the car remotely, useful for tight spaces.
As could be expected, a host of advanced driver assistance systems are standard on the EV5, which has earned a EuroNCAP 5-star rating.
On the road the EV5 proves itself to be a fine cruiser, coping with rutted UK roads with its comfortable ride. It won’t axactly get anyone’s pulse racing, but few customers who desire this car will expect it to.
What it will do is transport parents and kids for miles in relative peace and comfort – there’s plenty of room for all occupants.
Currently Kia is incentivising the EV5 with a 3.9% PCP that comes with a £1,500 deposit contribution and two free services. While EV5 will attract company car drivers due to the BIK benefits, Kia UK wants its dealers to win over plenty of private retail customers too.
