Kia is unashamedly targeting the Tesla Model Y with its all-new and all-electric EV5.
I know, I know. Every brand that launches an electric vehicle here claims to be the one that will finally overthrow Emperor Elon, but the Kia is the first that looks as though it can actually make good on the threat.
It’s the right size, the right price, and — unlike the Model Y — it doesn’t feature exterior styling modelled on some mysterious and bloated deep-sea creature that’s washed up on a remote beach somewhere.
So, can the EV5 really claim the crown of Australia’s best-selling EV? Read on.
So what’s the story behind the Kia EV5?
The little brother to the massive seven-seat EV9, the EV5 is a five-seat mid-size SUV that launches into one of Australia’s most popular vehicle segments. In short, it’s the one Kia’s been waiting for, and which it hopes will deliver it real sales volume in the EV space.
The EV5 is roughly the same size as a Model Y, is significantly cheaper (at least for the entry-level offering) than the Tesla, and is filled with the kind of clean, future-facing cabin tech that has made modern Kias such a force.
Who’s the buyer?
Put it this way; if the EV6 was something of a proof of concept, and the EV9 more a niche offering, the EV5 is the mainstream staple that’s targeting everyone who might be EV curious, from singles to couples and smaller families.
Tell us about your first impressions?
The design is modern yet instantly familiar (actually, it looks like it could be powered by anything, rather than something that’s trying to look like an EV), and more importantly, the cabin feels properly car-like, with a blend of screens and actual physical buttons and stalks, rather then the minimalist nightmare that is the interior of cars like the Tesla or the MG4, both of which will have you pawing at their screens until you’re ready to scream.
Give us the top line on performance and efficiency. What’s it like to drive?
Interestingly, it’s actually not as dynamic on the road as its big (ok, very big) brother, the EV9. That seven-seat bus is so well sorted you’re genuinely shocked by its athleticism. But that’s not a dig at the EV5 – how many people want to go clipping apexes in their mid-size SUV?
Kia’s Australian ride and handling team have had their way with the EV5, and we drove it for hours across all sorts of surfaces and conditions, and found little to complain about.
Little, but not nothing. The steering is too artificially heavy to feel natural, the cabin is too loud on the wrong road surface, and from wind noise, and the extra weight isn’t quite as hidden as it is with Kia’s other EVs.
But we’re really nitpicking here. The EV5 is a super-solid offering at the price point.
Tech and connectivity — what’s the word?
Every Kia EV5 gets the brand’s twin-screen setup — two 12.3-inch screens (one for the driver and another in the centre of the cabin) with a smaller 5.0-inch climate screen sandwiched between them. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a solid stereo and, coolest of all, a vehicle-to-load connection, which is a home-style powerpoint you can plug into to borrow power from the battery.
… and the lowdown on safety?
The EV5 hasn’t been crash-tested yet, but Kia will be shooting for a full five stars. The safety list is full of active tech, and there’s nothing really missing from the list.
One thing to know before booking a test drive?
No matter what powers it, the EV5 is still a mid-size SUV, and that means it has to be able to take on family duties. And the Kia can, with a 67-litre frunk up front, a 513-litre boot space at the rear, and sizeable backseat.
And the price?
The cheapest Kia EV5 is the Air Standard Range (400km range), which is also the only model to get national on-the-road pricing, at $56,770 drive-away. As we type, the cheapest Tesla Model Y is a nudge over $60k on the road in NSW.
All the other models are priced before on-road costs, which puts the Air Long Range (555kms) at $61,170, the Earth (500kms) at $64,770, and finally the GT-Line (470kms) flagship at $71,770.
