The Kia EV5 has officially landed in Australia, filling an important gap in the brand’s electric vehicle lineup. This mid-size SUV is similar in size to a Kia Sportage but has a distinctive, boxy design reminiscent of its larger, three-row sibling, the EV9. This styling choice not only makes it stand out on the road but also maximizes interior space and practicality.

What’s really interesting about the EV5 is its platform. It’s built on a new, dedicated electric platform called N3-ek. Unlike the 800V architecture found in the EV6 and EV9, the EV5 uses a more cost-effective 400V system. This doesn’t mean it’s lacking in features, however; it still includes the hugely practical Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which allows you to use the car’s battery to power external devices.

The Australian lineup offers four variants, giving buyers a great deal of choice.

• Air Standard Range: This entry-level front-wheel-drive model is equipped with a 64.2 kWh battery, delivering a WLTP driving range of 400 km. With its competitive driveaway pricing, this variant is designed to be a budget-friendly entry point into Kia’s electric SUV range.
• Air Long Range: Stepping up to this model gets you a larger 88.1 kWh battery, boosting the WLTP range to an impressive 555 km. This is the one to choose if you prioritize maximum range for long-distance travel.
• Earth AWD Long Range and GT-Line AWD Long Range: These top-spec models feature the same 88.1 kWh battery as the Air Long Range but add a second motor on the rear axle, giving them a powerful all-wheel-drive system with a combined output of 230 kW and 480 Nm of torque. This reduces the WLTP range slightly to 500 km for the Earth and 470 km for the GT-Line, but significantly improves performance, with a 0-100 km/h time of just over 6 seconds.

When it comes to charging, the EV5 supports a maximum DC fast-charging speed of 140 kW, allowing the long-range battery to be topped up from 10-80% in about 37 minutes. The Air Standard Range charges slightly faster, achieving the same in 36 minutes at a maximum of 102 kW.

With its combination of sharp design, clever packaging, long list of features, and attractive pricing, the Kia EV5 is set to be a significant player in Australia’s competitive mid-size electric SUV market.