Introduction to the 2026 Kia EV5
The Kia EV5 sits slap bang in the middle of what has become an extensive selection of different electric cars from the Korean car maker and it's being marketed as the electric alternative to the highly successful Kia Sportage. Hence, unsurprisingly, it's a five-door, five-seat SUV and, if Kia Ireland can get its hands on enough of them, this could become one of the best-selling EVs on its books.
Pros & cons of the 2026 Kia EV5
Pros:
• Spacious interior
• Smooth drivetrain
• Comfortable chassis
Cons:
• Demand will outstrip supply
• No all-wheel-drive EV5
• Sportage is cheaper to buy
Exterior & design of the 2026 Kia EV5
• Classy colour options
• Contemporary Kia design cues
• Tallest car in its class
You won't mistake the EV5 for a car from any other brand, as it adopts Kia's well-established 'Opposites United' design language centred around bold geometric shapes and highly distinctive LED lighting front and rear.
The EV5 is obviously related to the Kias EV3, EV4 and EV9 in style terms, and it shares its blocky silhouette with the EV3 and EV9 in particular, emphasising that this is an SUV. To that end, Kia is proud of the fact that the EV5 is the tallest car in the segment, and that height both increases interior space and adds to its presence on the road.
While the EV5 is made on a completely different platform to the Kia Sportage, it is seen as the electric alternative to that model, but it's actually larger in all directions, notably so in terms of overall length and wheelbase.
The entry-level EV5 Earth 2 sits on 18-inch alloy wheels, while the other versions use 19-inch rims, though the top-ranking GT-line car gets its own design of wheel to complement the subtly enhanced body styling that sets it apart from the other models.
Dimensions of the 2026 Kia EV5
Length: 4,610mm
Width: 1,875 (mirrors folded)
Height: 1,675mm
Wheelbase: 2,750mm
Paint colours for the 2026 Kia EV5
The six paint colours offered are all "premium" according to Kia so come with a €750 additional cost. They're called Fusion (it's black), Dark Ocean Blue, Frost Blue, Snow White Pearl, Magma Red and Gravity Grey. Our favourites are the dark blue and the red, but it's great to see some interesting colours available when some brands are conservative in the extreme on that front.
Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2026 Kia EV5
• Good mix of switchgear
• Excellent infotainment
• Buckets of storage everywhere
As you'd expect of an electric SUV in this segment, the interior of EV5 has loads of practical features throughout, and of course it uses Kia's latest infotainment and switchgear layout that sensibly mixes a good touchscreen interface with plenty of physical buttons, so you don't have to rely on the screens. It's also all of very high quality.
Getting comfortable in the driver's seat
There's definitely a sense of stepping up into the EV5, though not by an uncomfortable amount, and to many, that's preferable to easing themselves down into a low-set seat.
In all versions of the EV5, the driver's seat is electrically adjustable and has variable lumbar support, so it's wonderfully comfortable. The wide range of adjustment in it and the steering wheel means most drivers will easily find a suitable position. Heated front and rear seats are standard across the range.
Moving up the grades, there's electric adjustment for the front passenger seat, ventilation for the front seats and 'Relaxation seats' functionality to recline them fully. The latter is designed around the idea of a nap or chilling out on your phone in a reclined position while the car is charging up at a public charger.
Infotainment and technology
Kia calls its wide digital dashboard the ccNC - or connected car Navigation Cockpit - and it's a modern, attractive layout shared across the brand's cars where three disparate interfaces are seamlessly integrated behind one smooth surface.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It's clear and easy to read, though people that like to customise the layout of their screens will find it lacking in that department. Only when you change driving mode does its colour change, for example. Then again, its lack of gimmickry is no bad thing, either.
To the left of that is a 5.3-inch touchscreen that is only for the climate control functions, allowing quick and easy adjustment of the temperature, mode of operation and demisting. It works well, but we're even happier to see Kia retaining supplementary physical buttons for some of the main functions. These are found in the centre of the dashboard under the air vents.
Above those outlets are slick touch-sensitive shortcut 'buttons' for the main infotainment touchscreen. This measures 12.3 inches across the diagonal and, though it's crammed with connectivity functionality, it's easy to find your way around it. The Kia AI Assistant is built in, but we find little use for such things.
The system can be kept up to date remotely via over-the-air updates and there's also the option to pay for upgrades through 'Features on Demand', for example an entertainment package allowing access to Netflix and other streaming services.
Of course, many owners will just hook up their smartphones via the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay mirroring software and use the apps on those.
Keeping devices charged up was evidently at the top of the interior design team's list of priorities, as there are loads of options. The wireless charger in the centre console has a rubber surface to keep devices in place for starters. Ahead of that are 12-volt and USB-C sockets and there are more of the same integrated into the sides of the front seats and accessible by those in the back.
Tech fans will approve of the fingerprint authentication system and the wraparound ambient lighting, and they'll be able to keep tabs on their car remotely via the Kia app as well. Along with checking the car status and location, this allows cabin and battery pre-conditioning, among other things.
Finally, depending on specification, the EV5 can be opened, closed and driven using Digital Key 2.0. This means using your smartphone instead of any physical key fob for the car and it can also be shared remotely to allow others to drive the car.
Practicality around the cabin
Though the front door pockets and glovebox are only of average size, the EV5 is generally quite practical, notably so in the back.
Up front, the centre console features hidden storage under the armrest to complement the two large open spaces available. At the higher level, next to the wireless charger, are two cupholders that can usefully be retracted to open up that space. Lower down is more room again, with space enough for a large handbag, for example.
There's also a little deployable hook on the passenger side, which we assume is designed to keep a bag upright, held by its handles. Other carmakers that have implemented a similar idea refer to it as a 'takeaway' hook; i.e. it's perfect for holding your bag of takeaway food on the way home, avoiding messy spills.
Rear-seat passenger space
Kids, don't tell your parents, but the best seats in the EV5 are in the back, as there's a surfeit of legroom and seemingly endless headroom - even when the car is fitted with the big glass roof. That has a blind for when it's too bright, but otherwise it's great for leaving light into the cabin.
The floor in the rear is flat all the way across, and there's plenty of room for feet under the front seats. It is a shame that the centre rear seat is so compromised in comparison to the outer two, but that's pretty standard in this size of SUV.
When the middle seat is not occupied, a central armrest - with two built-in cupholders - can be folded down, and the rear seat backs recline to allow for more comfort, too.
There are air vents and temperature controls in the back as well, and a highly useful and spacious storage drawer that pulls out of the centre console. You'll find the expected 'map pockets' (who uses maps anymore?) in the backs of the front seats, along with cleverly moulded headrests that double up as clothes hangers.
Fitting child seats to the Kia EV5
ISOFIX points are found in the outer two seats in the back, but we don't believe the space between is large enough for a booster held in place by the seatbelt. There's no front-seat ISOFIX, but there is an airbag cutoff switch to allow for a rear-facing child seat secured there by the seatbelt.
Within the Euro NCAP safety assessment of the EV5, it was awarded 85 per cent for child occupant protection. Look at the detail of that and you'll see it scored full marks for the crash test performance and only lost points due to lack of a few features - such as child presence detection and ISOFIX in the front seat.
Boot space in the Kia EV5
At 566 litres with all seats in use, the EV5's boot volume is certainly comparable with that of its internal-combustion-engined sibling, the Kia Sportage, though the EV5 has the added bonus of extra storage under the bonnet up front.
This, the so-called 'frunk', holds just over 44 litres, which is a useful capacity. It means room for all your charging cables and more besides, so they can be kept separate from luggage in the back. What's more, we like the fact that the bonnet rises up on struts once it's released, enhancing the high-quality feel.
Back in the boot, the floor can be adjusted to two different heights, and even in the lowest there's a little extra storage space underneath. At its top level, it lines up with the folded rear seats to create a notably flat surface. Indeed, the seats pivot down low into the car when they're stowed to achieve this. Kia claims there's a two-metre-long flat surface with this layout, allowing for the transport of some seriously big and chunky items when required.
The tailgate of the EV5 is powered in all models and there are a few other practical touches around the boot, such as storage trays either side up high, and movable, modular hooks as well. Depending on version, there's even a useful three-pin plug socket in the side of the boot wall.
Towing with the Kia EV5
Although there's no all-wheel-drive version of the EV5 sold in Ireland, it still manages to tow a creditable 1,200kg of braked load.
Safety in the Kia EV5
Tested in 2025, the Kia EV5 achieved the full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Within that were individual scores of 83 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for children (as mentioned earlier), 74 per cent for protection of vulnerable road users and 80 per cent for safety assist.
The EV5 comes with a vast array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including Kia's Highway Driving Assist 2.0 (HDA 2.0). Read the full Euro NCAP report on the EV5 here.
Performance of the 2026 Kia EV5
• One battery and motor combo
• Smooth driving manners
• Exceptionally comfortable
The mechanicals of the EV5 are straightforward and, as mentioned elsewhere, there's just one powertrain setup offered with one size of battery and a single electric motor. Unfortunately, those that want four-wheel drive need to look elsewhere, as there is no dual-motor EV5 sold in Ireland.
Nonetheless, sales stats show that few buyers of family SUVs prioritise all-wheel drive, so the front-driven EV5 will no doubt suffice for most. Its electric motor produces up to 217hp and 295Nm of torque, which are ample figures for the sector, and the official range is as high as 530 kilometres.
Driving the Kia EV5 in Ireland - Shane O' Donoghue
The first thing you notice about driving the Kia EV5 is that you have a great view of the road ahead thanks to its relatively high driving position. There's good visibility in all directions, actually, and the driver-assistance systems are notably well-judged so they're helpful rather than annoying the driver enough to warrant switching off.
While the peak power and torque figures are nothing to write home about, the 8.4-second 0-100km/h time reveals that the EV5 is no slouch away from a standing start. That's mostly due to the instant-torque characteristic of an electric motor, and it helps the EV5 feel responsive in everyday driving.
And yet, as we've found in other Kia EVs, the acceleration is never uncomfortable, from the perspective of the driver or the passengers; it's just smooth, making for a thoroughly enjoyable driving experience.
Sure, if you want maximum response, you can press the driving mode button on the steering wheel and cycle through the various options to the Sport mode, but we suspect few owners ever will feel the need to.
The EV5 has a chunky stalk on the right side of the steering wheel that's home to the power on/off button and you twist it to select drive, neutral or reverse. Press the end of it for Park. All very easy and intuitive to use.
Behind the steering wheel are paddles that allow you select a preferred level of brake-energy regeneration, i.e. the force with which the electric motor slows the car down when you take your foot off the accelerator (and charges the battery in the process). It always defaults to level 1 of 3, where 0 is coasting, the latter the most natural feeling in our opinions. Some EV drivers like a one-pedal setup where they have to barely use the brake pedal, but not us.
On the road, the EV5 is exceptionally quiet, refined and comfortable. It isolates passengers from the outside world and soaks up poor road surfaces in a manner we wish some of the supposedly more premium brands would take notice of. This is a seriously polished car on the road with no sporting pretences.
No, it's not exciting or interesting to drive, but its owners will love the simplicity, smoothness and overall sense of quality running through everything the EV5 does.
Range, battery, charging and running costs of the 2026 Kia EV5
• One battery option
• All models manage over 500km
• DC charging up to 150kW
With just a single battery offered, and all versions of the EV5 managing to exceed 500 kilometres to a charge, there's not much to choose between the different models.
Battery options and official range
The EV5's lithium-ion NMC battery is the same 81.4kWh unit fitted to the 'Long Range' version of the Kia EV4. Of that, 78kWh is usable, resulting in an official WLTP range of up to 530km.
It's worth remembering that figure only applies to the entry-level Earth 2 variant, which sits on 18-inch wheels. The Earth 3's range is quoted as 520km, while the GT-line car can go up to 505km between full charges.
Real-world range and efficiency of the Kia EV5
Our first chance to drive the EV5 was a proper challenge for its electrical system, as we picked up the keys in mid-December. It's not our job to maximise a car's efficiency so we drive an EV as we would any other vehicle, using the heating, air conditioning, heated seats, etc. for comfort as needs be and driving at a normal speed.
With all that in mind, plus the short days and low temperatures, an average energy consumption figure of 19kWh/100km seems acceptable enough for the EV5. It translates to a potential range of 410km under these conditions, though we have no doubt the car is capable of much better in warmer weather and with a little more focus on efficiency from the driver/owner.
Charging up the Kia EV5
While most people will likely charge up their EV5 at home via a standard 7.4kW AC wallbox, it's good to know you won't be waiting around forever when you do have to use a public charger.
To that end, the EV5's peak DC-charging rate of 150kW is sufficient for a theoretical 10-80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. It's not the fastest around, but perfectly fine for most drivers. On three-phase AC outlets, the EV5 can charge at up to 11kW.
The EV5 can also charge up external devices itself, as 'vehicle-to-everything' tech is fitted to the top two models. They both come with a power socket in the boot and the GT-line car also gets an external vehicle-to-load adaptor to plug into the charging port and allow the EV5 to be used as a big, mobile power pack.
Servicing the Kia EV5
Like Kia's other EVs, the EV5's service interval is every two years or 30,000km - whichever comes first. This indicates just how little servicing and maintenance an electric car needs.
Kia EV5 warranty
The EV5 is covered by Kia's standard seven-year, 150,000km warranty. That apples to the battery as well. There's also a seven-year anti-perforation warranty, and a five-year paint warranty.
Irish pricing & rivals to the 2026 Kia EV5
• Similar price to hybrid Sportage
• Competes with biggest-selling EVs
• Three trim levels to choose from
With a single powertrain on offer, buyers of the Kia EV5 have an easy route to ownership, choosing the colour they prefer and from the three specifications that suits their needs or budgets.
Among the EV5's rivals are the Volkswagen ID.4, Peugeot E-3008, Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ, along with the Skoda Enyaq, Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya. In short, there's a lot of competition.
The entry-level model is the EV5 Earth 2, starting at €47,625. That equates to a monthly repayment from €443 on finance with a 3.9 per cent APR. The Earth 2 is well-equipped by any standard, including alloy wheels, heated seats front and back, a powered tailgate, heat pump, electric adjustment for the driver's seat, parking sensors front and rear and the full infotainment system.
Next up is the Earth 3 model at €49,800 (or €471 a month), adding larger wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, ambient lighting, power adjustment for the front passenger seat (and a memory function for the driver's), upgraded headlights with a welcome function, better tyres, ventilated front seats and 'vehicle-to-everything' functionality with a three-pin socket in the back.
Topping the lineup is the EV5 GT-line. It comes with slightly sportier styling and wheels, plus two-tone upholstery on upgraded seats, the digital key, a head-up display, massage function for the driver, panoramic glass sunroof, metal pedals and an adapter for the vehicle-to-load system. This costs €519 a month or €54,000.
Kia Ireland's launch offer for the EV5 includes that 3.9 per cent rate mentioned above for both PCP and HP finance, a free home charger and a €500 SuperValu gift card. Buyers moving from another Kia to the EV5 will additionally receive a loyalty bonus including free servicing.
Verdict - should you buy the 2026 Kia EV5?
Kia established itself as a maker of high-quality EVs with the launches of the EV6, EV9, EV3 and EV4, but arguably the most important of the lot is the EV5, as it competes in the most popular sector of the marketplace. And while it's being promoted as an electric alternative to the Sportage SUV, the EV5 feels like a step above that car thanks to its refined manners and spacious interior. If you're in the market for an electric SUV of this size, it needs to be on your shortlist.
FAQs about the 2026 Kia EV5
Does the Kia EV5 replace the Sportage?
Certainly not. The Sportage is Kia's most popular model in Ireland - and further afield - so it's going nowhere anytime soon. It was mildly facelifted in 2025 and will continue to be offered in diesel, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid guises for the foreseeable future.
The EV5 is of similar size and price, but is purely electric. Read our Kia Sportage reviews here.
Does the Kia EV5 have a frunk?
It certainly does, and it's a generously proportioned one, holding 44.4 litres under a bonnet held up by struts. Even with a couple of charging cables inside, there's still room for other bits and pieces.
Can I fit three car seats in the back of the Kia EV5?
Not easily, no. The rear seat is quite wide, so it's comfortable enough for three people to sit in, but the space between the buckles in the middle is the pinch point, as it is in most cars, so we don't think you'd easily get a third child seat, or even a booster, in the centre if the outer ISOFIX mountings are in use.
Want to know more about the 2026 Kia EV5?
If there's anything about the new Kia EV5 we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
