Kia EV5 GT-Line review: how good is electric SUV?

Priced at £42,645 on the road, this five-seat electric crossover aims to deliver Sportage-sized practicality with zero-emission credentials and an impressive 313-mile range.

Built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP platform, the EV5 cuts a distinctive figure with its boxy, purposeful silhouette.

At 4,610mm long and 1,875mm wide, it’s fractionally larger than the petrol-powered Sportage, and the design exploits this with squared-off wings and bold vertical lines. The front adopts Kia’s signature ‘tiger face’ with three-dimensional Star Map LED daytime running lights, whilst the rear features near-full-length LED lights creating an eye-catching night-time signature.

The Kia EV5 ‘GT-Line’ has a distinctive look

The GT-Line specification tested here adds 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss black accents on the door mirrors, wheel arches and side sills, plus LED headlights with Adaptive Driving Beam. Active Air Flaps in the front bumper automatically optimise cooling and aerodynamics, helping achieve a respectable 0.30Cd drag coefficient.

Inside, the EV5 impresses with a lounge-like cabin that draws heavily from its larger EV9 sibling. The panoramic wide display spans three screens: dual 12.3-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment, plus a 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen.

Two-tone artificial leather upholstery enhances the premium feel, whilst heated front and outer rear seats add comfort.

Practicality is exceptional for the class. Boot capacity stands at 566 litres with all seats upright, expanding to 1,650 litres when the 60:40 split rear seats fold completely flat. There’s also a useful 44-litre frunk under the bonnet for cable storage. The centre console offers 16.5 litres of storage across multiple compartments, including a sliding rear tray that extends into the second row.

Kia EV5 ‘GT-Line’

All EV5 variants utilise the same 81.4kWh lithium-ion polymer battery feeding a 160kW (214bhp) front-mounted motor producing 295Nm of torque.

Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 8.4 seconds, which feels acceptable but far from blistering, with a maximum speed limited to 102mph. The GT-Line achieves a WLTP combined range of 313 miles, with city range extending to 448 miles.

Charging capability is comprehensive. Using a 350kW DC fast charger, the battery replenishes from 10-80% in just 30 minutes, whilst a 50kW charger requires 1 hour 10 minutes for the same charge. The standard 11kW onboard charger accepts both single-phase and triple-phase AC inputs, taking 7 hours 20 minutes for a 10-100% charge.

Kia EV5 ‘GT-Line’

The GT-Line comes generously equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and free Kia Connect services for seven years. Over-the-air updates keep the software current without dealership visits. GT-Line models gain Vehicle-to-Load capability with a 3-pin power socket, enabling the EV5 to power external devices with 3.6kVA capacity.

Driver assistance systems are comprehensive, including Highway Driving Assist 2.0, Smart Cruise Control 2.0 with stop-and-go functionality, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2.0, and Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist. Front and rear parking sensors plus a reversing camera are standard across the range. Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking system offers four levels of brake regeneration controlled by steering wheel paddles, with automatic mode and one-pedal driving functionality for smooth urban manoeuvring.

The Kia EV5 GT-Line delivers exactly what modern families need from an electric SUV: genuine practicality, respectable range, fast charging, and comprehensive equipment. Whilst performance is adequate rather than exhilarating, the 313-mile range and 30-minute rapid charging capability address the key concerns of EV sceptics.

The Lowdown

Kia EV5 ‘GT-Line’

PRICE: £42,645 on the road

POWER: 214bhp

MAX TORQUE: 295Nm

TOP SPEED: 102mph

0-62MPH: 8.4 seconds

BATTERY: 81.4kWh Li-ion polymer

DC 350kW charge time (10-80%): 30m