Take the Leap

Kia’s latest fully electric crossover, the EV5, is the third model in the brand’s dedicated EV lineup, following the EV6 and EV9.

Like its siblings, the EV5 is built on Kia’s E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform), the architecture that underpins all modern battery-electric vehicles from Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis. Modular and scalable, it features a flat floor that maximizes interior space while accommodating either single-motor front- or rear-wheel-drive layouts, or dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations.

But more importantly, the EV5 feels like it was designed for people who grew up with traditional automotive values yet remain curious enough to embrace electrification. It serves as a bridge between the familiar and the futuristic—and in that regard, the EV5 succeeds brilliantly.

On paper, it has all the technology one expects from a modern EV. There’s 800-volt electrical architecture, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, a panoramic digital display, the latest suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, a 360-degree camera system, seven airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, and more. Connected to a suitable 800-volt DC fast charger, the battery can be replenished from 10 to 80 percent in just 38 minutes.

Yet none of it feels intimidating.

The EV5 is packaged in a remarkably conventional manner. It wears a familiar two-box crossover silhouette, offers a spacious and practical cabin, and even features a traditional power button. That may seem like a small detail, but it matters. The automatic on-and-off operation of many modern EVs can be surprisingly confusing. More than once, I’ve walked away from an electric vehicle only to realize several minutes later that it was still switched on. Thankfully, those moments happened in private parking lots.

The EV5 feels reassuringly familiar.

Its styling follows Kia’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, which combines contrasting elements to create a distinctive identity. Up front sits Kia’s new “Digital Tiger Face,” while the rear styling appears to blend multiple design themes into a cohesive whole. It sounds contradictory, but it works. The EV5 projects a sense of modernity without alienating those accustomed to more traditional automobiles.

In many ways, that sums up the entire vehicle. It encourages you to try something different while remaining within a safe, familiar comfort zone.

Inside, the cabin is impressively spacious. The seats are comfortable and supportive, upholstered in a combination of leather and fabric. Interestingly, the fabric evokes memories of the coarse yet durable materials commonly found in family cars of the 1980s, adding an unexpected warmth to an otherwise contemporary, space-gray interior.

The absence of a transmission tunnel and a low center console frees up an impressive amount of room. Storage solutions are plentiful, with numerous cubby holes scattered throughout the cabin alongside multiple USB charging ports for today’s connected lifestyles.

Cargo capacity is equally impressive. The rear luggage compartment offers 566 liters of space, expanding to a cavernous 1,714 liters with the rear seats folded. Up front, the frunk adds another useful 67 liters.

Technology integration is straightforward and user-friendly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and while the audio system lacks a premium-brand badge, sound quality is excellent.

Whether listening to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, or Rosé’s APT., the system delivers clean, crisp audio with impressive versatility across genres. And in a vehicle designed to tackle daily commuting and inevitable traffic jams, a good audio system becomes more important than many people realize.

The GLS variant tested is powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 215 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque. Energy is supplied by an 88.1-kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery, which Kia claims can deliver up to 550 kilometers of range.

That figure appears entirely realistic. During our test, we covered more than 260 kilometers while still retaining roughly half a charge.

Out on the road, the EV5 behaves exactly as a crossover should.

The steering is light but accurate. It isn’t designed to be a sports car, nor does it pretend to be one. Instead, comfort takes priority—and that’s perfectly acceptable. Ride quality is particularly impressive, combining firmness with excellent bump absorption. Broken pavement, expansion joints, potholes, and rough road surfaces are all dispatched with composure.

The brakes are powerful and confidence-inspiring, aided by the regenerative braking system, while outward visibility is excellent from all angles.

What stands out most is how effortless the EV5 feels over long distances.

In a multi-car garage, this is the vehicle that would inevitably become the default choice. It’s comfortable, spacious, efficient, and easy to live with. It instills confidence before a long journey and leaves you feeling surprisingly refreshed at the end of one.

As crossovers go, it drives exceptionally well. Not exciting in the traditional enthusiast sense, but reassuringly competent, refined, and enjoyable. There’s a solidity to the way it tackles rough roads that borders on indestructible. Even the harshest bumps and ruts are absorbed with remarkable ease.

And perhaps that’s the EV5’s greatest strength.

If there is one vehicle capable of convincing traditional motorists to make the leap from internal combustion to electrification, not because it dazzles with technology but because it feels familiar, reassuring, and approachable, it is the Kia EV5.