First Drive: 2025 Kia EV5 in Morocco

by Marouf Hussain Chowdhury. September 10, 2024.

Kia has been stepping up its electric offerings in the Middle East. The EV6 and EV9 has already gone on sale, and the Kia EV5 is now the latest model to join the lineup. What makes the EV5 interesting is its interior space compared to similarly-sized vehicles.

Exterior

Looking at the exterior dimension numbers, the EV5 falls into the compact SUV category. However, inside, the rear legroom is comparable to most midsize SUVs.

It measures about 4.61 m long, which is about 10 cm longer than the Sportage. The design has a modern feel and looks more “SUV” than the EV6, with sharp edges and fender flares.

The front headlights and taillamps have a sleek design that runs across the front and rear.

Interior

The interior is where things get more interesting. Many recycled materials have been used to reduce its carbon footprint, such as recycled plastic for the door cards and carpets and bio-based polyurethane leather for the seats.

Two 12.3-inch screens have been added for the information cluster display and the infotainment system. The car features crisp graphics and doesn’t have any lag. It also gets wired CarPlay and Android Auto, which our phones connect to without issues.

Other convenient features include a remote engine and AC start. The driver also gets massage seats. The rear passengers enjoy a good amount of legroom. They also get a tray which folds down from behind the front seats.

Kia EV5 specifications

The EV5 comes in front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The base model has a 64.2 kWh battery that produces about 214 hp and 310 Nm of torque. Its top speed is about 185 kph, and its range is around 400 km.

The “Earth” trim is the long-range model, which has an 88.1 kWh battery and a range of 540 km.

The performance GT model has a 160 kW front motor and a 74 kW rear motor, producing a combined output of 313 hp and 467 Nm of torque. It sprints from 0 to 100 kph in 6.1 seconds. The range is said to be similar to the long-range model.

Kia EV5 performance

In our test drive, we drove the Kia EV5 Earth trim.

Visibility around the car is also good. The cabin is pretty quiet except for a bit of tyre noise. Wind noises creep in after driving at speeds above 80 kph.

The steering is relatively light, so parking is quite comfortable, and the 360-degree camera is clear.

The EV5 earth trim’s suspension is set up for comfort, and it nicely absorbed the minor bumps and imperfections on the Rabat roads during our drive.

Acceleration is good, as is the case with electric cars. Top speed is limited to 185 kph.

AC performed well, as temperatures outside were soaring above 35 degrees in the day.

Kia EV5 safety

Safety is top-notch with front, side and curtain airbags. Our car was equipped with ADAS, which included adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic avoidance, lane keep and following assist, forward collision alert and avoidance, pedestrian and cyclist detection and safe exit assist.

Kia EV5 price

The Kia EV5 starts from AED 160,000 in the UAE for the standard battery pack. The long-range model costs AED 186,000, and the EV5 GT costs about AED 234,000.

The EV5 is quite well-packaged in terms of performance and interior space. The interior tech and safety features are also very good. Cargo space is slightly compromised to provide better rear passenger legroom, but it is still ample for a compact SUV.

For those who can’t relate to the minimalist interior, the EV6 is probably the better option. But if that’s not an issue, the EV5 is a good choice for someone looking to switch to an electric vehicle.