Kia EV5 Earth AWD 2026 review

Since its Australian debut in October 2024, the electric Kia EV5 has forged a respectable degree of popularity for itself.

Riding on the back of Kia’s reputation for good-driving vehicles, plus the brand’s long warranty and the excellence of its EV9 electric flagship, the EV5 has made a modest impact among the hugely competitive medium SUV sector – shifting 4787 units in 2025 – though the combustion-engined Sportage trounces the EV5 for sales, as does the huge-selling Tesla Model Y.

Yet the EV5 definitely has appeal – at least on paper – especially if you’ve owned a Kia before, are loyal to a dealership and want to upgrade to an EV from the Kia family.

The entry-level, single-motor EV5 Air has its good points – sharpest pricing (currently $49,990 driveaway), part-cloth seats, and the best ride on its smaller wheels – though with just 400km of WLTP range, it’s no surprise that the bigger-battery Air Long Range ($59,990 driveaway, 555km of range) is twice as popular, accounting for around a quarter of EV5s sold.

The most popular variant is the flagship GT-Line AWD, accounting for nearly half of EV5 volume, despite its steep $75,990 driveaway price.

Yet sharing the dual-motor GT-Line’s substantial lift in performance, combined with its theoretical traction advantage, is the testedEV5 Earth AWD, for a cost saving of over $10K based on its current $64,990 driveaway price.

Regardless of trim level, however, is the Kia EV5 capable, roomy enough and sufficient value-for-money to warrant consideration?

How does the EV5 Earth AWD drive?

What defines the EV5 driving experience is its heavy front-end power bias, its large turning circle (11.7m) and its lack of composure over bumps – all of which exacerbate the feeling that its underpinnings are more a bunch of disparate components than a holistic engineering solution.

Unlike a Skoda Enyaq EV, for example, which is easy to bond with and drives like a really good European car, the EV5 lacks any kind of dynamic fluency. It never flows down a road – even a smooth one – because it doesn’t have the handling poise, suspension absorbency or steering crispness to string everything together.

Instead, it leans over in the front, tugs and kicks back through its steering wheel, frequently battles to get power down cleanly (even in AWD guise!) and struggles to cope with lumpy surfaces.

It may have multi-link independent rear suspension but that somehow provides zero handling benefit and remains utterly incapable of guiding the EV5 into a corner.

At least its multi-setting regenerative braking system works extremely well – perhaps too well as the EV5’s body rocks around in response – and with 230kW/480Nm, there’s decent acceleration on tap providing the EV5 is on a tractive surface, in dry weather.

There are plenty of standard active-safety systems and the EV5 has been awarded a five-star rating by ANCAP.

However, its lane-keep assistance is annoyingly intrusive most of the time (though it can be disabled via a button on the steering wheel) and ditto its speed-sign warnings (silenced by holding down the wheel’s volume dial).

Surprisingly, when using adaptive cruise control with full steering and lane guidance, the EV5 is relatively accurate and comfortably assertive.

How is the EV5 Earth AWD’s interior?

Arguably the EV5’s greatest attribute is its packaging efficiency. It fits plenty of upright space into its boxy silhouette, and there’s a vision benefit too – seating passengers high for a commanding view while positioning legs vertically to comfortably accommodate more into its relatively compact 4615mm length.

That said, its seating is a little lacking in under-thigh support, and there’s a substantial lack of lateral support, meaning occupants slide around more than they should on its vinyl upholstery in corners (no-cost nougat beige in our test car).

While having imitation leather made from a percentage of recycled plastic is admirable, using a similar material to weave breathable cloth would’ve been a far-preferable option in Australia’s hot climates.

The Kia’s interior absorbs heat like you wouldn’t believe, yet the EV5 Earth doesn’t have front-seat ventilation like the smaller EV3 Earth does – only heating.

It also lacks wireless phone charging, as well as auto up/down rear windows, which screams penny-pinching in a $65K vehicle.

Luckily, the EV5’s climate-control air conditioning cools its cabin fairly quickly – something that many EVs struggle desperately with.

Storage-wise, the doors can barely house one-litre bottles (the rears are curiously better than the fronts), though the centre console has voluminous cupholders and an expanse perfectly designed to house a four-slot takeaway coffee tray.

As for the folding front-centre armrest that doesn’t have storage, and the odd ‘love seat’ mound between the front buckets that has its own storage pouch but isn’t actually a seat, the EV5 is intriguingly different to the norm, but not actually better.

The EV5’s boot is a decent 513 litres and has myriad clever storage solutions, plus vehicle-to-load (V2L) connectivity.

Its relatively modest frunk measures just 67 litres, but it’s surrounded by acres of flat plastic that could comfortably act as a serving bench at a BBQ or picnic.

What are the EV5 Earth AWD’s ownership costs?

Where the EV5’s otherwise-strong powertrain stumbles is in terms of charging speed. At a maximum of 140kW DC, the Earth AWD takes 38 minutes to go from 10-80 percent charge – 20mins longer than an EV6 and almost three times longer than a base Zeekr 7X (13mins).

Its maximum AC power of 11kW means it will take 8hrs 10mins for the EV5 Earth to fully charge its 88.1kWh NMC battery – giving it a WLTP range of 500km and, based on our testing, a real-world range of 440km, using 20kWh/100km, or about as much energy as a Porsche Macan!

Kia’s warranty is seven years/unlimited kilometres, supported by seven years’ body corrosion and paint durability/finish warranties. The electric EV5 also has a seven-year/150,000km battery warranty – slightly less than the industry norm for EVs.

Servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km, with the EV5’s five-year, capped-price servicing cost totalling $1535.

Budget Direct told us the median annual premium purchased for the first time between 1/5/25 and 1/5/26 to comprehensively insure a new Kia EV5 was $1660. Individual circumstances and policy terms may vary.

Of course, everybody’s situation is different, and the premium will vary according to make and model, and other things insurers take into account, such as your postcode, driving history, who drives the car, where you garage the car and more.

Please quote for yourself. Subject to meeting underwriting criteria. Insurance issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited. See PDS & TMD at budgetdirect.com.au.

The honest verdict

Since it launched in late-2024, life hasn’t been easy for the Kia EV5. A barrage of newer, cheaper, flashier, faster-charging EVs have swamped its turf, leaving the EV5 languishing in the wake of cars such as the re-engineered Tesla Model Y and the intriguing Zeekr 7X, among others.

Indeed, Kia Australia is already planning an extensive update for the EV5 – revamping its suspension, re-aligning its equipment levels and, hopefully, improving its mediocre charging speed.

However, that facelift is unlikely to arrive before early 2027 meaning the EV5 will continue in its current form, with recently reduced pricing, for the remainder of 2026.

As it stands, the mid-spec EV5 Earth AWD is fine if you haven’t driven its competition, or don’t drive very far, or make few demands of your EV. Given those parameters, it’s impressively roomy, easy to see out of, brisk when it needs to be, and likeable when it comes to interior and luggage functionality.

But this Chinese-built Kia is ultimately insufficient for Australian conditions. Both its real-world efficiency and its charging speed are below par – something you can accept if you aren’t constantly in a hurry.

More disappointing, though, is its lack of driving fluency, its abrupt ride quality, laborious turning circle, cumbersome handling and its lack of traction – even in this AWD version.

Where the best Kias are defined by their handling, steering and ride quality on Australian roads, the EV5 is undermined by its behaviour in challenging conditions – especially compared to its best rivals, which include Kia’s own Sportage Hybrid. The more you ask of the EV5, the greater its shortfall of ability.

If you’re a Kia loyalist, maybe an EV5 Air Long Range could make sense. But we’d be either looking at the smaller, more sophisticated EV3, or an EV6 – maybe even second-hand – which charges twice as fast as the EV5 and is vastly superior to drive.