Presentation of the Kia EV5: E-SUV dispenses with very high charging power

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In hardly any other market segment does the customer currently have such a wide choice as with SUVs, which are between 4.5 and 4.7 m long. Combustion engines, hybrids, electric drives – everything is available in a wide variety of configurations. So far, Kia has only been represented with the unconventional EV6. In future, the EV4 and EV5 are set to capture further market share. The EV5 is a "cornerstone of the European growth strategy", says Sjoerd Knipping, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Europe. In view of this, it is surprising that the brand is relying on a 400-volt basis. Record-breaking charging times are therefore by no means to be expected in the EV5 that has now been presented.

30 minutes for 10 to 80 percent

With its 800-volt platform for the EV6, among others, Kia caught almost all of its competitors off guard a few years ago. At that time, only a minority offered charging capacities of significantly more than 200 kW. The promise of being able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes was quite effective in advertising, especially as it can be verified in practice. With this in mind, it is remarkable that Kia is not simply following on from this, but taking a step back. EV4 and EV5 have a 400-volt base. The 81.3 kWh battery can be charged with a maximum of 150 kW. Up to 11 kW is possible on alternating current.

The window between 10 and 80 percent should be closed in 30 minutes under ideal conditions. 70 percent corresponds to just under 57 kWh, so the average net charging capacity is almost 114 kW. At 4.61 m, the EV5 is not much shorter than the EV6, but there is no doubt that it is not in the same league when it comes to charging. Kia does not yet provide any consumption figures, but – still gives provisional – values for the range in the WLTP, which are given as 505 to 530 km.

Battery with 58 kWh should follow

Sales are due to start around the turn of the year, but Kia has not yet announced prices. There will only be one drive configuration at launch, but the press release mentions the "long-distance version with 81.4 kWh battery". There is no mention of another, but the emphasis suggests that Kia wants to add a variant with a smaller battery. It is probably identical to the basic EV3 configuration, which has 58 kWh of energy content.

The drive itself has 295 Nm and 160 kW to offer, which should enable the e-SUV to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, with a top speed of 165 km/h. As with the EV3, it remains front-wheel drive. However, all-wheel drive is likely to follow in the course of next year. Kia does not reveal whether a heat pump is part of the standard equipment. Pre-conditioning of the battery cells is always included, which can be used to shorten charging stops in winter.

Plenty of space

The EV5 is not able to set itself apart from the competition in the drive area. Kia is therefore trying to emphasize a particularly generous amount of space. At 2.75 m, the wheelbase is only two centimeters less than in the VW ID.4, and the trunk has a capacity of 566 to 1650 liters. This means that the EV5 should be as spacious as comparable models. Despite front-wheel drive, Kia still found room for a 44 liter compartment under the front hood. The EV5 is ideally equipped for use in the city or trips into the countryside – thanks to a pull-out storage compartment in the center console and other organizational features, writes Kia.

On the outside, the EV5 has a beefy appearance, just as the majority of the target group apparently appreciates. The unconventional design of the headlights may make the SUV stand out slightly from the crowd. Inside, the design, which is currently so widespread not only at Kia, consists of a wide display front and only a few buttons. The start button, which is located near the steering column in the selector lever, is somewhat hidden. From a certain equipment level upwards, the profile with personal settings can be called up using a fingerprint. A good idea is that the probably unavoidable cup holders can simply be pushed out of the way when not in use – This should set a precedent. Fortunately, Kia has so far also refused to follow the fashion of no longer being able to open optional glass roofs.

(mfz)