Kia EV5 Review for the UAE: Comfort, Tech & Range, Performance

Abu Dhabi: The introduction of the Kia EV5 signals a major step in Kia’s electric vehicle expansion in the UAE. Positioned as the Korean brand’s affordable electric SUV, it ranks below the EV6 and EV9. Highly suitable for families who wish to make a switch to an all‑electric SUV without spending too much for a premium one. The EV5 is an appealing package offering comfort, a spacious cabin, and cutting‑edge technology. It does not entirely focus on just performance but on a practical SUV that serves as an ideal daily driver. For buyers who want a well‑built and familiar SUV shape like the other Best Traditional SUVs, with quieter driving and lower running costs, the EV5 fits naturally into the equation.

What makes the EV5 more attractive is the lower entry into ownership of a proper electric SUV. It has a competitive driving range, practical charging options, and a design that appears mainstream rather than something experimental. Anyone considering one from a well‑established brand should give the EV5 serious consideration as a safe, sensible entry point.

Design & Build

Exterior 

The EV5 exterior resembles that of the EV9, with the familiar boxy, upright stance, cube LED headlamps, and C‑shaped DRLs. At 4,615 mm long with a 2,750 mm wheelbase, it is equal to the Tucson’s dimensions but actually comes across as more spacious thanks to the flat EV floor. The squared wheel arches, flush door handles, and 19‑inch aero wheels complete the look. The rear mirrors the EV9 with C‑shaped LED tails joined by a full‑width light bar. Lastly, the ground clearance: 166 mm – not great, but fine for UAE roads and mall parking.

Interior Quality

Feature	Light	Air	Earth 2WD	Earth AWD
Seats	Cloth/Leather	Artificial Leather	Artificial Leather	Artificial Leather
Display	Dual 12.3-Inch	Dual 12.3-Inch	Dual 12.3-Inch + HUD	Dual 12.3-inch + HUD
Wireless Charging	No	No	Yes	Yes
Sunroof	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Massage/Vent	No	No	Yes	Yes

You have to agree that the cabin certainly feels like a premium for the price. The major highlight of the cockpit is the dual 12.3‑inch curved displays, one for instruments and one for infotainment, along with a 5‑inch climate screen. The screens stay crisp in direct UAE sunlight, which most owners will find quite useful when driving at noon in summer.

Comfort on UAE Roads

City Driving

Now for the real test of the EV, and it is not surprising to find that the EV5 is quite capable of handling traffic confidently. The mildly softer suspension than the EV6 absorbs speed bumps smoothly, and climate control keeps the cabin comfortable after parking in 48°C heat, cooling the front cabin within 3–4 minutes, which is clearly faster than most petrol SUVs.

Climate Control

Three‑zone climate control allows separate driver, passenger, and rear temperatures. It maintains settings in 50°C heat. Auto mode adjusts fan speed intelligently without blasting unnecessarily. N95 filtration with AQS air quality detection matters during sandstorm season, automatically maintaining cabin air quality.

Seat Comfort

Ventilated seats on the Earth variants offer nice cooling; they are not exactly air-conditioned, but they make a real difference on sunny days. The massage function genuinely relieves fatigue on long drives; the second‑row adults get good thigh support, if necessary, though the middle passenger sits slightly raised. The extended wheelbase prevents knees pressing against front seatbacks.

Storage & Practicality

The central console cupholders secure bottles on bumpy roads. Door pockets fit 1.5 L bottles. Covered storage under the armrest for wallets and phones. The second‑row seat table (optional) folds from the front seatback with an iPad slot and USB port.

The boot space is generous: 1,591 litres with the rear seats folded flat. The cooled/heated storage bin keeps drinks at the right temperature, a genuinely useful detail. Loading height is reasonable. Being an EV, you get extra space of 67 litres in the frunk, which you can use for charging cables and emergency equipment.

Highway Performance

Metric	Light	Air	Earth 2WD	Earth AWD
Power	214 hp	214 hp	214 hp	308 hp
Torque	310 Nm	310 Nm	310 Nm	480 Nm
0-100 km/h	8.5s	8.9s	8.9s	6.1s
WLTP Range	400 km	555 km	555 km	500 km
UAE Range	320-340 km	440-470 km	440-470 km	400-420 km

The single‑motor variants provide 214 hp and 310 Nm of torque, which is adequate for overtaking at speeds of 120–140 km/h. It’s not super great, but it’s confident enough for highway driving.

The Earth AWD variants get dual motors, which take the power to a higher level at 308 hp and 480 Nm. It touches 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, genuinely quick. So overtaking requires light throttle pressure, and the dual‑motor setup provides better traction and stability, though you sacrifice some range.

Harman Kardon audio with 8 speakers on Earth is a great companion for your long drives or even daily city drives. The cabin noise stays low at highway speeds. The seats are comfortable even after three hours of Dubai–Abu Dhabi driving. Earth variants offer memory functions, massage, and lumbar support and feel quite useful on long drives, not just features that are offered for the sake of it.

Real-World Range & Charging

This section matters most for EV buyers in the UAE: what’s the real range, and where do you charge?

The 88.1 kWh battery gives 420–450 km of real‑world range in 2WD variants, Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back with charge remaining. The 64.2 kWh Light offers 300–320 km in the real world, tight for Abu Dhabi round trips.

Charging hits a 140 kW DC fast charging maximum, which gets you from 10% to 80% in 38 minutes. Slower than the EV6’s 800‑volt platform, where you can charge in 18 minutes, but competitive with most family EVs; importantly, all DEWA and ADNOC stations support this speed.

At home, the situation changes where you are going to charge the most. With a 7 kW wall box, it takes 12–13 hours for a full charge on the 88.1 kWh battery. An 11 kW charger, if your villa supports it, can bring it down to about 8 hours, which is great for the whole night, and you are ready to go.

When it comes to the cost, home charging with DEWA at AED 0.29/kWh runs roughly AED 1,800–2,000 annually for 20,000 km. Even with 50% public charging usage, annual costs stay under AED 3,500, far less than AED 8,000–10,000 for petrol. This is where an EV makes a lot of practical sense that buyers can’t really ignore or consider paying the premium upfront for.

Safety & Driver Assistance

ADAS Feature	Performance
Forward Collision-Avoidance	Responsive warnings, reliable braking
Lane Keeping/Following	Gentle corrections, handles curves
Smart Cruise Control	Smooth adjustments, stop-and-go function
Blind Spot Avoidance	Prevents lane-change accidents
Remote Parking Assist	Searches spaces, assists steering/braking
Surround View Monitor	Clear 360° view (Earth variants)

The standard list includes seven airbags for the driver, passenger, side front, and curtain; electronic stability control; ABS with brake force distribution; tire pressure monitoring; and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The Earth variants get an exhaustive ADAS, which should actually match a car that costs AED 250,000 and more.

Blind‑spot monitoring works reliably with LED mirror warnings; the forward collision warning balances sensitivity without false alarms. Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 actually works in tight Dubai mall parking, searching for spaces and handling steering and braking automatically.

Competition

The EV5 has some serious rivals in its space, with some of the most recognised brands offering equally compelling choices with space, range and practicality. 

Feature	EV5 Air	Model Y RWD	Sealion 7	Hyundai Ioniq 5
Price (AED)	172,000	180,000	172,900	152,000
Power (hp)	214	299	308	168
Range (WLTP km)	555	455	520	384
0-100 km/h (s)	8.9	6.9	6.7	8.5
Warranty	5 yr/150k	4 yr/80k	6 yr/150k	5 yr/150k
Charging (kW)	140	170	150	233

The EV5 undercuts or matches competitors, at the same time promising a better warranty than Tesla and having higher performance than the Model Y. BYD offers more power but faces service, network, and resale uncertainty, as the brand is just making its presence felt. While Kia’s established service network with locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Al Ain beats Chinese brands. Tesla’s Supercharger network is superior, but Kia owners aren’t locked into one ecosystem.

The Verdict

A closer look at the EV5 clearly underscores its practicality as an electric SUV for everyday UAE roads. It is well‑suited for both city and highway drivers, and the hot UAE weather, with some Regular EV Maintenance, featuring a wealth of technology and high‑quality construction. The performance is impressive too. It handles city driving easily and delivers confident highway performance with strong overtaking ability. The Kia brand instills real confidence in this solid SUV that has the potential to attract a range of buyers across the Emirates.

It certainly is not cheap, as most EVs today are not, but for anyone seriously looking to make a move towards a completely greener car, the EV5 could be a practical choice as a family electric SUV. For buyers who want a familiar SUV shape, a spacious cabin, and a well‑supported brand, the Kia EV5 is one of the most sensible all‑electric SUVs in the UAE today.