A week ago I attended the 2 day Kia EV5 Australian media launch and test drive event. All the journalists were able to drive the EV5 Air standard range, EV5 Air long range and EV5 Earth AWD long range. The EV5 GT-Line was available just to look at while parked because it was a preproduction model.



The test drive route started near Sydney Airport. We drove South to Austinmer. Then continued along the coastal roads through Kiama, turned at Gerringong, passing through Berry and Bomaderry, then turned North towards Bowral via Kangaroo Valley. The next day we drove from Bowral back to Sydney near the CBD to return the cars.
Before the event I asked Australian Kia EV fans and my own direct supporter Members what questions they had. Questions from my Supporters were prioritised. Some of the questions were answered at the event and others afterwards.
Some questions are awaiting answers from the Kia Australia product team and will be included in this article once the answers are sent to me.
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EV5 Australian RRP & Driveaway Pricing
Specification | EV5 Air | EV5 Air | EV5 Earth | EV5 GT-Line |
---|---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 2WD Standard Range | 2WD Long Range | AWD Long Range | AWD Long Range |
Power / Torque | 160 kW / 310 Nm | 160 kW / 310 Nm | 230 kW / 480 Nm | 230 kW / 480 Nm |
Acceleration (0-100) | 8.5 sec | 8.9 sec | 6.1 sec | 6.3 sec |
Wheels | 18″ Alloys | 18″ Alloys | 19″ Alloys | 20″ Alloys |
WLTP Range | 400 km | 555 km | 500 km | 470 km |
RRP | $56,770 | $61,170 | $64,770 | $71,770 |
Driveaway* | $56,770* | $63,990* | $68,990* | $75,990* |
* Driveaway price for Western Australia will include an additional $1,000 for Air & Earth variants & $2,000 for GT-Line
Are there prepaid servicing options?
Yes … 3 Year – $980, 5 Year – $1,535, 7 Year – $2,431.
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Why is the EV5 Earth faster and has 30km more range than the GT-Line?
The Earth is slightly faster than the GT-Line (only 0.2 seconds) and has 30km more range because Earth has 19 inch Tyres vs GT-Line 20 inch tyres.
The fashion for larger car tyres over time has resulted in less efficient cars compared to if they all had had the smaller 18 inch tyres. Bigger and heavier tyres always reduce driving range.
Is there a heat pump on any of the spec levels? AFAIK not in Australia.
A Kia spokesperson advised me that No, a heat pump is not available across the EV5 range.
Does the Kia EV5 have Apple Car Key?
Raymond Pok – Kia Australia Product Planning Manager advised that in Australia:
“EV5 doesn’t have a digital key on your phone [EV9 doesn’t either in Australia]. In terms of functionality you can use what’s available on the EV5. So you can use your Kia Connect app to unlock the car even if you don’t have the key fob on you. Get in the car in the GT-Line and you can use the fingerprint module to start the car. Without having a key fob in the vehicle. “
How was the Kia EV5 tuned for Australian road conditions?
Graeme Gambold – Chief ride and handling engineer said:
“This was the first product we did outside of Namyang. So we had to go to the Yantai proving ground in China [Kia made a copy of Namyang at Yantai]. A lot of tuning and modeling went into it and we’re pretty happy with the result. It’s got a nice balance between ride comfort and dynamic performance so we kept the flavour of EV9 in a smaller package.”
Is there V2G ability built-in to the EV5 but not activated yet or not available in Australia at all?
Roland Rivero – Kia Australia General Manager of Product Planning said:
“We’re still going through a lot of testing & development on V2G. At this point in time EV5 does not have V2G. Other products are in the same boat. Hardware wise could be but still locked as we’re going through some R&D. It’s going through some trials and testing in Europe as it develops we’ll keep you all posted. At this point in time there’s no V2G on any Kia product [in Australia]. Market demand will drive the need for features to be activated”.
Will it be possible for a Kia dealer to get an Earth or GT-Line with smaller wheels & tyres to increase range?
Raymond Pok – Kia Australia Product Planning Manager advised:
“You’ll notice through our product line-up we don’t have a lot of option packs. Bit of simplicity in that but consistency too so even on the used car market people know what they’re getting. So with the EV5, EV6, EV9 and our ICE range what’s provided in the specs on wheels and tyres on launch and in supply is what the car comes with. If the customer wants to look at other options they can do that [post purchase]”.
Can EV5 buyers opt out of information about their car usage eg: voice being shared for training purposes?
A Kia Australia spokesperson told me:
“The Kia Connect service is opt-in; a vehicle cannot be enrolled into Kia Connect without the process being started by the customer (and therefore, are opted out on default). Customers can opt out of Kia Connect after enrolment by deactivating through the vehicle infotainment system.”
Are the Kia Connect app and Sat Nav updates free for 7 years or 10 years?
The printed spec sheet we were given at the media launch says says Kia Sat Nav gets 10 years of traffic info and map updates. That was verbally confirmed to me by a Kia spokespeson.
A Kia Australia spokesperson told me later:
The Kia Sat Nav is separate from Kia Connect (Telematics system) which is 7 years complimentary. Pricing beyond this period is under discussion, as there’s still quite some time until the first local vehicles with Kia Connect (Niro, launched in mid-2022) reach an age where renewal is necessary.
Will the 1st Kia EV5 OTA update enable a button to mute speed warnings?
A Kia Australia spokesperson told me they expect an OTA update to enable this but it may not arrive by end of 2024:
“We are anticipating an update that will allow drivers to mute audible Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) alerts by long pressing the mute button; this update has gone live on EV9 and Sorento already. Currently, customers can set the star/favourite button to shortcut to the ISLA settings.”
What are the determining factors on which tyres (Nexen or Kumho) will be allocated to a customer?
The spec sheet seems to indicate the tyre brand could be either Nexen or Kumho randomly based on what stock is available at the time.
A Kia spokesperson advised me that tyres are dual sourced like some of their other vehicles.
What is the ground clearance from battery?
Air 2WD SR : 175mm, Air 2WD SR 161mm, Earth AWD LR 166mm, GT-Line AWD 166mm.
What is the Tow Rating?
Feature | Air 2WD SR | Air 2WD LR | Earth AWD LR | GT-Line AWD LR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Towing Capacity | ||||
Towing Capacity Unbraked (Kg) | 300 | 750 | ||
Towing Capacity Braked (Kg) | 300 | 1,250 | ||
Max. Towball Download (Kg) | 50 | 100 |
Does the GT-Line have a built-in sunroof cover that can be fully closed?
A Kia spokesperson advises Yes it does.
Has Kia Australia done anything to avoid manual/auto-flush door handles having difficulty popping out under freezing conditions (as experienced overseas)?
I am waiting on a comment from Kia Australia.
I’m guessing this is a global design issue that will be the same here as it is overseas.
I am waiting on a comment from Kia Australia about the question below:
- Since the EV5 is 400V architecture, can Aussie buyers be confident they won’t have the ICCU failure issues that many 800V Kia EV6 & EV9 have had?
Pricing, Sales Target, Launch Offer, Reacting to Model Y Price Cuts
All the questions below are answered in my article for Zecar: KIA EV5 Australia: Pricing, Sales Target, Launch Offer, Reacting to Model Y Price Cuts?
- Is Kia Australia still targeting 10,000 EV5 sales/year?
- Are there any Kia EV5 launch offers eg a free home charger or public charging voucher?
- What factors determined pricing, especially for the entry level?
- If Tesla reduce the price of the Model Y in the next few months will Kia respond?
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