2026 Kia EV5 review

Electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to boom in Australia, but while emerging Chinese brands are making all the headlines, there are still plenty of options from the household names.

The 2026 Kia EV5 , for example, was one of the earlier entrants in the mid-size electric SUV category from an established auto brand, and has enjoyed plenty of success since it arrived in 2024.

Sourced from China like most of Australia's top-selling EVs, the EV5 continues to post sales growth – just not quite to the lofty heights of the hugely popular BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y .

So far this year to July 31, the EV5 has found 3601 new homes Down Under, an increase of 11.6 per cent on the January-July period last year. However, that figure pales in comparison to the aforementioned Sealion 7, sales of which have soared by no less than 190.6 per cent to 15,064 units in the same timeframe (although it only became available to order in February 2025).

Even newcomer Geely has surpassed the Kia's volume within 12 months of being on the market with its EX5 , which so far in 2026 has recorded 8790 sales, up a whopping 276.4 per cent on its 2025 figures after going on sale last March.

And everyone knows Australia's top-selling EV is the Model Y, which has notched up more than 25,000 sales to July this year, aided by the new six-seat L variant, which outsold the standard five-seater last month.

But sales performance alone isn't necessarily indicative of a model's competence alongside its competitors in any given segment.

Is Kia's boxy mid-size electric SUV worthy of your consideration in Australia's most competitive EV segment? Let's find out...

Kia has been applying plenty of red marker across its EV prices lately, and you can currently drive away in the EV5 Air Long Range on test here for much less than its sticker price.

At $59,990 drive-away, the Air Long Range is some $4000 cheaper than the previous drive-away offer available when we last tested an EV5, better positioning it against many rivals.

The Sealion 7 is currently on offer from $54,990 drive-away, and the Air Long Range's drive-away offer significantly undercuts the cheapest Model Y (~$64,500 drive-away).

Hyundai's related Elexio can be had for as little as $54,990 drive-away in base trim with the same drivetrain, while the EX5 is a relative steal compared to all of these at ~$45,900 drive-away in entry-level form.

To see how the Kia EV5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Despite being the base trim level, the EV5 Air has plenty of niceties and doesn't feel 'cheap'.