Kia EV5 GT-Line 2025 Review

Being the top-spec variant, the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD is always going to be on the pricier end of the scale. And at $71,770 before on-road costs (ORCs), it’s getting up there.

The flagship uses dual electric motors, one on either axle, to create all-wheel drive (AWD). The $64,770 Earth shares the same powertrain, just with less kit. Sitting beneath them in the hierarchy are two single-motor, front-wheel drive (FWD) variants, the entry level $56,770 Air Standard Range and $61,770 Air Long Range.

With a slew of Chinese offerings undercutting Kia’s EV push, including the Geely EX5, XPeng G6 and BYD Sealion 7, the Korean giant’s entrant starts to look expensive.

Ironically, the EV5 is built in China, too, a first for Kia in the Aussie market. In fact, its introduction to Australia was delayed while some issues were sorted out.

And of course, there’s the perennial electric SUV leader the Tesla Model Y to contend with, although at least here the Kia is competitive on price.

As a war wagon to escape the zombies, the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD looks like nothing else on the market – well, apart from the mini-me EV3 and the oversized EV9. It’s a maze of angular lines and odd shapes that works. It even comes with a two-tone pallet, the black roof adding to the concept-car aesthetic.

Being the top-spec variant, the GT-Line is flush with features. It rides on aero-minded yet over-styled 20-inch alloys and the flush door handles also aid efficiency and reduce drag. Don’t worry, they flip open when the EV5 is keylessly unlocked.

Other exterior GT-Line features include a panoramic glass sunroof, shark fin antenna, privacy glass, auto-folding wing mirrors, progressive indicators, a rear spoiler and black wheel-arch cladding.

Inside, there’s oodles of faux leather, while the front seats are power adjustable as well as heated and ventilated. The addition of massaging is a premium touch, while the outboard rear pews and the steering wheel are heated.

Elsewhere, you’ll find push-button start on the steering column-mounted Shift-by-Wire lever, dual-zone climate control and a power tailgate with kick sensor.

Our test car also came with an odd accessory – an inflatable bed made to fit the EV5 – while premium paint is a $600 option and the black-roof option adds $775.

Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies, while there’s also eight years of roadside assistance that’s dependent on servicing with the brand. However, the battery’s coverage is slightly less than the industry average at seven years or 150,000km.

You can prepay services, with three- ($980), five- ($1535) or seven-year ($2431) plans to choose from. The intervals are short for an EV too, with dealership visits required every 12 months or 15,000km (instead of the more usual 24 months and 30,000km).

The 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It was awarded in 2024 under the latest, stricter measures.

Highlights of the package include seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, active cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with braking, parking sensors, speed sign recognition and driver monitoring.

The GT-Line gains parking collision avoidance assist, a 360-degree 3D surround view camera and live-feed blind spot monitoring that’s displayed within the instrument cluster.

As with most modern offerings, a lot of the safety systems need to be switched off (via a steering-wheel shortcut and menu-diving) for a more relaxed experience. However, it isn’t a permanent cancelation and is required at every ‘start’.

The driver attention warning is insistent and the speed sign recognition is annoying (and often wrong), while the active lane keeping can be intrusive.

The 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD follows the company’s modern tradition of oversized screens that present as one panel.

For the record, ahead of the driver and front passenger are a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 5.0-inch climate control panel squished in between.

The operating system is familiar, which results in quick and responsive unit that is easy to understand. The menus and fonts appear clear and classy, too, while there’s little in the way of customisation for the digital driver’s display. There’s also an augmented reality head-up display – if you’re using the standard native sat-nav.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, while the GT-Line also scores a Qi wireless charging pad and eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio. Elsewhere you’ll find voice activation, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio and various USB-C ports around the cabin.

While it isn’t new to the Hyundai/Kia family, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 remains a fun party trick. But it’s also useful for those living in confined apartment complexes. Essentially, you don’t have to be in the car to park (or exit) it, instead you use the key fob like a remote control.

Speaking of remote access, the EV5 can carry out certain tasks like lock/unlock, monitor charge status and manipulate the climate control via the Kia Connect app (with connected services). It also accepts over-the-air updates for software and maps directly to the vehicle, while a finger-print sensor will tie your personal settings to your own identity.

Performance isn’t really the objective here, but the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD packs a dual e-motor set-up that ensures it’s no slouch.

The 160kW and 310Nm unit used in the lower-grade FWD models is joined by a less powerful 70kW and 170Nm e-motor on the rear axle to create AWD. It runs through a single-speed reduction gear, with overall totals coming to a combined 230kW and 480Nm.

The performance is somewhat blunted by the hefty 2229kg weight, yet there’s still enough grunt to haul the family-friendly EV to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. You’re not going to be left wanting for straight-line speed, making freeway on-ramps and highway overtakes a doddle.

However, with the vastly more powerful e-motor on the front axle, it feels significantly front-driven. The front Kumho Solus tyres can scrabble for purchase (especially with inclement weather) under heavier acceleration, with a bit of old-school torque steer, too.

This is despite the fact the GT-Line wears the widest 255-section tyres of any EV5. Swapping out the eco-focused rubber could prove a sensible purchase.

This isn’t the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD’s strong suit – despite the nomenclature saying otherwise. 

Providing energy to the e-motors is an 88.1kWh (84kWh useable) lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that finds its way into the Kia via BYD. The LFP unit isn’t as expensive as a nickel-based item, but it’s also heavier and less energy dense.

Officially, the claimed range is 470km, which isn’t top of the class in 2025. Additionally, with an efficiency rating of 21.0kWh/100km it’s ‘thirsty’ compared to other EVs. We couldn’t match that figure, either, and after a week with the GT-Line we returned 22.2kWh/100km – and even saw that rise to 24.5kWh/100km on an extended highway stint.

Unlike other EV models from Kia using the 800-volt e-GMP platform, the EV5 exists on the cheaper N3-eK architecture, meaning its 400V offering is capped at a fast-charge rate of 140kW via a DC connection. This equates to a 10-80 per cent zap in a lacklustre 38 minutes, while it also accepts a three-phase, 11kW AC charge.

A bonus is the provision for both external and internal vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability for charging accessories.

The accomplished Korean brand offers some surprisingly dynamic offerings within its range but the Chinese-built 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line isn’t one.

In terms of ride quality, the EV5 isn’t the plushest of experiences, with the big wheels jarring over poor surfaces and the suspension unable to quell the harshness through to the cabin. And at the other end of the spectrum, the damping isn’t up to the task of dealing with the EV5’s heft as it will bobble and move around through and after undulations.

Having said that, it is quite surface dependent. Smoother sections are dealt with far better, where the heavy weight of the battery-filled chassis isn’t as much of an issue. And not to forget the fact that, generally, EV5 buyers won’t have dynamic ability high on the priority list.

There are driving modes to manipulate the experience, comprising Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. Yet, there’s no real need to venture out of Normal. It’s also the best setting for the steering, as Sport introduces overt synthetic weight. Some kickback through the steering wheel over sharp bumps is present, too.

You can toggle between four stages of regeneration including an i-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving via the steering wheel-mounted paddles, but it’s nice to discover the brake pedal itself returns rather consistent modulation. Not all EVs enjoy this sensation when coupled with regen.

The handling package does become a little friendlier within city limits. The ride quality is still firm, but the body is more in check at slower speeds. The lightest steering setting is appreciated for navigating tight car parks and despite being quite wide, the EV5 GT-Line isn’t intimidating to wrangle CBD streets and suburbia.

Plus, with double glazing for the windows, the cabin is relatively hushed, especially compared to an internal-combustion offering. And with a well-judged throttle calibration, it’s easy to drive around progressively and ‘normally’.

Like the exterior aesthetic, the cabin of the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line is bold and futuristic – in a very cool, useable way. If you’re after visual intrigue with a dose of pragmatism, this is the electrified SUV for you.

It isn’t just for show, though, with tangible quality, premium finishes and a Land Rover-inspired multi-function steering wheel. Ambient lighting looks trick at night, too, while general ergonomics are decent given the focus on family transportation.

While usually a bit of a gimmick the GT-Line’s massaging seats (six-cell for the driver and three for the front passenger) are genuinely worth having. What doesn’t really work is the extended passenger seat that forgoes a proper central console bin. And don’t go using it as a front bench with three pews because – among other issues - there’s no seatbelt.

This lack of storage is, mostly, regained with various cubbies for phones and other paraphernalia. However, it would be nice to see the door bins being able to accommodate big bottles.

The climate control screen is rather redundant as not only does the steering wheel block your view of it, so does your left hand – which is presumably on the wheel if you’re driving.

Luckily, there are dash-mounted physical controls to save the day, although, the touch-sensitive menus ‘buttons’ above are easily brushed when using the main infotainment screen.

You can also expand the climate control screen to take over the entire touchscreen, which helps with vision but not quick accessibility.

Head and legroom are generous for rear-seat passengers, with decent toe and shoulder room, too. The best feature for getting comfy is the amount of seatback recline – you can lie back, and star-gaze out the glass roof.

The amenities here are far better than most. The usual features are present, like air vents (mounted in the B-pillars), USB-C ports, bottle holders, a fold-down centre armrest, coat hooks, reading lights and a map pocket. Yet, the EV5 GT-Line goes a step further with an aeroplane-style tray table (behind the passenger seat) as well as a handy compartment that doubles as a cooled or heated tray – very clever.

The 513-litre boot also houses a well-designed double floor that raises like stacked shelves, while there’s also hidden underfloor storage, moveable hook points and a three-prong household outlet. The back seats not only 60/40-split fold, but the bases also shift forward to create a totally flat 1714L load bay.

While the EV5 doesn’t come with cables supplied (they’re a fee-based accessory), once purchased they can live in the 67L ‘frunk’ – front boot – with the tyre repair kit as there’s no spare wheel.

Is the styling merely smoke and mirrors to cover up the 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Long Range AWD’s shortfalls? No, it isn’t. But the design inside and out is working hard to distract from a few key shortcomings.

At almost $72 before ORCs, it’s expensive against the established players and the growing Chinese competition. And the latter is the real sticking point, because the emerging brands are no longer trading solely on the basis of price as the quality of takes more limelight.

Kia’s outsourcing is telling in terms of dynamics, efficiency and the lack of sophistication of its active safety tech. The EV5 somewhat redeems itself in terms of form and function, but the GT-Line is a bit too expensive. The EV5 Air Long Range appears to be the sweet spot.   

We’ve become so accustomed to the Korean brand kicking goals that a behind comes as a surprise. So, if the ‘Walkers, Shamblers and Ghouls’ do come knocking, there are better getaway vehicles in Kia’s EV family.

2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line at a glance:
Price: $71,770 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two permanent-magnet synchronous motors
Output: 230kW/480Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 88.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (84kWh useable)
Range: 470km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 21.0kWh/100km (WLTP))
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2024)

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