Suttie’s seven days... with a Kia EV5

Fresh from testing the Kia K4 Hatchback, Al Suttie jumps into the Korean brand’s EV5 mid-sized SUV to test the electric alternative to the massively popular Sportage. Kia EV5 GT-Line 81.4kWh FWD List price (BiK): £42,580 (4%) Economy: 313 miles Test efficiency: 269 miles This slideshow requires JavaScript. Monday Kia has a knack of bending its design trends to suit a range of cars while also making them distinctive as separate models. This is the case with the EV5 that arrived this morning, which clearly shares the same DNA as the K4 that it replaces on the driveway yet also has its own appeal. Kia says the EV5 complements the Sportage range, but it’s a bit bigger, so we’ll see how that plays out. Tuesday No doubting the comfort of the EV5 as an early afternoon trip today to collect my son from his final exam came with an enforced detour down a narrow country lane due to a collision on the main road. Dodging into the verge constantly to avoid oncoming traffic showed the EV5 has sufficient suspension travel and suppleness to cope, while the commanding driving position helped spot much of the traffic early enough to glide out of the way. Wednesday The EV5 shares the same dash layout as last week’s K4, and many other Kias. As noted before, the HVAC display is hampered by the steering wheel, but the physical toggles to select fan speed, temperature and air direction all make life much easier than onscreen set-ups. Kia has done a very sound job with its infotainment display in the EV and even disabling unwanted ADAS systems is a cinch. Thursday There is definitely more space for people and luggage inside the EV5 compared to the Sportage. This is simply because the EV5 is very generous, rather than the Sportage being cramped. The only small demerit it the height of the boot’s load sill, which is quite lofty when hefting in some junk to take to the refuse this evening. Still, the boot floor can be raised to sit flush with the sill. Friday Something that has been in my mind but I couldn’t quite articulate became clear this morning. Taking a few things from the Kia’s boot, I realised just how quietly the powered tailgate closes. I’m used to a bit of electric motor whirr and final thumps as it closes in most cars, but Kia has perfected the silent shut. Not a major thing, but it shows an attention to detail and adds a premium gloss to the EV5. Saturday It’s reassuring that Kia is not playing the ‘how fast can an EV accelerate’ game. Instead, the EV5 takes 8.4 seconds to deal with 0-62mph, which is just fine for a family SUV. It cruises quietly and comfortably, and the EV5 handles corners and city driving with a calm composure – nothing fancy, just dependably capable. Maybe not the stuff of fleet drivers dreams, but it doesn’t half work well. Sunday A couple of charges for the EV5 this week have kept it rolling. An overnight slow charge to 100% saw it reading 269 miles of range versus a claimed maximum of 313 miles. A little disappointing but not unexpected as I couldn’t get the car to read more than 3.4 miles per kW across the week of driving it despite trying hard. It wouldn’t put me off the EV5, though, as it’s a very sound machine. For more of the latest industry news, click here .