The second row of Kia's new EV5 electric vehicle is quite spacious and generous, and it also features a thoughtfully designed small table. This could be one of its major selling points. Another selling point is its impressive range of 720km. Based on these two features, how do you think the car's competitiveness is?

Kia already has two pure electric SUVs, one of which is the EV6, a luxurious and high-end model. As an imported vehicle, it's a bit of a stretch for the average person to purchase. In contrast, the EV5 is more down-to-earth and better suited for family use. The Kia EV5 is built on the E-GMP platform and was launched at the end of last year, but only in a version with a 530km range. Clearly, such specifications couldn't alleviate the range anxiety of Chinese consumers. Now, with the introduction of the 720km version, there's an additional 200km, which is much more reassuring. The price has also come down to a range of 184,800 to 225,800 yuan, entering the mainstream consumption range for pure electric SUVs. Where does its strength lie? Today, let's talk about the Kia EV5 720 Wave edition.

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The exterior and interior have a very "Korean style," and driving it on the street won't make you "blend in" with others.

According to incomplete statistics, there were 87 new models launched in 2023, most of which are concentrated in the 100,000 to 200,000 yuan price range. To stand out among so many cars, it needs to have some personality to avoid homogenization. The Kia EV5 should have no problem with this; there's no need to worry about the design of Korean cars, as their aesthetics are always on point.

The first impression of the EV5's design is strong and robust, with straight and sharp lines. Kia calls this design concept "opposites attract." The front is flat and wide, paired with very slender Star-Map star-trace exterior light groups, which immediately enhance the visual impact with the contrast of "big" against "small." From the front view, you can still see Kia's classic "tiger roar" family language, which is both traditional and innovative.

The side view combines rigidity and softness, with a square shape that is both for expanding interior space and creating the power feel of a tough SUV. After seeing many sloping and crossover SUVs, does the traditional SUV feel more familiar now? The 18-inch aerodynamic wheels paired with geometrically cut blade wheel covers, can you still say its design is not special?

Let's talk about its aesthetic level from another perspective. I've been driving this car for 3 days and noticed it has a high turn rate. Many people are interested in it. For example, the parking lot attendant asked me, "How much does this car cost? Is it a foreign brand?"; a couple walking their dog also turned back and whispered to each other, I guess they were saying, "The rear lights and front lights are really coordinated in style"; a post-00s female graduate student friend was a bit at a loss for words, only saying "This car is cool." The above should represent the "old, middle, and young" generation's evaluation of this car. Perhaps not everyone will think it's "good-looking," but at least they think it's "very distinctive."

Entering the interior, the EV5 is not the kind of flashy, cool style. Instead, it's a bit like Volvo's Nordic minimalist style. The materials are also very particular. From buttons to screens, everything is well-organized, with little learning cost. The low-saturation interior atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing.This large integrated display is not composed of two screens, but rather three, with a configuration of 12.3 inches + 5 inches + 12.3 inches, which is quite rare, isn't it? From left to right, they are the instrument information screen, the touch control air conditioning panel, and the entertainment information screen. Although the UI is relatively traditional, it is highly logical and easy to use, with minimal bezels around the screens. Below, there are backlit theme buttons that are convenient to locate and give a sense of quality in design.

On this screen, I believe the most eye-catching feature is the built-in WeChat for vehicles. Perhaps this is the safest way to use a chat tool while driving. The concept of "WeChat in the car" is not a Kia innovation, but it deserves praise. Nowadays, not many car manufacturers are adhering to this practice.

It has disabled many features that could distract from driving, allowing only for the sending and receiving of voice messages, and each time, one must say "send message" to confirm. Those with a quick temper might find the efficiency a bit slow, but after getting used to it, it can be quite calming. I hope you can adapt to this pace, as safety is the top priority while driving, and replying to WeChat messages should come second.

The console, interior door panels, seats, and other areas are made with rare environmentally friendly materials in its class, such as recycled polymers, benzene-free paints, etc. They are produced from raw materials like sugarcane, corn, soybeans, and even vegetable oils, ensuring safety and non-pollution. Therefore, even in a new car, there is no unpleasant odor when you first sit in it. The air quality is up to standard and meets the requirements for infants and mothers. The materials used in a car are often difficult for consumers to perceive in terms of cost, but they are crucial for daily use and safety.

Seating: Making the front and rear seats more comfortable

Due to its boxy shape, the A-pillar has a high inclination, providing a wide field of vision to the front and sides when sitting in the driver's seat, which gives a sense of security. Moreover, the seats are very comfortable. We have seen zero-gravity seats in the co-pilot or second row many times, but Kia EV5's zero-gravity pressure-relieving seats for the driver are relatively rare.

In terms of functionality, ventilation/heating/massage, and memory are all equipped, with a 4-way adjustable headrest, a 115° angle adjustable leg rest, and a 4-way lumbar support in the middle, taking care of the driver's comfort very well. With the leg rest down and the backrest reclined, it resembles a zero-gravity floating sensation seat, which is very ergonomic and allows the body to be in the most relaxed state, making it very practical during charging and rest.

Because electric vehicles lack mechanical gear-shifting mechanisms, open-style front-row central designs have become popular in recent years, allowing for a zero-distance hand-hold and easy seat swapping, which is a small bonus in this case.

The Kia EV5 has a length of 4615mm. Thanks to the advantages of the E-GMP pure electric platform, it has a relatively long wheelbase of 2750mm, which makes the rear row very spacious. The floor is completely flat, allowing for a continuous design, with seat cushions long enough to support the entire thigh and a maximum backrest angle adjustment of 33°. In addition to these standard features, the rear row also has a unique design. It's not surprising to see foldable trays in MPVs, but it's quite rare to see them in a 5-seat compact SUV.

What is the use of this cushion? The most obvious use for workers is to place a tablet for mobile office work, which is indeed possible, but it may also have other interesting functions.Just a few days before the shoot, Guangzhou was hit by a heavy downpour. After finishing my shoot alone, I was stuck in the car and couldn't get out. So, I decided to order takeout to be delivered right to the car. I simply crossed from the front row to the back row, opened the foldable tray table to dine, and then opened the sunshade to let in a bit more light, although the pitter-patter of the raindrops was a bit noisy. There was also an unexpected delight: this top-of-the-line EV5 came equipped with a 4L car refrigerator (5-55°C). I took out the cold drinks I had prepared in advance, which made for a rather sophisticated lunch, don't you think?

Foldable tray tables, chilled mini-fridges, panoramic sunroofs, and perhaps even a car-mounted WeChat (for when you don't want to touch your phone while eating, like when enjoying crayfish in the car, haha) all work together to give you the feeling of another home. It's said that new forces offer you refrigerators, TVs, and sofas, but it seems that Korean cars are not bad either.

Let me add more about the space advantages. The rear seats can be fully reclined and laid flat, but unfortunately, I didn't get to experience that on that day. The trunk has a two-tier structure with a considerable volume of 513L, which should be more than enough for daily use. Not all electric cars have a front trunk, but fortunately, this one does, and it's quite spacious. The 67L capacity is perfect for a laptop bag, adding another point to its favor.

A single electric motor is sufficient, and HDA2 is a great help.

The version I got this time is the top-of-the-line model, but it's still just a front-wheel-drive car. The system's power output is 218 horsepower/310 Nm, which is roughly equivalent to a 2.0T gasoline car. Fortunately, the motor's output characteristics allow for the full release of torque with a light touch, making it very agile and easy to handle. You can feel that the peak power is available at a relatively low speed, such as within the most commonly used daily speed range of up to 100 km/h. Within this range, you can get the most robust and sufficient power reserve from the motor, so it's capable of handling most everyday driving scenarios in the city.

I only once thought, "maybe an all-wheel-drive would be better," when I was overtaking at high speed, but considering that the all-wheel-drive version would cost an additional 20,000 yuan on top of this, I decided against it. For a family car, two-wheel-drive is actually enough, and the power of electric cars is far superior to that of the previous era of gasoline cars.

In terms of chassis tuning, the EV5 uses a front McPherson and rear five-link suspension system, which is overall soft and comfortable, making it very pleasant to drive in the city.The steering wheel is quite light and has a certain amount of play, which doesn't make driving too tense. Moreover, when signaling and changing lanes, a circular display frame appears on the dashboard to remind you of the traffic conditions on the side you're changing to, making lane changes safer. This is a Kia feature I've seen before on the K5.

This vehicle is equipped for the first time with HDA 2 Highway Driving Assist II, which can achieve automatic following and lane keeping in most situations. More advanced is that it can perform semi-autonomous driving on highways. In clear-lined scenarios, after signaling, it can autonomously change lanes. On the congested urban expressway that turns into a "city slow" during rush hour, it significantly reduces my driving fatigue, which is quite useful and practical. In addition, it also has the functions of automatic parking outside the vehicle and remote straight-line summoning.

Testing: Electric consumption level, charging speed

This EV5 is equipped with an 88.1-degree lithium iron phosphate blade battery from BYD, whose safety has been verified, and it does not catch fire when punctured. The official CLTC pure electric range is 720km, which basically eliminates range anxiety for daily commuting and holiday travel.

In a test I conducted on my way to work, covering 2/3 highway and 1/3 urban road for a total of 16.2km, the energy consumption was approximately 6.5km/kWh. At first glance, it seems unreasonably low, but note that the unit representation is slightly different from what we commonly see. When converted, it is 15.38kWh/100km. For a 2-ton SUV, this level of electric consumption is quite good. According to this, there should be nearly 80% of the range achievement rate, which is a mainstream level. The ability to maintain a good range level is not only due to the large battery but also the 5-level adjustable regenerative braking system, which aims to achieve more reasonable energy recovery according to driving habits, as well as the efficient heat pump air conditioning and battery temperature control management system, which can manage the battery's heat to improve energy consumption and maintain the battery within the optimal working temperature range.

Finally, I also conducted a charging test. When the vehicle's SOC dropped to only 19%, like with a mobile phone, anxiety sets in below 20%, and most people would look for opportunities to charge at this point, which is quite representative. At a single-gun fast charger with a nominal maximum of 250kW, it can achieve a power of about 110kW. It took 1 hour and 4 minutes to charge to 100% (actually only 98% to protect the battery). The speed of charging is related not only to the vehicle but also to the charger. I think charging more than 80 degrees of electricity in 1 hour is quite fast. It should be the daily charging routine for most people nowadays, as it only takes an hour to drive for two to three weeks, and the electricity cost (87 yuan) is also cheap. The time and money costs are still quite cost-effective.

Summary

In China, it may not be very noticeable, but on a global scale, Hyundai-Kia Group's vehicles sell very well. In 2023, Hyundai Group's global sales reached 7.3 million units, ranking third.

The Kia E-GMP pure electric platform was released in 2020 with a high degree of compatibility, not only manufacturing Kia's products but also several electric vehicle models from IONIQ and Genesis, which come from this platform. A large platform is more reliable. Coupled with the ultra-long range of 720km and the support of BYD batteries, the Kia EV5's product strength is still solid. It focuses more on the foundation of the three electric aspects. If you want to buy a worry-free and safe pure electric vehicle, you might consider this new Korean product.