2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Review: The electric vehicle landscape continues to evolve at breakneck speed, and Kia has positioned itself as a serious contender with its expanding EV lineup. The 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line represents the pinnacle of the brand’s mid-size electric SUV offering, slotting perfectly between the compact EV3 and the larger seven-seat EV9. This flagship variant promises to deliver a compelling blend of cutting-edge technology, bold styling, and practical family-focused features that challenge established players like the Tesla Model Y and emerging Chinese competitors.
Bold Design Philosophy That Turns Heads
Exterior Styling: Unapologetically Futuristic
The EV5 GT-Line embraces Kia’s distinctive design language with an uncompromising boxy silhouette that prioritizes function over pure aerodynamic efficiency. At 4615mm long with a 2750mm wheelbase, 1875mm wide and 1715mm tall, the chiseled panels buck the overly smooth EV trend. This deliberate design choice results in exceptional interior space while maintaining a striking road presence.
The GT-Line variant distinguishes itself with exclusive styling enhancements including sportier front and rear bumpers, sophisticated gloss-black trim, and eye-catching 20-inch aerodynamically optimized alloy wheels. Up front, the EV5 GT-Line’s design highlights include somewhat C-shaped LED headlights and a subtle, closed-off interpretation of Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille. The rear design particularly impresses with C-shaped LED tail-lights stretching almost the full width of the flat tailgate, creating a memorable nighttime signature.
Color Options and Premium Touches
Paint choices reflect the GT-Line’s premium positioning, with Clear White offered as standard, while Starry Night Black, Tide Blue or Magma Red cost an additional $600. The GT-Line also offers exclusive black-roof color combinations including Frost Blue and Iceberg Green, enhancing the model’s distinctive character.
Interior Technology and Comfort Excellence
Digital Command Center
The EV5 GT-Line’s cabin represents a masterclass in modern automotive technology integration. The fully digital 75cm combined panoramic display provides crucial driving information, climate control settings and infotainment data, all available at an arm’s length. This impressive setup includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, and a 5.0-inch climate control panel.
What sets the EV5 apart from many contemporary EVs is its commitment to physical controls. The best compliment I can pay the EV5 is that it looks like a recent internal-combustion vehicle, meaning its steering wheel has physical buttons, stalks and even an easy-to-use column-mounted gear selector. This thoughtful approach ensures essential functions remain easily accessible without diving into touchscreen menus.
Premium Features and Convenience
The GT-Line specification includes several luxury touches that elevate the ownership experience. A customisable multicolour interior mood lamp runs from dash to the door trim enveloping the entire interior, offering passengers a comforting ambience and adding a touch of luxury. Premium Relaxation seats with massage functions for both driver and front passenger provide spa-like comfort during longer journeys.
The EV5’s augmented reality HUD projects key information on your windscreen such as speed, navigation guidance and lane safety information, though some reviewers note visibility issues depending on driving position. The harman/kardon 8-speaker premium sound system delivers exceptional audio quality throughout the cabin.
Connectivity and Infotainment
Running on the South Korean carmaker’s latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) software, the 12.3-inch touchscreen is snappy and clear with a refined and reasonably easy to use interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, integrating seamlessly with the instrument cluster for navigation display. However, the wireless charging pad remains exclusive to the GT-Line variant, which seems like an oversight given its availability on less expensive Kia models.
Performance and Driving Dynamics
Powertrain Specifications
The GT-Line variant features the most potent drivetrain in the EV5 lineup, employing a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration. This models add a 94 hp (70 kW) and 125 lb-ft (170 Nm) motor to the rear axle, resulting in a combined 308 hp (230 kW) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm). This substantial power output enables acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds, placing it firmly in the quick-but-not-supercar territory.
Real-World Driving Experience
With a dual-motor AWD setup producing 230kW and 480Nm, it hits 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. Quick, but not mind-blowing. The real magic lies in its everyday usability—smooth, quiet, and planted on the road. The EV5 GT-Line prioritizes refinement over outright sportiness, delivering predictable and confidence-inspiring handling characteristics that suit its family-focused mission.
The regenerative braking system offers multiple settings adjustable via steering wheel paddles, with the strongest setting enabling near one-pedal driving for urban environments. Highway driving is a breeze, especially with Kia’s Highway Drive Assist, which offers smart cruise control, lane centering, and automated lane changes when the GPS recognizes motorway driving.
Range, Charging, and Efficiency
Battery Technology and Performance
They have the same 88.1 kWh pack, but the range drops to 500 km (311 miles) for the Earth and 470 km (292 miles) for the GT-Line. While the GT-Line offers the shortest range in the EV5 lineup due to its additional weight and performance focus, 470 kilometers still provides adequate range for most driving scenarios.
Charging Capabilities
The Kia EV5’s multi-charging system is compatible with both 400V and 800V chargers, without the need for an additional adapter. However, unlike Kia’s premium E-GMP platform vehicles, the EV5 uses the N3 eK 400-volt architecture, limiting peak charging speeds to 140kW and requiring approximately 36 minutes for 10-80% charging.
Practicality and Storage Solutions
Cabin Space and Versatility
Based on Kia’s new N3 eK dedicated EV platform, the Kia EV5 features a spacious second row with plenty of legroom and headroom thanks to its boxy design. The floor is completely flat – allowing three passengers to sit abreast comfortably. This practical approach to interior packaging maximizes passenger comfort while maintaining the vehicle’s compact external dimensions.
Cargo Capacity and Storage
At 513 litres with the rear seats up, it is a roomy cargo zone and will be large enough for family trips. If you don’t have the kids and you fold down those seats, you’ll have access to 1714 litres of capacity, with the rear pews folding nice and flat. The clever multi-tier boot storage system adds organizational flexibility, though practical benefits may vary depending on individual needs.
Regardless of whether it’s the single-motor or dual-motor EV5, all variants offer a 67-litre frunk – which is actually usable and deep enough to store multiple charging cables and even a backpack on top. This additional storage proves particularly valuable for EV-specific items like charging cables and adaptors.
Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance
Comprehensive Safety Suite
The GT-Line benefits from Kia’s most advanced safety technology package, including autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection. The system also features junction turning and crossing assist, plus direct and oncoming lane change detection capabilities.
The blind-spot system includes a live video feed in the instrument cluster when you indicate, eliminating the need for awkward shoulder checks. Surround cameras with 3D mode provide comprehensive parking assistance, though this premium feature requires stepping up to the GT-Line specification.
Value Proposition and Market Position
Pricing and Competition
Even the flagship EV5 GT-Line AWD we’re testing comes in cheaper than the entry-level EV6—at $75,990 driveaway. This positioning makes the GT-Line an attractive proposition compared to Kia’s own premium offerings while undercutting many established competitors.
However, the competitive landscape includes compelling alternatives. The segment’s sales leader, the newly updated, China-built Tesla Model Y is bigger, better equipped, and offers 466km of range from $58,900, before on-roads. This price differential highlights the challenge facing traditional manufacturers in the rapidly evolving EV market.
A Compelling Family-Focused Package
The 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line represents a thoughtful approach to electric family transportation, prioritizing practicality, technology, and real-world usability over pure performance credentials. The Kia EV5 GT-Line is a well-rounded, stylish, and practical EV that delivers comfort, tech, and real-world usability. It’s not a performance car, but it doesn’t need to be—it excels as a daily driver with long-range capability and smart features.
While it faces stiff competition from both premium and value-oriented alternatives, the EV5 GT-Line’s combination of bold styling, comprehensive technology, and practical packaging creates a compelling proposition for families seeking a distinctive electric SUV that stands apart from the increasingly homogeneous EV crowd.
2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Power | 230kW (308hp) dual-motor AWD |
| Torque | 480Nm (354 lb-ft) |
| Acceleration | 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds |
| Battery | 88.1 kWh lithium-ion |
| Range | 470km (WLTP) |
| Charging | 140kW peak DC charging |
| Charging Time | 10-80% in 36 minutes |
| Boot Space | 513L (1714L seats folded) |
| Frunk | 67 litres |
| Dimensions | 4615mm L x 1875mm W x 1715mm H |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm |
| Price | From AU$75,990 driveaway |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the EV5 GT-Line compare to the Tesla Model Y? The EV5 GT-Line offers more interior space and premium features but costs approximately $17,000 more than the base Model Y while providing slightly less range.
Q: Is the GT-Line worth the premium over lower EV5 variants? The GT-Line adds all-wheel drive, significantly more power, premium audio, massage seats, and advanced safety features, making it worthwhile for buyers prioritizing performance and luxury.
Q: What’s the real-world charging experience like? With 140kW peak charging speeds, the EV5 requires about 36 minutes for 10-80% charging, which is adequate but not class-leading compared to 800V architecture competitors.