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Kia EV5 vs Smart #5
Selected trimAirChange trim329 mi · 81 kWh · £39,345
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia EV5 leads on motorway range, running costs and city driving, while the Smart #5 leads on family practicality and charging speed.
Best value
Too close to call
Range & charging
Too close to call
Practicality
Too close to call
Which should you choose?
Choose the Kia EV5 if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.3p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
Choose the Smart #5 if...
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Kia EV5 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Kia
6.7
Smart
6.4
Too close to call
Motorway RangeKia
Kia
3.7
Smart
2.7
FamilySmart
Kia
8.2
Smart
9
ChargingSmart
Kia
3.2
Smart
5
Cost Per MileKia
Kia
3
Smart
1.6
City DrivingKia
Kia
4.8
Smart
3.2
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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Kia EV5
Smart #5
Length
Kia EV54,615mm-80mm
Smart #54,695mm
Width
Kia EV51,875mm-45mm
Smart #51,920mm
Height
Kia EV51,715mm
Smart #51,705mm-10mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Kia EV5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Smart #5
- Boot space of 630 L is bigger than 90% of SUVs we track.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia EV5 Air |  Smart #5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.62m | 4.70m+80mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.92m+45mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.17m |
| Height | 1.72m | 1.71m-10mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.75m | 2.90m+150mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 190mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 513L | 630L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1530L |
| Frunk | Not available | 47L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m | Not available |
| Kerb Weight | 2,094kg (better) | 2,200kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,600kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 81kWh (better) | 76kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 329 mi (better) | 288 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 127kW | 150kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,345 (better) | £39,800 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2025+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Smart #5Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 329 miles (better) | 288 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 235 miles (better) | 202 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | 30 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 127 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 169 Wh/km (better) | 185 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 81 kWh (better) | 76 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Kia EV5
Air
Smart #5
Pro
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Kia EV5
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Kia EV5 Air
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant83%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users74%
Safety Assist80%
Euro NCAP - Smart #5 Pro
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users84%
Safety Assist92%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Kia EV5
Air
Owners love
- Attractive design that looks better in person than photos, with a practical five-seat family SUV layout offering good cargo space
- Excellent year-round range performance, easily exceeding 250 miles in real-world conditions including winter driving
- Good value proposition with more equipment on trim levels compared to competitors like VW ID.5
Watch out for
- Multiple owners report serious electrical issues including screen blanking while driving, charging system faults, and central control unit failures
- Repetitive design language across Kia's EV lineup (EV3, EV5, EV9) feels like scaled-down versions lacking creative distinction
- UK pricing expected to exceed £40,000, triggering expensive VED costs from April 2025
Owner tips
- Test drive in winter conditions and verify real-world range before purchasing, as cold weather performance varies significantly across EV models
- Check door opening width during test drives, as some competitors have poor accessibility for passengers with mobility needs
Smart #5
Pro
Owners love
- Exceptional interior space with comfortable rear legroom, reclining seats, and 630 litres of boot space
- Outstanding acceleration (3.8 seconds 0-62mph) and impressive 800V fast charging (10-80% in 18 minutes at optimal conditions)
- Advanced infotainment with three screens, superb conversational voice control, and premium materials (Alcantara, vegan leather)
Watch out for
- High energy consumption significantly impacts real-world range compared to competitors despite 335-mile WLTP rating
- Design is polarizing and divisive; frequently compared unfavorably to the Nissan Cube with questionable styling details
- 335-mile WLTP range underwhelming for a 100kWh battery and not class-leading compared to rivals
Owner tips
- Test drive the rear-wheel drive base models which offer better steering feel, more dynamic handling, and additional frunk space compared to all-wheel drive variants
- Visit dealerships in person to confirm driver's seat comfort if over 6 feet tall and test voice assistant behavior to ensure it suits your driving style
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia EV5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Smart #5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Kia EV5 or the Smart #5?
The Kia EV5 is £455 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £184 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Kia EV5 comes out roughly £535 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 235 miles for the Kia EV5 and 202 miles for the Smart #5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Kia EV5 goes roughly 34 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-31 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Kia EV5 or the Smart #5?
The Kia EV5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 45 mm narrower than the Smart #5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 525 mm of total clearance for the Kia EV5 and about 480 mm of total clearance for the Smart #5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia EV5 or the Smart #5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Kia EV5 and 90% for the Smart #5. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. The Smart #5's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Kia EV5's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Kia EV5 comparisons
More Smart #5 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Smart #5 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .