Kia Undercuts the Competition with 2027 EV5 Pricing

When she drove the 2027 Kia EV5 in Korea earlier this year, our editor-in-chief, Jodi Lai, proclaimed that the “clever EV could be a new segment leader,” if only the price was right. And Kia appears to have listened because its new electric crossover’s starting price of $43,495, making it one of the most affordable new electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada, but there’s a catch. The most affordable trim in the lineup won’t be available for another year.

The cheapest trim, the Light FWD, is powered by the smaller of two available batteries, which has a 60.5 kWh capacity. Unfortunately, it will not be available in Canada until the fourth quarter of 2026. Its single motor will put 215 hp and 218 lb-ft of torque to the ground through the front wheels. Canadian range figures for the model have not yet been announced.

Other compact electric crossovers open with a slightly higher manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP, which excludes delivery fees). The Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $45,690, the Volkswagen ID.4 has an opening price of $46,330, and the new Nissan Leaf will cost consumers no less than $47,855, and all come with a single motor powering two wheels and a similarly-sized battery.

Even the Fiat 500e, the tiny car that prides itself on being Canada’s cheapest EV, can only barely beat the EV5 despite being way smaller. Its base price is $42,290, albeit that includes the destination charge, and excludes the nearly $7,000 in discounts Fiat is offering for the adorable little car.

So, in practice, buyers will be able get an EV for less, but they’ll have to make many fewer compromises with the 2026 EV5, which can accommodate a Honda CR-V-rivalling 965 L of stuff behind the rear seats and 2,080 L with them folded down, looks just as stunning as the diminutive Italian EV, and will be able to go farther per charge than it, too.

Those want an EV5 before Q4 2026 will find that the Wind FWD trim is the most affordable version available, and it comes with the larger 81.4 kWh battery pack. Prices for the model start at $47,495. Those who want more power and AWD will have to pay at least $49,995 to get the Wind AWD trim. It makes 261 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque.

Although Canadian range estimates have not yet been revealed (Kia says they will be announced early next year), EV5s equipped with the larger battery pack are rated to go 530 km per charge in Europe. It should be noted, though, that Canadian range tests tend to return considerably less optimistic estimates than those in other parts of the world.

In AutoTrader testing, the EV5 was capable of achieving 18.5 kWh/100 km of efficiency in mixed driving. With Jodi Lai behind the wheel, then, the crossover would have been capable of going about 440 km on a charge, which is nothing to sniff at. When it comes time to fill the battery, drivers will have access to the Tesla Supercharger network of fast charging stations, thanks to the North American Charging System (NACS) port that the model comes with as standard.

Orders for the 2027 Kia EV5 are set to on December 4, 2025. Production will take place in South Korea, and deliveries of models from the Wind FWD trim up are set to start in the spring of 2026. The most affordable model, the Light FWD, will only become available in Q4 2026.

2027 Kia EV5 Pricing:

• Light FWD: $43,495
• Wind FWD: $47,495
• Wind AWD: $49,995
• Land FWD: $49,995
• Land AWD: $52,495
• GT-Line FWD: $55,495
• GT-Line AWD: $57,995
• GT-Line Limited FWD: $58,995
• GT-Line Limited AWD: $61,495