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Kia EV5 vs Nissan LEAF
Selected trimAirChange trim329 mi · 81 kWh · £39,345
Selected trimEngageChange trim375 mi · 75 kWh · £35,999
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia EV5 stays competitive across the board, while the Nissan LEAF leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Nissan LEAF if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.7p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Nissan LEAF leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Kia
6.7
Nissan
6.3
Too close to call
Motorway RangeNissan
Kia
3.7
Nissan
8.4
Family
Kia
8.2
Nissan
8.3
Too close to call
ChargingNissan
Kia
3.2
Nissan
7
Cost Per MileNissan
Kia
3
Nissan
9.4
City DrivingNissan
Kia
4.8
Nissan
6.7
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.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Nissan LEAFEngage |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,345 | £35,999 (better) |
| Official range | 329 miles | 375 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 513 L (better) | 437 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | 30 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec | 7.6 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Kia EV5
Nissan LEAF
Length
Kia EV54,615mm
Nissan LEAF4,350mm-265mm
Width
Kia EV51,875mm
Nissan LEAF1,810mm-65mm
Height
Kia EV51,715mm
Nissan LEAF1,550mm-165mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Nissan LEAFEngage |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,615 mm | 4,350 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,810 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,098 mm |
| Height | 1,715 mm | 1,550 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.8 m | 10.8 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 590 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Nissan LEAFEngage |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 6 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 513 L (better) | 437 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1052 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 975 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Kia EV5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Nissan LEAF
- 375 mile WLTP range, longer than 100% of hatchback EVs we track.
- Eligible for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, one of 8 hatchback EVs we track that qualifies for the top band.
- At 4,350 mm, longer than 90% of hatchback EVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia EV5 Air |  Nissan LEAF Engage |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.62m | 4.35m-265mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.81m-65mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.10m |
| Height | 1.72m | 1.55m-165mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.75m | 2.69m-60mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 513L (better) | 437L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1052L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m | 10.8m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,094kg | 1,883kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 975kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 81kWh (better) | 75kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 329 mi | 375 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 127kW | 150kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,345 | £35,999 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £39,345 (not eligible) | £32,249 (-£3,750) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | Hatchback |
| Available | 2025+ | 2025+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Nissan LEAFEngage |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 329 miles | 375 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 235 miles | 313 miles (better) |
| 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 | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 81 kWh (better) | 75 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Nissan LEAFEngage |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec | 7.6 sec (better) |
| Power | 160 kW | 160 kW |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 355 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Kia EV5
Air
Nissan LEAF
Engage
7.9/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4.5/5
- Parkers4.3/5
- Electrifying.com8/10
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.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Kia EV5 Air
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant83%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users74%
Safety Assist80%
Euro NCAP - Nissan LEAF Engage
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist71%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia EV5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Nissan LEAF
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia EV5 worth the extra £3,346 over the Nissan LEAF?
The Kia EV5 costs £3,346 more than the Nissan LEAF. For that premium it adds 76 litres more boot space. The Nissan LEAF is not just cheaper - it also offers 46 miles more WLTP range. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Nissan LEAF comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Kia EV5 or the Nissan LEAF?
The Nissan LEAF is £3,346 cheaper to buy. The Nissan LEAF is cheaper to charge, roughly £136 a year versus £184 for the Kia EV5, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Nissan LEAF comes out roughly £3,586 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 Nissan LEAF like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 235 miles for the Kia EV5 and 313 miles for the Nissan LEAF - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Nissan LEAF goes roughly 77 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 Nissan LEAF?
The Nissan LEAF is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 65 mm narrower than the Kia EV5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 590 mm of total clearance for the Nissan LEAF and about 525 mm of total clearance for the Kia EV5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia EV5 or the Nissan LEAF?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Kia EV5 and 84% for the Nissan LEAF. That gives the Kia EV5 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
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 Nissan LEAF 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 Nissan LEAF rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Nissan LEAF rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Kia EV5 and Nissan LEAF rank among long-range EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Nissan LEAF rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Nissan LEAF rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Nissan LEAF rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .