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Kia EV5 vs Polestar 2
Selected trimAirChange trim329 mi · 81 kWh · £39,345
Selected trimStandard range Single motorChange trim344 mi · 70 kWh · £45,210
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia EV5 leads on value for money and family practicality, while the Polestar 2 leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Kia EV5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
Choose the Polestar 2 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 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Polestar 2 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueKia
Kia
6.7
Polestar
6.2
Motorway RangePolestar
Kia
3.7
Polestar
4.7
FamilyKia
Kia
8.2
Polestar
6
ChargingPolestar
Kia
3.2
Polestar
4.1
Cost Per MilePolestar
Kia
3
Polestar
6
City Driving
Kia
4.8
Polestar
4.9
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
- 53 kW faster rapid charging
- 40 kW more power
- 1.9s quicker 0-62 mph
- 20 Wh/km more efficient
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,345 (better) | £45,210 |
| Official range | 329 miles | 344 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 513 L (better) | 407 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec | 6.4 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Kia EV5
Polestar 2
Length
Kia EV54,615mm
Polestar 24,606mm-9mm
Width
Kia EV51,875mm
Polestar 21,859mm-16mm
Height
Kia EV51,715mm
Polestar 21,479mm-236mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,615 mm | 4,606 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,859 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 1,985 mm |
| Height | 1,715 mm | 1,479 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.8 m (better) | 11.5 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 541 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 6 (better) | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 513 L (better) | 407 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1097 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 41 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,500 kg |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia EV5 Air |  Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.62m | 4.61m-9mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.86m-16mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 1.99m |
| Height | 1.72m | 1.48m-236mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.75m | 2.73m-15mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 151mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 513L (better) | 407L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1097L |
| Frunk | Not available | 41L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m (better) | 11.5m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,094kg | 1,995kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 81kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 329 mi | 344 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 127kW | 180kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,345 (better) | £45,210 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | Saloon |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 329 miles | 344 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 235 miles (better) | 231 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 127 kW | 180 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 169 Wh/km | 149 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 81 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec | 6.4 sec (better) |
| Power | 160 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 490 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Kia EV5
Air
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
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 - Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Polestar 2Standard range Single motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
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
Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
Owners love
- Excellent build quality and interior materials, notably superior to Tesla and ID.4 alternatives
- Outstanding Google infotainment system with intuitive interface, useful voice assistant, and no lag
- Improved range (350-409 miles WLTP) and efficiency reduce long-distance charging stops
Watch out for
- Performance Pack suspension is unrelenting on poor UK roads, compromising daily comfort and refinement
- Significant winter range loss of 15-30% in cold weather; real-world winter efficiency often disappoints versus WLTP ratings
- Excessive touchscreen reliance for basic controls like mirror adjustment and glove box access creates safety concerns
Owner tips
- Consider non-Performance Pack variants or request Ohlins free first setup service to optimize suspension tuning for your driving conditions
- Verify real-world winter range expectations before purchase; plan for 15-30% range loss during cold months and budget charging infrastructure accordingly
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia EV5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Polestar 2
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Kia EV5
No active listings.
Polestar 2
- £27,7662024Car360View
- £21,9992024Browns of RichmondView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Polestar 2 worth the extra £5,865 over the Kia EV5?
The Polestar 2 costs £5,865 more than the Kia EV5. For that premium it adds 53 kW faster peak rapid charging, 40 kW more power and a 1.9s quicker 0-62mph time. The Kia EV5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 106 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Polestar 2 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Kia EV5 or the Polestar 2?
The Kia EV5 is £5,865 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £160 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 £5,745 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 Polestar 2 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 235 miles for the Kia EV5 and 231 miles for the Polestar 2 - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 26-31 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Kia EV5 or the Polestar 2?
The two are within 16 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 541 mm of total clearance for the Polestar 2 and about 525 mm of total clearance for the Kia EV5. The Kia EV5 also turns in a 0.7 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia EV5 or the Polestar 2?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Kia EV5 and 90% for the Polestar 2. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. The Polestar 2'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 Polestar 2 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 Polestar 2 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Polestar 2 rank among long-range EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Polestar 2 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Polestar 2 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Polestar 2 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Kia EV5 and Polestar 2 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
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 .