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Kia EV5 vs Volvo EX30
Selected trimAirChange trim329 mi · 81 kWh · £39,345
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia EV5 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Volvo EX30 leads on charging speed and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Kia EV5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
Choose the Volvo EX30 if...
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Kia EV5 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueKia
Kia
6.7
Volvo
5.9
Motorway RangeKia
Kia
3.7
Volvo
2.7
FamilyKia
Kia
8.2
Volvo
5
ChargingVolvo
Kia
3.2
Volvo
5.7
Cost Per Mile
Kia
3
Volvo
3
Too close to call
City DrivingVolvo
Kia
4.8
Volvo
6.2
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.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,345 | £33,060 (better) |
| Official range | 329 miles (better) | 209 miles |
| Boot space | 513 L (better) | 400 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec (better) | 9.1 sec |
Size Comparison
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Kia EV5
Volvo EX30
Length
Kia EV54,615mm
Volvo EX304,233mm-382mm
Width
Kia EV51,875mm
Volvo EX301,838mm-37mm
Height
Kia EV51,715mm
Volvo EX301,550mm-165mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,615 mm | 4,233 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,838 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,032 mm |
| Height | 1,715 mm | 1,550 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.8 m (better) | 11 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 562 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 821 mm |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 6 (better) | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 513 L (better) | 400 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1000 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 7 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,000 kg |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia EV5 Air |  Volvo EX30 Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.62m | 4.23m-382mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.84m-37mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.03m |
| Height | 1.72m | 1.55m-165mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.75m | 2.65m-100mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 513L (better) | 400L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1000L |
| Frunk | Not available | 7L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 821mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m (better) | 11m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,094kg | 1,840kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,000kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 81kWh (better) | 51kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 329 mi (better) | 209 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 127kW | 150kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,345 | £33,060 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
* Volvo EX30: 11 kW AC on Core and Plus; Ultra has a 22 kW on-board charger.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 329 miles (better) | 209 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 235 miles (better) | 149 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 127 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 169 Wh/km | 169 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 81 kWh (better) | 51 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.3 sec (better) | 9.1 sec |
| Power | 160 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 350 Nm (better) | 343 Nm |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Kia EV5
Air
Volvo EX30
Single Motor
7.5/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4.5/5
- DrivingElectric4.5/5
- Parkers4.1/5
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 - Volvo EX30 Single Motor
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users79%
Safety Assist80%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Kia EV5Air | Volvo EX30Single 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
Volvo EX30
Single Motor
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the performance: even the single-motor car is quick, and the Twin Motor Performance is very fast.
- Build quality, seats and cabin materials are widely described as good for the price, with a light, modern interior.
- The ride and road holding win praise, and the compact footprint makes it easy to park.
Watch out for
- Almost every control lives on the centre touchscreen, and the lack of a driver display or head-up display is the most common complaint.
- Driver aids such as lane assist and speed-limit warnings are seen as intrusive, and must be switched off again at every start.
- Rear legroom and the boot are small, so owners call it a car for two adults rather than four.
Owner tips
- Pick the Single Motor Extended Range for the best balance of range, ride and price.
- Set climate, wipers and lights to auto and save a driver profile so you rarely need the screen on the move.
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia EV5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EX30
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Kia EV5
No active listings.
Volvo EX30
- £26,1672024Car360View
- £27,5512025Car360View
- £23,4992024Browns of RichmondView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia EV5 worth the extra £6,285 over the Volvo EX30?
The Kia EV5 costs £6,285 more than the Volvo EX30. For that premium it adds 120 miles more WLTP range and 113 litres more boot space. The Volvo EX30 is not just cheaper - it also offers 40 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Kia EV5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Kia EV5 or the Volvo EX30?
The Volvo EX30 is £6,285 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 Volvo EX30 comes out roughly £6,285 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 Volvo EX30 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 235 miles for the Kia EV5 and 149 miles for the Volvo EX30 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Kia EV5 goes roughly 87 miles further between charging stops. 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 Volvo EX30?
The Volvo EX30 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 37 mm narrower than the Kia EV5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 562 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EX30 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 Volvo EX30?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Kia EV5 and 90% for the Volvo EX30. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. The Volvo EX30'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 Volvo EX30 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 Volvo EX30 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Volvo EX30 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Kia EV5 and Volvo EX30 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Volvo EX30 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Volvo EX30 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia EV5 and Volvo EX30 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .