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Kia EV5. / Kia

Kia's electric SUV EV5 has taken the top overall spot in a comparative evaluation by German auto magazine Auto Motor und Sport, edging out Tesla's Model Y. It scored well on categories closely tied to real-world use, including body/chassis, safety, convenience, and driving performance.

Kia announced on the 18th that the EV5 topped Auto Motor und Sport's electric SUV comparison test, beating out Tesla's Model Y, China's XPeng G6, and the MG S6 EV.

The evaluation covered four models — the EV5, Model Y, XPeng G6, and MG S6 EV — across seven categories: body/chassis, safety, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, eco-friendliness, and economy.

In the combined score for performance-related categories, the EV5 scored 404 points, outpacing the Model Y's 337 by 67 points. In the final overall score, which also factors in eco-friendliness and economy, the EV5 scored 588, beating the Model Y's 557 by 31 points. The XPeng G6 placed third with 541 points, and the MG S6 EV placed fourth with 528.

Notably, the EV5 outscored the Model Y in four of the seven categories: body/chassis, safety, convenience, and driving performance.

In the body/chassis category, the EV5 scored 100 points, ahead of the Model Y's 76 — a 24-point gap. The magazine cited the EV5's high seating position and long hood, along with its spacious seats and rear/cargo space, as strengths.

The biggest gap was in safety. The EV5 scored 89 points, 29 points higher than the Model Y's 60. In braking distance from 100 km/h to a full stop, the EV5 recorded the shortest distances among the compared vehicles — 35.1 meters when cold and 35.0 meters when warm — compared with the Model Y's 39.3 and 38.2 meters, respectively.

In convenience, the EV5 scored 66 points, ahead of the Model Y's 55. The magazine praised the ability to directly control regenerative braking intensity and one-pedal driving using the steering wheel paddles.

In driving performance, the EV5 scored 69 points, ahead of the Model Y's 60. The magazine noted that the EV5 handled road irregularities stably, delivering a well-refined driving feel.

The Model Y outscored the EV5 in powertrain, eco-friendliness, and economy, but wasn't able to make up for the gap in body/chassis and safety.

A Kia official said, "It's especially meaningful that we scored well in areas drivers experience every day, like braking performance and ease of operation," adding, "We will continue doing our best to prioritize real-world usability and safety, and to keep expanding customer trust."

                                                                                                         Nam Hyun-soo