CUPRA Formentor vs Kia EV5

The CUPRA Formentor starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV5 opens at $56,770. That makes the CUPRA Formentor the more affordable entry point by $6,780.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $54,989 and $62,447 respectively.

The Kia EV5 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The CUPRA Formentor does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.

Both the CUPRA Formentor and Kia EV5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 91% for the CUPRA Formentor and 88% for the Kia EV5.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 8 of 10 key ADAS systems on the CUPRA Formentor, against 6 on the Kia EV5.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the CUPRA Formentor and 7 in the Kia EV5.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The CUPRA Formentor features a 12-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV5 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The CUPRA Formentor stands out with heated front seats and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Kia EV5. The Kia EV5 counters with V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The CUPRA Formentor uses a 4-cyl Turbo Petrol producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9 seconds.

The Kia EV5 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 310Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The Kia EV5 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Kia EV5 is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The CUPRA Formentor measures 4,450mm long on a 2,680mm wheelbase, 165mm shorter than the Kia EV5 at 4,615mm (2,750mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 450L in the CUPRA Formentor and 513L in the Kia EV5, giving the Kia EV5 a 63L advantage.

For towing, the CUPRA Formentor leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 300kg. That 1,200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Formentor) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV5). The Kia EV5 has longer coverage.