Kia EV5 vs Volvo XC90
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Kia EV5 scores higher, 71 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 9 Nov 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
Reference imageKia EV5
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 not offered · 3 no dataFrom
$56,770
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 160kW
- Energy use
- 18.2 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 513L
Top CarSorted Score, 71 vs 67
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Volvo XC90
22 of 27 standard · no option data · 5 no dataFrom
$97,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged 48V mild hybrid B5
- Power
- 183kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 301L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$56,770RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Head-Up Display, Wireless Phone Charging and 2 more not offered
$97,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Kia EV5 Air Standard Range FWD
$56,770
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $239 a week in repayments ($56,770 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Volvo XC90 Plus B5 Bright
$97,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $430 a week in repayments ($97,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia EV5 starts $41,220 lower on RRP.
The Kia EV5 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Volvo XC90 does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$239/wk(≈$1,037/mo)
Estimate on the Kia EV5 at $56,770 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Kia EV5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Volvo XC90 a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Kia EV5 and 6 on the Volvo XC90.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Kia EV5
- REC-006557 · published 6 Mar 2026Due to a software error, the Instrument Cluster may display a blank screen or may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
Volvo XC90
- REC-006368 · published 23 Jun 2025Due to a software issue, there is a risk that the vehicle’s braking performance may be temporarily disabled if the car has been coasting downhill for at least 1 minute and 30 seconds in ‘B’ mode (in the plug-in hybrid cars) or One Pedal Drive (in the pure electric cars).Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2025
- REC-006319 · published 2 Apr 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2021
- REC-006168 · published 8 Nov 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the brake pedal rod may not have been fastened to the specified torque and could detach.Year range on the notice: 2020
- 19 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
64.2kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 150kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 150kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Kia EV5 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volvo XC90 gets a 11.2-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Kia EV5 stands out with V2L — features our data doesn't list for the Volvo XC90. The Volvo XC90 counters with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Kia EV5 gets cloth & artificial leather upholstery while the Volvo XC90 offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Kia EV5 and 4-zone in the Volvo XC90.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Kia EV5 uses a Electric producing 160kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Volvo XC90 responds with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged 48V mild hybrid B5 making 183kW and 350Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.
The Volvo XC90 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 160kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volvo XC90 is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia EV5 measures 4,615mm long on a 2,750mm wheelbase, 338mm shorter than the Volvo XC90 at 4,953mm (2,984mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volvo XC90 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 513L in the Kia EV5 and 301L in the Volvo XC90, giving the Kia EV5 a 212L advantage. The Volvo XC90 seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the Volvo XC90 leads with a 2,400kg braked capacity vs 300kg. That 2,100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Kia EV5's turning circle is 0.3 m tighter, 11.7 m against 12.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Kia EV5 costs about $874 a year (18.2 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Volvo XC90 about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Kia EV5) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volvo XC90). Capped-price servicing: no data (Kia EV5), 5 years (Volvo XC90).
Where each one leads
The Kia EV5: the lower starting price ($56,770 against $97,990), the bigger boot with the seats up (513L against 301L) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Volvo XC90: more power (183kW against 160kW) and the higher braked towing limit (2,400kg against 300kg).
The Verdict
Kia EV5 scores higher, 71 vs 67
The Kia EV5 scores 71 to the Volvo XC90's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 5 of the 8 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: technology (Volvo XC90 ahead by 30 points), value (Kia EV5 ahead by 20 points), safety (Kia EV5 ahead by 19 points). Boot space with the seats up: 513L in the Kia EV5, 301L in the Volvo XC90. Warranty: 7 years on the Kia EV5, 5 on the Volvo XC90.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$239/wk(≈$1,037/mo)
Estimate on the Kia EV5 at $56,770 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Kia EV5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Kia EV5 and Volvo XC90?
The Kia EV5 is the cheapest at $56,770 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Volvo XC90 by $41,220.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Kia EV5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Volvo XC90, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia EV5 has the largest boot at 513L with the seats up (1,714L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Volvo XC90 has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,400kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia EV5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Volvo XC90 makes the most power at 183kW. The Volvo XC90 is quickest to 100km/h in 7.7s.
Track the Kia EV5 & Volvo XC90
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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