Kia EV5 Awarded Top Five-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating

By David Lewis | 20 November 2025

The new Kia EV5 has achieved the highest possible safety score after completing the latest round of Euro NCAP tests.

The fully electric SUV received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, the independent organisation that assesses vehicle safety across Europe. The results follow a series of detailed crash tests and evaluations carried out during November.

Euro NCAP scored the EV5 highly across all four of its main categories. It achieved 83 percent for adult occupant protection and 85 percent for child occupant protection. It also earned 74 percent for vulnerable road users and 80 percent for Safety Assist features, which looks at how well a vehicle can help avoid or reduce the impact of collisions.

In the adult occupant tests, the EV5’s passenger compartment stayed stable after a frontal impact. Readings taken from the test dummies showed good protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and front passenger. The SUV also earned maximum points in the side barrier impact test. Whiplash protection for passengers in both the front and rear seats also performed well. The model includes an emergency call system and technology that helps prevent further impacts following a collision.

Child occupant testing saw the EV5 score slightly higher. The vehicle protected all key areas of the body in both frontal and side impact assessments. The front passenger airbag can be switched off, allowing a rear-facing child seat to be used safely. All approved child seats for the EV5 could be installed securely.

Euro NCAP’s assessment for vulnerable road users found that the front of the EV5 offered good or adequate levels of protection for the head and legs of pedestrians and cyclists. Its autonomous emergency braking system was recognised for responding well to vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists, with strong results in cyclist scenarios.

In the Safety Assist category, the EV5’s systems were praised for their ability to help avoid or lessen collisions. Features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and driver status monitoring all contributed to the overall score. The SUV also includes seatbelt reminders for passengers in both the front and rear.

Kia says the high rating reflects the strength of its Electric Global Modular Platform and the use of a rigid body structure. This is supported by a full set of driver assistance technologies designed to offer reassurance in everyday driving.

The EV5 marks another step in Kia’s electric strategy as the brand continues to grow its range of battery-powered models in Europe. It offers a WLTP range of up to around 329 miles, making it suitable for daily commuting and longer trips.

The model began its European rollout in the final quarter of this year, giving drivers in Leicester, Hinckley, Loughborough and across the Midlands another electric SUV option as interest in zero-emission vehicles continues to rise.