New Kia EV5 aims to conquer the all-electric SUV sector
Kia has confirmed the new all-electric EV5 is coming to the UK
New technical details for the upcoming EV5 have been announced but the big news is that Kia is bringing the mid-sized electric SUV to the UK market, taking aim at the Tesla Model Y, Nissan Ariya and BMW iX3.
New information has been unveiled about the Kia EV5 SUV at Kia’s EV Day in Korea, following the car’s initial reveal at the 2023 Chengdu Motor Show in China. The sharply-styled EV5 will join the already launched EV6 and EV9 electric SUVs in the Korean manufacturer’s lineup. It will arrive in 2025 after the smaller EV3 SUV and alongside the EV4 saloon - both of which were previewed by concepts at the EV Day event. During the presentation Kia also mentioned that a Slovakian-built EV2 would arrive by 2027, which we presume to be a smaller hatchback-sized offering.
In terms of shape, the five-seater EV5 takes after the larger EV9, so it will effectively offer up a more practical experience than the lower-slung and sleeker EV6.
Like the EV6 and EV9, the EV5 sits on Kia’s bespoke EV platform - E-GMP. Three variations have been announced - ‘standard’, ‘long-range’ and ‘long-range AWD’.
The standard EV5 comes with a 64kWh battery and a 217bhp electric motor in the Chinese market but the Korean market has a 58kWh battery and 217bhp electric motor - it’s not clear how Kia will tailor the EV5’s lineup for the UK market. Kia also claims 329 miles of range for the standard car - although this is under the CLTC testing regime in China rather than the European WLTP standard.
The long-range variant comes with an 88kWh battery (81kWh in Korea) and the same electric motor with a maximum 447 miles of range (CLTC). The long-range AWD model features the same battery pack but with a dual-motor set up - totalling 312bhp. Range drops to 403 miles (CLTC) here.
Kia has said it will make a sporty ‘GT’ range-topping version of the EV5 with an ‘engaging driving experience’. The EV6 GT comes with 577bhp and a 3.5-second 0-62mph time and we should expect similar figures for the EV5 GT.
The recharging speed of the EV5 stands at 27 minutes for a 30 to 80 per cent top up. Kia says the battery has been engineered to function effectively in both extreme hot and cold temperatures.
In terms of design, we saw a near-production ready concept EV5 earlier in the year, and Kia has clearly followed through with its plans to evolve its ‘Opposites United’ design language – with the EV5 sharing its larger sibling’s more aggressive ‘Tiger Face’ front end.
Offering a traditional two-box SUV profile, the chunky EV5 has a wide stance and broad shoulder line, while Kia says the pushed-back D-pillars highlight the EV5’s “family-friendly practicality”, providing more rear seat and boot space while helping to increase visibility. An extended rear spoiler is also said to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
“The Kia EV5 was created to redefine the compact SUV genre with a form shaped by Kia’s unique design philosophy ‘Opposites United,’” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center. “At every stage, Kia’s designers have worked closely with their engineering colleagues to create a holistic solution for sustainable mobility. As a result, the EV5 sets a new standard for design, performance and practicality while providing new levels of driver enjoyment and user experience.”
Additional exterior features for the EV5 include three-dimensional ‘Signature Star Map Lighting’, formed by the daytime running lights (DRL), while Kia is offering a choice of ten different paint colours for customers to choose from.
The interior design of the EV5 has been swayed by Kia’s own research findings that “millennial households now regard the interior of their EV SUV not just as a place to sit safely and comfortably when travelling from A to B, but as an additional ‘room’ to live their life in.”
While the concept’s swivel seats haven’t made the final cut, Kia says the EV5 will offer more interior space than any traditional mid-size SUV, while the infotainment and overall cabin look again appears to take inspiration from the EV9, with a choice of various trim colours and materials.
Variable mood lighting is offered across the front section of the dash as well as the front and rear door trims, with a total of 64 colour options. The lighting system is also able to synchronise with the EV5’s drive modes, by dimming in low light conditions, and alerting the driver if the speed limit is exceeded.
Click here for our list of the best electric SUVs on sale in the UK right now...
