If the marketing is scheduled to start at the end of 2023 in China, it is likely that the EV5 will arrive during the year 2024 on the other continents. The brand plans to specify its future markets during the Kia EV Day next October.
The same, only smaller
It’s hard not to recognize in this compact SUV the soul of the EV9, a seven-seater family SUV unveiled a little earlier. With its more “square” look and its straight shapes, the style of the EV5 contrasts radically with that of its elder, the EV6, and fits into the range between the EV6 and the more affordable Niro EV.
The styling concept, baptized Opposites United, is inspired by natural landscapes and modern architecture, to which is added the “Tiger Face” now well known at Kia, as well as special work on the rear spoiler and a pretty LED light strip. All of this is meant to offer a subtle mix of square and soft shapes. Kia has actually designed a nice cube.
Unsurprisingly, the brand uses the E-GMP platform, common to the brand’s other cars and its Hyundai cousins, such as the Ioniq 5.
Few details on the characteristics
Sparse in technical details, Kia does not give any information concerning the characteristics of its new compact SUV. However, some well-informed leaks allow us to learn a little more about the electric alternative to the Sportage. Each vehicle to arrive on Chinese territory must go through an approval made public by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
It would thus be a car measuring 4.615 x 1.875 x 1.715 m for a weight of 1870 kg. It should also use an 800 V architecture allowing a charging power of 239 kW.
On the engine side, the EV5 should be satisfied with 160 kW (217 hp) and 310 nm of torque. The Chinese version will rely on an LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery and it is an 82 kWh NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery that will operate in Europe. This duo should provide a range of some 520 km WLTP.
Price and availability
Marketing should start at the end of 2023 in China, but we will have to wait a bit to see this EV5 rolling on our French roads. On the price side, it is difficult to say, but a price of around €50,000 seems possible. The entry-level EV6 costs €49,690, so we can hope that the EV5 will cost less than €47,000 in order to take advantage of the ecological bonus of €5,000, as long as it is still possible.