The Kia EV5 will be the brand’s next all-electric model, and thanks to a Chinese regulatory filing, we now have a clear picture of how it will look ahead of its reveal late this month.
Borrowing many design cues from the three-row EV9 large SUV – due in Australia later this year – the production EV5 doesn’t stray far from the bold, chunky styling seen in Kia’s Concept EV5 shown in March.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has published images of the EV5 as part of its homologation process, as reported by Car News China.
This is what the new Kia EV5 will look like. Credit: Car News China
The site also says the Chinese-made EV5 will be officially unveiled at the Chengdu Motor Show on August 25, while Chinese order books open in November ahead of deliveries there in 2024.
Considering Kia Australia’s consistent message it will try to secure any and every EV made available to it, the EV5 would appear a shoo-in for us once it launches globally, likely in 2024.
What is the Kia EV5?
The 2023 Kia EV5 Concept
Thanks to the regulator’s leaked report, we know the EV5’s dimensions are 4615mm x 1875mm x 1715mm. Size-wise, that makes it a close match to Kia’s combustion Sportage medium SUV (4660mm x 1865mm x 1665mm).
This would make the EV5 a battery-electric alternative to Kia’s popular Sportage – the Korean brand’s best-selling model in its line-up.
The wheelbase is listed at 2750mm (5mm less than a Sportage) and weight at 1870kg – about 350kg more than a FWD Sportage.
The current Kia Sportage GT-Line
Aping Kia’s EV9 styling, the EV5 has a squared-off aesthetic, boxy arches likely housing 20-inch or 21-inch alloys, and a “Tiger Face” grille under its flat front panel and intricate LED headlights.
It’s safe to assume the EV5 sits on Kia’s e-GMP electric platform, as used in the current EV6 and incoming EV9. Whether it will share these models’ ultra-rapid charging brought by 800V remains to be seen, but Car News China suggests it will.
The MIIT report also shows it will feature – for the Chinese market at least – a BYD-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery powering a 160kW/310Nm electric motor over the rear axle.
EV5 is likely to use same platform as the EV6
Car News China speculates overseas EV5s would use an 82kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, offering a range around 600km.
How much would the EV5 cost in Australia?
The Korean Car Blog has previously suggested the EV5 will cost between 50 million and 57 million won in South Korea, translating to around $58-66,000 in Australia.
Chasing Cars’ best estimate would price the EV5 from the mid-$60,000s when sold here, closely targeting the Tesla Model Y RWD’s figure of $65,400 plus on-roads.
The new EV5 could target the current Tesla Model Y
This price would also put a distance between the EV5 and Kia’s own EV6 Air RWD at $72,590 plus on-roads, the latter a large SUV/wagon.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 would also be a key rival, it currently selling from $72,000 plus costs for the entry-level Dynamiq RWD.
A dual motor EV5 would offer substantially more power and performance, and add to the bill. But the thought of a sub-$100,000 EV5 GT to challenge the Tesla Model Y Performance already has us excited.