Hot on the heels of brand’s new EV9 flagship is similarly styled, smaller electric SUV
FELIX PAGE
Just a week after unveiling its new electric flagship, the seven-seat EV9, Kia has previewed its third bespoke EV with a similarly styled SUV concept.
The new EV5 follows the larger car in adopting the ‘Opposites United’ design ethos that will define all future models from the Korean brand.
Referred to officially as the Concept EV5 for now, the electric SUV will be launched in China later this year, and Kia’s confirmation that plans will soon be announced for “other global markets” suggests that a European entry is likely.
Technical details also remain largely under wraps, but the production version of the EV5 is likely to ride on a variation of the E-GMP platform that underpins Kia’s two existing bespoke EVs and another four that will follow before 2026.
In size and stature, the EV5 looks roughly comparable to the combustion-engined Kia Sportage, so it could feasibly serve as a rival to similarly conceived family EVs including the Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4X and Volkswagen ID 4.
While Kia has yet to offer any hints concerning pricing or performance, the EV5 is likely to match those cars (and its siblings) in offering a choice of two- and four-wheel-drive powertrains. If it is offered with the same 77kWh battery as the EV6, it will provide a competitive maximum range of more than 300 miles.
Interestingly, the EV5 looks to be at least the same size as the EV6, if not larger, suggesting that Kia won’t number its EVs according to size, à la Volkswagen and Peugeot.
Like the EV9, it is sharply proportioned and overtly focused on practicality, and the larger car’s swivelling seats feature here too, allowing occupants in both rows to turn 90deg.
Uniquely, the EV5
