Having introduced the EV6 electric vehicle (EV) and, more recently, the three-row EV9 electric SUV, Kia turns its attention to smaller EVs. The Korean automaker is seeking to overcome one of the barriers to consumer EV adoption: high prices. Looking to address those concerns, Kia unveiled the new EV5 in South Korea this week. While China will be the EV5’s initial market, the new compact electric SUV will be coming to North America. But that doesn’t mean it’s coming to America.
Kia is considering exporting the EV5 to North America starting from 2025, although the company said there are no plans to produce the EV5 in North America. Kia plans to build the EV5 in Korea and China. Given the Inflation Reduction Act regulations, it’s likely that the EV5 won’t be seen in the United States, but will be sold in Canada and Mexico.
Looking much like the EV9’s kid brother, the EV5 is slated to be built in China and Korea and exported. Like the EV6 and EV9, the EV5 is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The Kia EV5 will be offered with standard and long-range front-wheel-drive models, and long-range all-wheel-drive powertrains.
Initially to be sold in China, the EV5 will come with a 64-kWh battery and a front-mounted 160-kW (215 horsepower) motor with an expected driving range of 329 miles per charge. But that range estimate is based on the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (or CLTC). The long-range model comes with a larger 88-kWh battery and the same 160-kW motor, realizing a range of 447 miles per charge, again on CLTC standards. The long-range all-wheel-drive EV6 also has the larger battery pack, front and rear motors with a combined output of 230-kW (308 horsepower), with a 404-mile range. There will also be a GT model, but details were not revealed. While its E-GMP platform is designed to handle 800 volts, the EV5 will use a 400-volt architecture to keep costs down.
All EV5s have fast-charge from 30% to 80% capacity in a mere 27 minutes. An on-board heat pump from the EV9 maintains an optimal battery temperature no matter what the external temperature. Like other EVs, the EV5’s battery can supply power to external devices. Kia is adopting the North American Charging Standard, aka the Tesla charger standard.
As in other Kia models, the EV5 features a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch climate control display. As with most EVs, there are few physical buttons. Chinese market EV5s get a front bench seat, digital key, massaging seats and a fridge.
While we won’t be seeing the EV5, expect Kia to offer something similar, but built in the U.S.
