New Kia EV5 Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

Kia has unveiled its new EV5 SUV, an electric replacement for the popular Sportage, with a bold design that is mirrored in the huge electric EV9 SUV and two more electric concept cars that foreshadow smaller SUVs: the EV4 and EV3 . The EV6 crossover, which has been on sale for a couple of years in standard and “hot” EV6 GT form, completes Kia’s electric line-up for now.
• The EV5 looks like it will be a Sportage-sized contender launching into the competitive middleweight electric crossover market • Lots of onboard tech, a configurable interior made from recycled materials and more besides • Range figures to be confirmed but the EV5 launches in China with a choice of two batteries, the larger of the two also available as a dedicated ‘Long Range’ version • Power outputs may change before the EV5 launches in the UK but kick off in China and Korea with a 217 horsepower front-wheel drive model with either battery and a 306 horsepower all-wheel drive one with the larger powerpack

Kia says the EV5 will be available in the UK in 2025 with standard and long-range versions, and with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive (AWD). The long-range AWD model will have a little over 300 horsepower. There will also be a sporty version with the GT badging in time.

Inside the EV5 there’s a range of sustainable fabrics on offer, including bio-leather - a vegan option made with biodegradable materials - and a textile made of recycled PET plastic. The seats are worthy of mention, with various massage functions and a rear bench that goes fully flat to transform into a camping bed, as well as giving more usable load space. You can also specify a camping table in the rear and fridge/warming compartment. The EV5 comes with a new version of the Kia app which now has a chatbot function for customer help and monitors the battery level in real time to redirect to the nearest charging station if possible.

Like the EV6, the EV5 will have several modes of regenerative braking, plus an “i-pedal” that allows you to bring the car to a near-halt by easing off the throttle pedal. Kia also shares parent company Hyundai’s three-pin plug socket which allows drivers to charge appliances from the car, meaning the car’s battery becomes an energy storage facility for other gadgets. This tech is called “vehicle to load” (V2L) and is becoming more popular in electric cars as consumers look to maximise electricity usage at home at cheaper tariff times. In some markets (the UK has yet to be confirmed) Kia will also enable the vehicle-to-grid technology in the car, which allows drivers to sell unused electricity from their car back to the grid.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but expect a starting cost of about £40,000.

We’ll be driving the premium EV9 SUV soon, while the compact EV3 and saloon-like EV4 have also been announced alongside the EV5. Busy times at Kia, then.

You can bet Kia’s parent company Hyundai will be offering its own spin on the shared technology under the EV5, while new brands from China like Zeekr X, Lynk & Co and others are also launching similar products into this already crowded market sector.