Kia will showcase the production-spec EV5 SUV, the carmaker's third born-EV product after the EV6 and the full-size EV9 SUV, on August 25 at the Chengdu Motor Show in China. The South Korean carmaker had unveiled this SUV in concept form earlier this year.
- EV5 is based on E-GMP born electric platform
- Will get a two-row cabin
- Styling similar to EV9 SUV
Kia EV5: third born-EV from the brand
The EV5, like the EV6 and EV9, will sit on the modular E-GMP skateboard platform, which will also underpin four other electric offerings that will follow by 2026. As far as the powertrain goes, the EV5 is likely to get a similar option as the EV6 – which means a 75-80kWh battery pack with a maximum range of more than 482km can be expected.
The upcoming EV5 SUV’s overall design will be quite similar to its larger sibling, the EV9, which follows Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’. Going by the concept’s design, the new 'Digital Tiger Face', as Kia calls it, pays homage to the carmaker's tiger nose grille.
The production-spec EV5 is also expected to get large 21-inch tyres and an aerodynamic-enhancing roof spoiler. Expect Kia to provide a feature-laden interior replete with a wraparound digital infotainment screen atop the dashboard and a long list of options and sustainably sourced materials.
Kia EV5 rivals
Judging by the size and stature, the EV5 is roughly comparable to the Kia Sportage and it can be seen as a potential rival to EVs such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota bZ4X and Nissan Ariya. The production model EV5 will first be launched for the Chinese market, followed by other global markets in due course of time.
There is no news of the EV5 coming to India anytime soon. Kia India, however, hashintedat introducing mass-market EVs here by 2025.
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