Kia Motors Australia has confirmed that the 2024 Kia EV5 electric mid-size SUV will be launched locally sometime in 2024. Kia’s third bespoke electric vehicle after the EV6 and EV9, the EV5 will be the first Kia model to be sold in Australia that will be produced in China. Sized like a Sportage, the EV5 uses the same e-GMP platform as its siblings, as well as cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60.
“The Kia EV5 was created to redefine the compact SUV genre with a form shaped by Kia’s unique design philosophy ‘Opposites United,’” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center.
“At every stage, Kia’s designers have worked closely with their engineering colleagues to create a holistic solution for sustainable mobility. As a result, the EV5 sets a new standard for design, performance and practicality while providing new levels of driver enjoyment and user experience.”
On the outside, the 2024 Kia EV5 borrows from its larger EV9 sibling with heavily futuristic styling, including slim LED lighting units, with the latest version of Kia’s ‘Tiger Face’ front end. The EV5 reportedly measures 4,615mm long, 1875mm wide, 1,715mm tall and uses a 2,750mm long wheelbase, making it 45mm shorter – but 10mm wider and 55mm taller – than a Sportage.
Inside, the 2024 Kia EV5 follows the EV9’s interior layout closely with twin 12.3-inch screens handling the infotainment and driver’s display duties, with a small 5.0-inch touchscreen in the middle of both handling the heating and ventilation. Features shown in pictures include tri-zone climate control, navigation, a 360-degree camera, heated and ventilated seats and, reportedly only for China, a front bench-style seat. Its seats are covered in recycled ‘PET’ fabric and ‘Bio-PU’ leather trims, while the front seats will offer a four-mode massage functionality, a console fridge and even a luggage board that can be used as a table.
Using the same e-GMP platform as its electric siblings, the 2024 Kia EV5 will reportedly be offered in three models in China: the Standard uses a 160kW electric motor with a 64kWh battery pack, the Long Range uses the same 160kW motor but with a larger 88kWh battery pack and the Long Range AWD adds a 70kW rear electric motor for 230kW of power and uses the same larger battery. While full specifications are yet to be announced, the long-range single-motor version reportedly has targeted a 530km range on the WLTP cycle.
Production of the EV5 is due to later expand to South Korea, though it’s not known if Australian models will eventually be sourced from there. South Korean models will use a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery with China-made versions using a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that’s been developed with Chinese company BYD.
To lower its price, the 2024 Kia EV5 will reportedly use a 400-volt electric architecture – half of what features in the Ioniq 5, EV6, etc – and peak charging speeds will be “in excess” of 120kW for a 30 to 80 per cent charge in as little as 27 minutes – nine minutes longer than an EV6 takes to go from 10 to 80 per cent.
Safety features offered in the EV5 will reportedly include highway driving assistance, remote parking, digital key functionality and adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assistance. Kia has confirmed that a higher-performance EV5 GT will be revealed at a later date as well.
The 2024 Kia EV5 is due on sale in Australia sometime in 2024, with local pricing, specifications and exact release timing TBC. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
Would love the safer LFP battery to come to Aus.