Nobody does turnaround-time quite like Korean automakers these days (at least in the North American market). A mere five months have passed since Kia unveiled its latest electric crossover concept, yet we’re already seeing the production-spec Kia EV5. This Korean EV is aimed directly at the heart of the hot compact crossover segment. Melding traditional styling cues with electric power, this thing should pull off an impressive feat — appealing greatly to shoppers who’ve never considered an EV before. Oh, and did I mention that it should be cheaper than Kia’s EV6?
On the outside, the Kia EV5 looks extremely similar to the concept version we saw several months ago, which is a good thing. Other than the Volvo XC40 Recharge, there just aren’t that many boxy small electric crossovers out there, and the EV5 appears more butch than its Swedish competitor. From the Nissan Pathfinder to the Ford Bronco Sport, boxy is back in, so the EV5’s shape should appeal to a ton of consumers.
Speaking of appealing to consumers, the Kia EV5 has footprint nailed. At 181.7 inches long, the Kia EV5 is 5.3 inches shorter than a Tesla Model Y but around 2.5 inches longer than a Mazda CX-5 — just the right size for potential global domination. Oh, and did I mention that it rides on a wheelbase 2.4 inches longer than on a Toyota RAV4? In theory, the EV5 should combine a European-friendly footprint with the sort of interior space American consumers want.
Moving to the inside, it’s all modern and nice in the EV5. Passengers should be pampered with available 64-color mood lighting, an ultra-widescreen display for digital gauges and infotainment, plenty of cool interior colors, and a novel passenger seat design that wraps over the center console (it kind of looks like a bench seat, minus the seatbelt/legroom). Unusually for a Kia product, climate control settings are displayed in the infotainment system rather than in a separate display, possibly as a cost-saving measure. Regardless, the new user experience looks pretty great, with highly legible and logical layouts and just enough color to make things pop. Oh, and physical controls haven’t been completely abandoned either — I spy toggle switches for temperature and fan speed, and what looks like what could be a volume roller between the dashboard air vents.
Initially launching in China later this year, the EV5 is a global product, and rollout in additional markets will happen soon enough. Kia has confirmed that the EV5 sits below the EV6 in both size and price, so it’s possible that the EV5 will eventually come to our shores sporting a price tag of less than $43,920. How much less is up to Kia, but pricing will need to be aggressive to compete with the market’s cheaper offerings like the $40,290 Volkswagen ID.4 and the incoming circa $30,000 Chevrolet Equinox EV. Kia’s holding a tight grip on powertrain details for now, but expect different markets to have different options. Chinese models will get BYD’s Blade lithium iron phosphate pack, but for North American models, it’s anyone’s guess. Oh, and here’s something else to look forward to — Kia’s also working on an even smaller electric crossover called the EV4. Color me intrigued.
(Photo credits: Kia)
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It looks a lot like the upcoming Scout SUV…
Ugly as an inbred dorkfish. And who thinks $40 000 is cheap? Wasnt the goal to make EVs as cheap as ICE rather than ICE as expensive as EVs?
In the new boxy EV models I see Kia covering the major ICE bases. EV9 = Telluride, EV5 = Sorento. Previously I would have said EV6 was the Sorento since in size they are almost identical, but proportions feel like a big Niro. Although Niro already as a full ev… Anyway this EV5, seems more like the Sorento translated into the new EV language. EV4? Would love it to be a Stinger, but betting it is a Soul.
I don’t want an SUV or a CUV…can’t somebody just make a decent EV hatchback? 🙁
Like say the Bolt?
More like an eGolf with decent range.
The Bolt’s about the only one……except for the massive ‘recall all of them due to huge fire risk’ thing :/
You mean multiple massive recalls due to fire?
That, yes.
The Niro EV is a hatchback (with body cladding).
The EV4 might do the trick since it’s near Kia Soul sized but still boxy.
https://carbuzz.com/news/it-looks-like-the-kia-ev4-is-almost-ready-but-where-is-it-going
Dieter says it is beautiful and angular.
Not horrible, but that front end and those rims are just cringe. I am pretty sure Toyota isn’t worried at all about this thing, for every one of these Kia sells, I can see Toyota selling 10 Rav’s.
I think it looks nice and that starting price is downright reasonable by 2023/EV standards. This is a class of car that I think presents a use case for electrification. Not a single goddamn soul is getting any pleasure out of driving a midsized crossover and they’re the default car in 2023…seems like a good use of the battery resources to me
These average prices of a new car are insane. It is a result of only the top of the market having cars available and rich people being able to afford them. Once the rich are done there will be no customers. First because noone can afford them and second because resale value will be $0 because no measurable quality on used 7 year batteries. Noone is considering that a used EV resale will be $0.
This looks nice and a little less bloated than the EV6, not surprisingly as it’s smaller. But the body just seems to fit the platform better.
That being said, nobody is taking Toyota’s lunch money. Every dealer around here is still either at MSRP or markups for every single one of their models. There’s hardly anything available on the lots. They’re providing exactly what most people want; vehicles that tend to lead their respective segments in fuel economy and expected longevity. Anecdotally, a lot of people I know have been crawling back to the Toyota brand after getting burnt on an assortment of Hyundai/Kia/Ford/VW products.
Until Kia and others, who are admittedly coming out with desirable EV products, manage to start serving us something that truly competes with the Toyota lineup when it comes to Hybrids and PHEVs, well, Toyota won’t be getting stuffed into any lockers any time soon.
KIA can’t take Toyota’s lunch money as long as their dealerships are horrible.
Buyers might not feel they have a choice since you can’t get the Toyota plug-ins without a lengthy wait.
I like the looks but that passenger seat extender scares the bejeezus out of me. Some damn fool will perch their child there and then sue Kia when the child launches into the windshield.
Well, it looks like “C-shaped” lights are the new futuristic design trend now.
I see those and get worried abouy winter drivin. Small, recessed LED headlights will fill up with snow and slush, and be completely blocked in no time at all. And they’ll never get warm enough to thaw the snow/slush.
What exactly is going on with with the front passenger’s seat?
They gave you an upholstered place to put your take out lunch when there is also someone in the passenger seat. Beyond that, I’m not sure how its better than some nice storage, but maybe there is a fold down arm rest/console between the seats we can’t see?
It’s described as being a seat, but there is a console directly below it so the passenger would split their legs and take control of the gas pedal? Maybe that console stows away, but I checked 3 different sites and couldn’t find pics or details on what is going on. I wish companies would provide greater detail on new designs like this so people know how it really works.
Looks like the console might be like a drawer under that seat. If so, I kind of like that concept, but might find the execution really annoying, especially if they do something dumb like make it extend via infotainment screen or something.
I just physically shuddered at the thought of infotainment control for that. I may need a drink now.
I’m actually curious to see if anyone makes an attempt at front row 3-passenger seating again, now that EVs can provide a flat floor. Not that anyone would want to put anyone there all the time, but for those that need it occasionally, it’s better than feeling the need to buy a 3-row vehicle.
Who am I kidding, no manufacturer wants to provide a product that gives customers with those needs an option that allows them to avoid a more expensive 3-row vehicle.
I wonder if that center spot can’t pass safety standards. Harder to get airbags there with a big screen right in front of you and obviously no side protection available.
I wonder if companies will try to skirt that by offering things that work as seats and are not rated as such. So you can fit an extra (small) person, but they get no seatbelt, no airbags, etc. I don’t think they could get by with it if they put a seatbelt there.
That said, the longer I look at this, the less it looks like seating. Doesn’t seem to have a back. The raised lump would suggest a passenger would slide off into the actual seats. And, of course, no seatbelt.
There is a shot of the cargo area on car & driver that shows what looks like a seat back, but its folded down in arm rest position. all that’s visible are the pivot arms of the seat back. Does it have an integrated shoulder belt in seat back, who knows?
I had not seen that photo, but I do now and feel a little better about armrests, at least. It could have an integrated shoulder belt, though I’d expect to see a latch for it in the photos. Of course, these perfectly staged photos could hide that. It’ll certainly be something to watch for.
Now I’m back to thinking it will be a 5-passenger that has this extra spot we don’t hear them officially talk about, but you could put the least favorite kid there.
Good point on the lack of air bag coverage. Infotainment screens probably don’t make for a great landing spot for skulls.
In semi-related news, HOORAY! I got a notification that you responded to my comment and a link to bring me right back here. A great day for commenting Autopians.
A 3-seat front row was on the Fisker Pear concept, but that’s a ‘believe it when I see it’ thing for me.
one less phone eating slot.
Having grown up in the 70s and 80s in a rural area, that front middle seat (?) brings back a flood of memories of shoving my legs diagonally over to the front right passenger footwell to avoid the transmission and transfer case shifters where one’s feet and legs would normally go.
If Toyota isn’t worried about Hyundai/Kia yet, they should be.
Handsome does come to mind when I look at this SUV, as in Kia should hand some pink slips out in the design department.
I think it looks okay. Better than some of the other generic versions out there. What do you not like about it?
I don’t like anything about its exterior, but especially the Cyberman front fascia, the awful wheels and the floating roof. I do like the dash layout. Kia has hit some style home runs lately, but this one pushes all the wrong buttons for me. So, it’ll probably sell like hotcakes.
I dislike the wheels too. The fascia is very much in their design theme, so I know I’ll just get used to it. But I do hate the wheels. I assume they’ll have other options though.
The headlights, d-pillar/roof, and wheels all look terrible, but that’s just my opinion, man.