Kia EV5 revealed as boxy electric family SUV

The all-new Kia EV5 has been unveiled at the Chengdu motor show in China, sitting below the sporty EV6 and the seven seater EV9 in the Korean brand’s growing electric car lineup.

Kia’s design team is on a bit of a roll at the moment; the all-new EV9 looks like almost nothing else on the road, while the EV6 could easily pass as a shuttlecraft from the Starship Enterprise. As you can see, the Kia EV5 continues the Korean maker’s futuristic design scheme, matching the larger EV9’s boxy shape, while also donning a revised version of the boomerang-shaped LED rear light bar, as first seen on the Kia EV6.

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Moving inside, Kia says it consulted “millennial households” for inspiration regarding the EV5’s cabin. The overall design is reminiscent of the larger EV9, with Kia’s latest tri-screen infotainment system taking centre stage. This comprises a digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen, plus an additional 5.3-inch climate control panel to bisect them. Intriguingly the EV5 Concept’s swivelling seat arrangement has been swapped for what almost appears to be an old-school bench in the front – although there are only two seatbelts.

Unlike the Kia Niro EV which sits on the same K3 platform as its sister car, the Hyundai Kona Electric, the new Kia EV5 is thought to share the same 800 volt E-GMP underpinnings as the other two EV-badged Kias, as well as the likes of the Genesis GV60.

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Kia is yet to reveal any kind of technical specifications, but we expect the EV5 to also get the EV6’s 77.4kWh battery pack, which would likely provide a range of over 300 miles. Single and dual-motor setups could be offered, while a high-performance GT variant is certainly possible – as is an entry-level model with a smaller battery and lower starting price.

Essentially an electrified alternative to the Kia Sportage hybrid, it’s unknown at this stage whether the Kia EV5 will go on sale in the UK, but it’s due to go on sale in China later this year. Kia will want to price its latest model in-line with the competition, such as the Nissan Ariya and Volkswagen ID.4. Therefore, a starting price of around £45,000 would seem appropriate.