Kia unveils futuristic electric SUV for 2024

Home > Industry Analysis > Content

【Summary】Kia has officially revealed the EV5, a stylish and spacious electric SUV designed for the Chinese market. It will serve as an electric alternative to the Kia Sportage and will compete with rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq iV and Mercedes EQB. The EV5 shares design elements with its larger sibling, the EV9, and promises to deliver transformative design, versatility, and exceptional comfort. More details about its launch in select global markets will be revealed in October.

FutureCar Staff Aug 30, 2023 4:43 PM PT

Kia unveils futuristic electric SUV for 2024

The new Kia EV5 has been unveiled as a practical and spacious five-seat electric SUV with a sharp design. Earlier this year, a near-production concept of the EV5 was previewed, and leaked images of the final car provided hints about its design and positioning. However, Kia has now officially revealed details about the car's design at the Chengdu motor show in China. Full technical specifications will be released closer to the launch.

Initially, the EV5 has been designed for the Chinese market and will be built there for sale. However, there are strong indications that it will also be launched in Europe, including the UK. Kia has promised to provide more details about the launch in "select global markets" during an event in October. The EV5 is part of Kia's expanding family of bespoke electric cars, following the EV6 and EV9. It is most closely related to the larger EV9.

When it becomes available in dealerships, the EV5 will serve as an electric alternative to the Kia Sportage crossover, which is of a similar size. Just like the larger EV9, which complements the combustion-engined Kia Sorento, the EV5 will have rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq iV, Mercedes EQB, Ford Explorer, and Fisker Ocean. The EV5's dimensions, as published on the Chinese Ministry of Transport homologation platform, are 4615mm in length, 1875mm in width, and 1715mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2750mm and a kerbweight of 1870kg.

The EV5 clearly takes inspiration from the flagship seven-seat EV9. It features an upright, two-box silhouette, chunky lower body cladding, and distinctive angular alloy wheel designs. Additionally, the EV5 shares the EV9's aggressive 'tiger nose' front end design and kinked rear beltline, which are characteristic of Kia's electric vehicle lineup. Kia describes the EV5 as a vehicle that seamlessly combines transformative design, exceptional versatility, and outstanding comfort. It aims to surpass the accepted aesthetics of the existing compact SUV sector.