We were able to climb aboard the new Kia EV5
Kia held an event in downtown Toronto to present its new EV5 for the first time. Unlike the other electric vehicles in the range, this compact SUV will be reserved exclusively for the Canadian market in North America.
The day after this first presentation, Kia Canada gave us the opportunity to get closer to the vehicle and climb inside.
Externally, the new Korean compact SUV is quite bulky, with a format similar to that of the Kia Sportage. The design is very similar to the brand's other electric vehicles, notably the Kia EV6 for the front end and the EV9 for the rear end. The main difference with the latter is the light strip on the tailgate that joins the taillights.
Thanks to its square format, the vehicle offers much more headroom than in a Kia EV6.
The design of the front seats is original, with the passenger seat joining that of the driver. However, we have learned that this arrangement will not be available in Canada, replaced by two separate seats.
We were able to sit in the front and rear, and space is very good for four occupants. However, the rear center seat is a little narrower. The trunk has a good capacity, even if the sill seemed a little high to us.
On the dashboard, the center console, which houses cup holders and storage space for a cell phone, is quite low. Facing the driver, a large monitor measuring almost 30 inches diagonally displays the information needed for driving. Under the central air vents, Kia has retained physical controls for temperature and ventilation. These buttons are easily accessible and can be operated without taking your eyes off the road. In the pre-production model we sat in, the quality of finish was satisfactory and in line with other Kia products we've driven.
Little technical information yet
We put a lot of questions to the brand managers who attended the presentation. Unfortunately, we weren't able to obtain much technical information. What we do know is that the vehicle will be available with two different batteries. The entry-level model will have a 60.3 kWh battery, while the higher-end models will benefit from an 81.4 kWh capacity.
The Kia EV5 will be available with two drivetrains: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with both batteries. That said, certain models, such as the top-of-the-range models, will probably be available with the large battery and all-wheel drive only. It will also be possible to recharge the vehicle on Tesla's Supercharger network using a NACS-type plug.
Built on the E-GMP platform like its electric cousins from Kia, the EV5 will not use 800V technology, but only 400V, in order to reduce costs. This suggests that maximum recharging power should be lower than that of an EV6 (240 kW). On the other hand, the manufacturer did not disclose battery chemistry, so it's possible that range will be less than the rest of the range for equivalent capacity.
Pricing, power, range and equipment will also be announced at a later date. Kia Canada has told us that the vehicle will be available at dealerships in early 2026, without specifying whether it will be a 2026 or 2027 model.
The Kia EV 5 will be presented to the Canadian public for the first time at the Toronto Auto Show, from February 14 to 23, 2025.
