kia ev5 in chinese specification uncovered by china s miit
As usual, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology comes to the rescue, giving us a glimpse of the upcoming Kia EV5 electric SUV.
The EV5 is Kia's third electric model based on the E-GMP architecture. As part of its standard approval process, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed the Kia EV5 electric SUV in what is most likely its final form.
The exterior design seen in the leaked photos closely resembles what was shown in earlier concept photos, minus a few details. While this model represents the version intended for the Chinese market, we can safely expect a similar product for the rest of the world.
At first glance, we notice that, as expected, Kia had to replace the concept's camera side mirrors and invisible door handles with traditional side mirrors and flush door handles. And upon closer inspection, both the headlights and taillights feature slightly different designs.
kia ev5 in chinese specification uncovered by china s miit
The wheels also indicate a positive aspect of this production model. Although they are at least two inches smaller (going from 21 inches to 18 or 19 inches), they have managed to retain their original futuristic design.
A Mini Kia EV9?
Many observers argue that the new EV5 is merely a smaller version of the Kia EV9, pointing to the similar design and the shared E-GMP EV-dedicated platform. While we strongly believe that every car deserves its own identity, it's hard to deny the many similarities between the two models.
The most significant design difference between them lies in the interior; the Kia EV9 accommodates seven seats across three rows, whereas the EV5 can only seat five across two rows due to its smaller dimensions. In both cases, custom seat covers remain a necessity, you don’t want to let wear and tear ruin your interior in just one year. Keep it brand new for many years to come.
According to the same source, the EV5 has a wheelbase of 108.2 inches and measures 181.7 inches in length, 73.8 inches in width, and 67.5 inches in height. Oddly enough, these measurements place the EV5 in the same size range as the Kia EV6 hatchback, if we disregard the increased height, of course.
What does the interior look like?
Given that the car has managed to retain most of its original exterior design, could it also have preserved the concept's futuristic interior?
Unfortunately, the leaked photos don't provide any clues at this moment. However, it's highly unlikely that the production interior will feature all the concepts' bells and whistles. As the official reveal date approaches, we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best.
Regardless of the final interior design, you better get your Custom dash cover and floor mats ready, because the sun and dust won’t care about the design.
Power & Powertrain
Official documents reveal that the Kia EV5 will utilize a lithium-iron-phosphate Blade battery sourced from BYD's subsidiary, Xiangyang Fudi Battery Co. The car will be powered by a rear-mounted electric motor, capable of producing 215 horsepower (160 kilowatts) and 229 pound-feet of torque, as indicated by previous tests. Although not yet confirmed, rumors already started talking about a dual-motor AWD variant, which is a typical offering on all of Kia’s new models.
This setup might not be used for international markets. Reports from The Korean Car Blog suggest that the global version will feature an 82-kilowatt-hour NMC pack instead of the lithium-iron-phosphate one, providing the car with a range of 373 miles.
The Kia EV5 will be the brand's first global China EV. It will be manufactured through a Kia-Yueda joint venture, primarily for the Chinese market, with export to some other countries as well.
Mark your calendars; the official debut is set for August 25 at the Chengdu Motor Show, and actual sales are expected to commence in November.
