AFTER MAKING ITS GLOBAL DEBUT at the 2023 Kia EV Day, the pre-production EV5 display vehicle has arrived down under offering Kia Australia the opportunity to provide a first local look of its soon to be launched, full electric medium SUV.
The Kia EV5 will be sold in Australia in a mixture of variants meeting the needs of a diverse range of customers and budgets. Launching locally in June, the range will initially be available in Air and Earth trims only, with the top GT-Line model arriving in the fourth quarter.
Both standard and long-range batteries along with Front Wheel Drive (Single Motor) and All Wheel Drive (Dual Motor) drivetrains will be offered. Application by variant will be announced closer to launch.
The Kia EV5 will be the first right hand drive product supplied by the Kia factory in China (Yancheng city, Jiangsu province). Other firsts provided by the Chinese sourced EV5 includes a dedicated EV platform called N3 eK which is a modularised front and rear chassis (different to the EV6 & EV9 E-GMP) and it also utilises a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery for high-efficiency.
“Kia Australia is confident the EV5 will suit the needs of many new car buyers who now more than ever, are considering the move into a full battery electric vehicle,” said Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Office, Damien Meredith.
“Sourcing Australia’s stock from the China factory allows us to launch earlier and secure supply of up to 850 per month which is needed to target mainstream appeal.”
“The EV5 continues our commitment to growing Kia’s electric vehicle offering with a package that will appeal to both private and fleet buyers.”
The Kia EV5 will come with advanced active and passive safety features targeting a 5 Star ANCAP rating along with the latest technology you would expect to see in a new Kia model.
The Kia R&D Centres in both China and Korea have left no stone unturned in ensuring the EV5 is developed just right for Australia with numerous engineering teams visiting and contributing.
Kia Australia’s long established local Ride & Handling Program which has resulted in the EV5 offering excellent ride quality on both urban and rough country roads, confident handling and cornering balance, especially the AWD as to be expected.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)tuning ensures the EV5 is calibrated for Australian roads, traffic conditions, lane markings, speed signs, parking spaces and other configurations.
Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) testing and development of all features to ensure quality and reliability of Over the Air updates available across all EV5 variants.
Charging: Testing and developing for Australia’s public charging infrastructure across Greater Sydney and the ACT to ensure compatibility with EV5.
Full specifications, features and pricing will be announced closer to launch.