New Kia Concept EV5 previews new electric SUV with bold styling

By James Attwood

20 Mar 2023

Kia’s expansion of its electric range isn’t slowing down: the firm has now revealed the Concept EV5, which previews a boldly styled new SUV that will be launched later this year.

The new concept machine was revealed at a Kia Chinese EV Day, and the machine will go on sale in that country. Kia says that future plans for other global markets “will be made in due course”.

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The Concept EV5 previews the third model in the Korean firm’s EV-branded line-up of bespoke electric models, following the EV6 and the recently revealed EV9. In case you hadn’t guessed, the model numbers refer to the size of the vehicle rather than the order they’re released in, so you can expect the production EV5 to be slightly smaller than the EV6.

It’s understood that the EV5 is likely slightly bigger than the combustion engined Kia Sportage, so while it’s smaller than the EV9 it’s certainly not small. That would make it a rival to the likes of the Nissan Ariya.

Kia’s approach is to give all its bespoke electric cars individual styling, so while you can spot the resemblance between the Concept EV5 and the larger EV9 it certainly has bespoke elements. There’s a new version of the brand’s signature ‘Digital Tiger Face’ front end, and a reworked version of the ‘star map’ lighting also seen on the EV9. The concept sits on 21in wheels.

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Karim Habib, Kia’s design boss, said that the models’ design “takes influence from the contrast and complementarity of natural landscapes and man-made architecture”, and is designed to mix an “emotional” exterior design with a “user-focused interior architecture.”

The interior is designed to use the flat floor design of an EV to offer maximum interior space. It's a classic stripped-back concept design, with an unusally shaped steering wheel and a stripped-back dash dominated by a touchscreen.

The concept features swivel seats – similar to those you’ll be able to get on the EV9 – with a full-length panoramic sunroof designed to allow light in and make for a more natural-feeling interior. Images also show backwards-opening rear doors to maximise space, which were also featured on the Concept EV9 (but didn't make the production version).

There are also plenty of sustainable materials used in the cain, including plant-based materials made from seaweed extract and the use of upcycled PET bottles for the seats, doors, dashboard and headliner.

While there’s no official word on plans for the Concept EV5 outside of China at this stage, given Kia will launch the larger EV9 in the UK it seems highly like that the new machine will make it here, given that it fits in one of the most popular electric SUV segments here.