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Kia EV5 spotted with a few upgrades for the first time ahead of its global launch
It’s about the size of the Tesla Model Y. The EV5 is already a hit in China. Now, Kia is about to launch the global model. With its official debut coming up, Kia’s electric SUV was spotted for the first time with a few noticeable upgrades.
Meet the new electric SUV
Kia first unveiled the EV5 at the Chengdu Motor Show in 2023. A few months later, the electric SUV officially went on sale in China, starting at just over $20,000 (149,800 yuan).
The EV5 is 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,715 mm tall, or roughly the same size as the Tesla Model Y (4,750 mm long, 1,978 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall). It’s also significantly cheaper in China. The new Model Y starts at 263,500 yuan ($36,500).
Kia’s base model has a CLTC range of 329 miles (530 km) from a 64.2 kWh BYD Blade battery. The longer-range model gets up to 447 miles (720 km) from an 88.1 kWh battery.
In comparison, the new Tesla Model Y has a CLTC driving range of up to 368 miles (593 km). The Long-range AWD model starts at 313,500 yuan ($43,400) and has a range of up to 447 miles (719 km).
The EV5 is already leading Kia’s comeback in China. Last year, Kia sold over 200,000 vehicles for the first time in four years, ranking first among joint venture brands. The electric SUV was one of the main growth drivers.
When will Kia launch the EV5 global model?
Kia launched the EV5 in several global markets last year, including Australia and New Zealand. Recent sales figures from TheDriven show that the electric SUV was the fourth top-selling EV in Australia through April, with 1,509 units sold.
Through the first four months of 2025, the EV5 trails only the Tesla Model Y (3,394), Model 3 (2,266), and MG MG4 (1,698) through April. However, these models are made in China and exported by Kia’s joint venture, Yueda Kia Motors.
Kia is preparing to launch production of the global version of the EV5 later this year at its Autoland Gwangju manufacturing plant in South Korea.
According to TheKoreanCarBlog, it will be the first exclusive electric car built at the facility, codenamed “OV1” internally.
With mass production scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, we are finally getting our first look at the Kia EV5 global model. New images from Autospy reveal several noticeable upgrades from the current version built in China.
Despite the camouflage, you can see a few updated design elements, including alloy wheels, pulled from Kia’s new EV6 and EV9.
The interior has been refined with an updated center console to attract buyers outside of China. You can also expect to see Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens in a panoramic curved setup.
It will also drop the lower-cost LFP battery in favor of a higher-density NCM option, which could raise prices in other markets.
Kia will launch the EV5 global version in new markets, including South Korea, Europe, and Canada. Sadly, it’s not expected to arrive in the US.
The company confirmed earlier this year that the EV5 will be “exclusively for the Canadian market” in North America. It will be sold with FWD and AWD powertrains and two battery sizes: 60.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, offering up to 500 km (310 miles) range.
What do you think of Kia’s electric SUV? Would you buy one over the Tesla Model Y? Let us know in the comments below.
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