Kia launched its fifth dedicated electric vehicle, the "Kia EV5", in the domestic market and will begin contracts on the 4th. Built on a conventional sports utility vehicle (SUV) body type, it is a compact electric vehicle featuring spacious and practical space, advanced safety features such as acceleration limitation assist.
Jeong Won-jeong, Vice President of Kia's Domestic Business Division, noted on the 2nd at Project Space Line in Gangnam District, Seoul, "The EV5 will fill the void of a mid-sized true SUV that has been lacking in the electric vehicle market, and it will be the most attractive option for customers considering a reasonable family electric vehicle purchase."
The EV5 is the fifth dedicated electric vehicle model introduced by Kia, following the EV6, EV9, EV3, and EV4. Developed late in 2023 as a China-exclusive model, Kia explained that it was released in the domestic market as a new vehicle with different product features, including battery, interior design, and safety specifications.
The EV5 has a body based on dimensions of 4,610 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, 1,675 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, providing ample interior space. In terms of size, it is nearly similar to the Sportage (length 4,685 mm, width 1,865 mm, height 1,660 to 1,680 mm, wheelbase 2,755 mm).
Inside, various convenience features have been introduced, considering not only the front and second-row passengers but also pets, along with ample storage space. A seatback table for use in the second row has been applied to the back of the front seat, and the second row is equipped with a fully flat seat that can lie completely flat.
When the Pet mode is selected, the vehicle automatically maintains an appropriate temperature inside when the pet has to be left in the car, using a smartphone application. It can be set so that the pet cannot accidentally operate various buttons inside the vehicle.
For the first time in Hyundai Motor Group, the EV5 is equipped with an acceleration limitation assist feature. When the vehicle is traveling at a speed of less than 80 km/h and the driver presses the accelerator pedal deeply and for a long time, the driver receives a warning through a pop-up message in the cluster as a primary alert, followed by a voice message warning as a secondary alert, and the acceleration is limited. This feature can be released by pressing the brake pedal or fully releasing the foot from the accelerator pedal for more than one second.
A pedal misoperation safety assist feature has also been installed. In situations where there are obstacles like vehicles or walls nearby (within 1.5 meters) when starting from a stop, if the driver mistakenly accelerates instead of braking, this feature controls the acceleration and braking. It can be released by changing gears or pressing the brake, and will be activated again when driving exceeds 50 km/h.
Unlike the Chinese model using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the EV5 is equipped with a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery with a capacity of 81.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh). It can drive 460 km on a single charge, and it takes about 30 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80% using a 350 kW charger. It has a maximum output of 160 kW, maximum torque of 295 Nm, and energy efficiency of 5.0 km/kWh.
The decision to choose batteries from the Chinese company CATL instead of domestic battery manufacturers (LG Energy Solution, SK On, Samsung SDI) garnered attention even before the launch, according to Kia, due to a comprehensive review of price, quality, and supply chain stability. They stated that the CATL high-nickel battery not only offers higher power and performance compared to existing options but has also undergone thorough stability testing.
The selling prices for the EV5 are as follows: Long Range ▲Air 48.55 million won, ▲Earth 52.30 million won, ▲GT Line 53.40 million won. (* After applying electric vehicle tax benefits, based on a special consumption tax rate of 3.5%) Considering government and local subsidies for electric vehicles, it seems that the Air trim can be purchased starting in the low 40 million won range based on the standards of Seoul.