KIA’s New EV5 Spotted on Australian Roads

Will it be launched in Australia before South Korea?

A test drive of Kia’s new electric vehicle was captured in Australia as Kia confirmed the sale of the Chinese-made compact electric SUV EV5 in Australia. The EV5 was first released in China, has lowered battery specifications, and has a set price of 149,800 yuan (about $20,825), attracting attention in South Korea.

In Australia, the EV5 will be launched in Air and Earth trims first, and then the GT-Line, a higher trim, will be added to the lineup. The EV5 launched in Australia will be produced at Kia’s Chinese factory. The model for the Chinese market is equipped with 64.8 kWh and 88.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate batteries made by China’s BYD.

The EV5 can drive 530 km (about 329 miles) on a single full charge based on China’s own electric vehicle driving range standard, CLCT, and when equipped with a larger battery, it can drive 720 km (about 447 miles). However, due to the characteristics of CLCT, which measures driving range longer than one by other measurement methods, the actual driving distance is expected to be shorter. The price of the EV5 has been significantly lowered by installing a lithium iron phosphate battery, but the model’s price for the South Korean market is different.

The model for the South Korean market will be equipped with a ternary battery instead of a lithium iron phosphate battery. It is scheduled to have an 82 kWh NCM battery, making a price increase inevitable. The driving distance on a single full charge is expected to be around 400-500 km (about 250-329 miles). The base model’s price is expected to be around 50 million won (about $ 38,034), and the price of the long-range model is expected to be around 55 million won (about $ 41,832).

What About the EV5’s electric drive performance?

The EV5’s powertrain for the Chinese market comes standard with a single electric motor generating 215 horsepower. The larger battery is equipped with electric motors with an output of 160 kW (about 215 horsepower) at the front wheels and 70 kW (about 94 horsepower) at the rear wheels. The total output is 230kW, and it operates with four-wheel drive. However, the model captured in Australia is believed to have front-wheel drive.

The body size is 4,615 mm (about 15.14 feet) in length, 1,875 mm (about 6.15 feet) in width, 1,715 mm (about 5.63 feet) in width, and 2,750 mm (about 9.02 feet) in wheelbase, which is similar in size to the Sportage and slightly smaller than the EV6. EV5’s launch in South Korea is scheduled for the first half of 2025, but it is expected to be launched in Australia within 2023. Since this model for the Chinese market that is already produced in China can be exported, it is expected to be launched as soon as the certification process is completed in Australia.

The latest specifications

The interior features a wide panoramic display similar to that used in the EV9. To increase visibility, a 5-inch display for controlling the air conditioning system was placed between the 12.3-inch cluster and the center display. It is expected to be equipped with the latest specifications, such as the ccNC infotainment system, and to support various functions, such as over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Meanwhile, Korean consumers were very dissatisfied with the news of the EV5’s launch in Australia. The price of the model released for the Korean market is expected to be nearly twice as expensive as the model for the Chinese market. Also, the launch order is expected to be third after China and Australia. There were also criticisms that this was discriminating against the South Korean market.