The 2025 Kia EV5 electric SUV has been spotted again in Australia, just weeks before its local launch.
CarExpert reader Brendan Peters snapped a few pictures of an EV5 in a carpark in New South Wales.
The battery-powered SUV is launching later in June in two variants, called Air and Earth, with a GT-Line flagship to follow in the fourth quarter of 2024.
In the past, we’ve only seen two bluish colours; however, this time, the EV5 is repping a smoky grey.
The EV5 adopts a lot of design elements from its sibling SUV, Kia EV9. Unlike the brand’s flagship electric SUV, however, it’ll be sourced from China instead of Korea.
Kia Australia says there have been plenty of benefits in sourcing electric EV5 crossover from China, and says it worked closely with the Chinese team to get the vehicle to market promptly and to ensure the vehicle is suitable for our market.
To that end, the EV5 has also received a suspension tune developed for our market.
Despite its imminent release, local pricing and detailed specifications have yet to be released.
Kia Motors New Zealand has confirmed the EV5 range will open there at NZ$67,990 (A$63,284), though the brand will only offer the long-range battery there.
That suggests the EV5 could open at under A$60,000, pricing it close to the top-selling Tesla Model Y which now starts at $55,990 after a recent cut.
As a guide, Hyundai Australia charges $4000 for the Kona Electric Extended Range over the Standard Range, and while Kia Australia doesn’t offer the EV6 Standard Range in Australia, in New Zealand it’s NZ$3000 (A$2753) cheaper than the equivalent Long Range version we get as standard locally.
Earlier this year, the latest EV5 was spotted driving around Sydney, where it was undertaking U-turns, three-point turns and multiple rotations around a roundabout.
Additional Australian-specific calibrations have been made to the EV5’s safety systems to cope with lane markings and traffic control and conditions.
The EV5 has also been tested on EV chargers in both Sydney and Canberra.
Kia Australia aims to import up to 850 EV5s each month, making it on track to challenge the BYD Atto 3, which averaged 920 sales per month last year.
If Kia Australia succeeds in selling 850 EV5s each month, it could sell 10,200 EV5s annually.
For reference it only sold 1000 Niro EVs in 2023.
MORE: Everything Kia EV5
