2026 Kia EV5 Is Coming To America As A Sportage EV With More Space

Miami Herald

6 days ago

After being launched in China in 2023, the Kia EV5 has now been revealed for the Korean and European markets, with its arrival expected in the second half of this year. But don't fret if you're on this side of the Atlantic - North American sales will begin early in 2026.
Like most of the brand's EVs, the crossover is built atop Hyundai's E-GMP platform and measures 181.5 inches in length with a wheelbase of 108.2 inches (27.6 inches longer than the Sportage on both measurements), so it should be spacious in both rows. 18- or 19-inch wheels, a distinctive DRL signature that wraps around the front fascia, and a very low tailgate opening that should make loading easy combine to form a compact crossover that is both pretty and practical, but it might not be a perfect all-rounder.
The existing EV5 available in other markets like Australia can be ordered as a dual-motor EV with AWD, but the European/Korean model being announced today is only available with one front-mounted motor delivering 215 horsepower, taking the EV5 from 0-62 mph in 8.4 seconds. Two battery options are available, however, 60.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh, offering up to 329 miles of range on the WLTP cycle. Recharging from 10-80 percent is claimed to take roughly half an hour, and Vehicle-to-Load functionality means you can power small appliances and accessories when off the grid.
If hardware carries over unchanged, we can expect slightly less range on the more stringent EPA cycle, but it's unclear whether the more powerful dual-motor will be offered here, which offers 308 hp. A slightly more powerful GT version is also possible, but this is unlikely to be sold here, at least initially, so buyers will have to accept a 1,800-lb towing capacity and relatively weak acceleration. For the record, the Tesla Model Y (RWD) delivers 295 hp, goes roughly 311 miles, and can tow 3,527 lbs.
Unlike many German automakers, including Volkswagen, Kia has elected to continue providing customers with physical switchgear, providing tactile buttons and knobs for frequently used functions like window switches, door locks, climate control, and infotainment volume. But the EV5 is still as technologically proficient as you'd expect of a new EV, with a narrow 5.3-inch climate display nestled between a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one of which provides an AI assistant powered by ChatGPT. In the second row, another screen allows rear-seat occupants to control their own air conditioning, while a Harmon Kardon premium sound system gives all occupants a rich audio experience.
We'll have to wait for the U.S. launch to provide more specifics, but on face value, the EV5 is an attractive crossover with more length and a longer wheelbase than the Sportage, and if Kia can keep pricing in the same range as the $44,990 Model Y RWD, it could have a winner on its hands. Some buyers will doubtless be happy to stick with the Sportage, which costs a little more than $40,000 in hybrid form and just under $29,000 without electrification, but the upmarket styling, ease of use, and efficiency of the EV5 may be tough to ignore.
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