The new Kia EV5 is proudly assembled at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS).
It’s Singapore’s first locally assembled Kia, and it joins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 on the pedestal of locally-made automobiles.
Design-wise, Kia’s been flexing its “Opposites United” philosophy, and the EV5 wears it well. The front fascia is adorned with Kia’ Digital Tiger Face. Clean, chiselled lines stretch out into Star Map LEDs that make the car look like it’s plotting a course for the future.
Beyond the bold exterior, the EV5’s secret weapon is its cabin. Step inside and you’re greeted by tons of space, courtesy of the 2,750mm wheelbase and a lofty 1,715mm height, giving everyone room to breathe.
The Panoramic Wide Display fuses three screens into one seamless interface, giving the dash a tech-forward elegance. And if you’re lucky enough to snag the Earth or GT-Line variants, you’ll get Kia’s Relaxation Seat, complete with massage function, lumbar support, and a leg rest.
With the rear seats down, you’re looking at 1,714 litres of cargo capacity. With all seats up, it’s 513 litres, plus a 67-litre frunk. Plus, the EV5 is peppered with thoughtful touches: a Smart Power Tailgate that opens hands-free, a heated-and-cooled storage drawer for drinks, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech that lets you power a laptop, a rice cooker, or even a karaoke machine.
Three variants cater to different drivers, from the pragmatic to the performance-hungry:
- Air: With 100kW and 310Nm of torque, it’s the starter pack. It gives you 400km of WLTP range and charges from 10% to 80% in just 36 minutes.
- Earth: The range king, with a larger 88.1kWh battery offering 540km on a single charge.
- GT-Line: All-wheel-drive, dual-motor, 230kW, 480Nm, and a 0–100km/h dash in 6.3 seconds.
Of course, being a Kia, it comes armed to the teeth with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance is all there, quietly working in the background so you can enjoy the drive without second-guessing every lane change or parking manoeuvre.
Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 is also included. With this, you can step out and let your car park itself, the party trick that’ll impress neighbours and confuse nosy cats in HDB carparks alike.
“This launch represents an extraordinary moment for both Kia and Singapore,” said Wilfrid Foo, Managing Director of Cycle & Carriage Singapore. “The EV5 delivers on every front, a product tailor-made for our country, in our country.”
With prices starting at S$194,000 (with COE) for the Air variant, S$210,600 for the Earth, and S$260,000 for the range-topping GT-Line, the Kia EV5 is competitively priced against its rivals.
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