Kia unveiled the EV5 concept at its Chinese EV Day, showcasing an all-electric compact crossover that incorporates several of the larger EV9’s boxy proportions, while also introducing new styling cues that provide a glimpse into the Korean brand’s future aesthetic direction.
“The Kia Concept EV5 takes influence from the contrast and complementarity of natural landscapes and man-made architecture,” said Karim Habib, head of Kia‘s Global Design Center. “Created for those who seek inventive new ideas, the SUV brings together emotional form language with innovative, user-focused interior architecture.”
Kia applied its “opposites united” design philosophy for the EV5, blending contrasting visual influences to create a unique and futuristic design. Beyond the boxy design and the 21-inch wheels, the electric crossover has what the automaker refers to as a “Digital Tiger Face” at the front, which pays homage to the Tiger Nose grille previously seen on the brand’s internal combustion vehicles.
Read: 2024 Kia EV9 SUV Debuts With Concept Looks, Swiveling Seats And 3rd Row
The design is further accentuated by the lighting elements that stretch across the grille and along the sides of the front fascia. These lights feature Kia’s signature Star Map signature lighting technology, which contains a constellation of connecting stars and helps give the EV5 a clean face.
Given what we saw with the EV9, this concept appears to be reasonably close-to-production. However, the interior is still somewhat concept-like. Rear suicide doors provide a wide opening to the cabin, which has four individual seats that swivel towards the outside (like on the production EV9). In the back, meanwhile, there is a ’90s station wagon-style bench seat that emerges from the trunk floor (along with a picnic table) and faces rearward.
Kia says that these features, in addition to a large panoramic sunroof, are intended to blur the line between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The interior color palette, meanwhile, has been designed to bring calmness to the occupants. A large panoramic touchscreen, on the other hand, is designed to impress tech-obsessed car buyers.
Kia says it used a variety of eco-friendly materials inside the EV5, including seaweed extract and upcycled PET bottles on the seats, doors, dashboard, and headliner. It has also opted not to use any animal leather within the vehicle.
Kia has confirmed that the EV5 concept will be turned into a production vehicle later this year, making its debut in China. While the company stated that it will be making announcements about availability in other markets at a later date, in all likelihood, the production EV5 will be a global model offered in multiple regions, including North America and Europe. Details about the EV5’s powertrain, electric range, and more will likely be announced when the production version is unveiled.
