Kia EV5 Confirmed For America In 2026 As Global Launch Begins

Kia has finally confirmed its EV5 for the North American market, nearly two years after the electric compact crossover was first shown. The EV5 is already on sale in several markets, but Kia officially kicked off the global rollout this week, confirming sales in Korea and Europe to start later this year, and North American availability to follow in early 2026.

It’s the latest salvo in Kia’s plan to offer at least 15 EVs globally by the end of 2027, and provides buyers in the electric compact crossover segment a more conventional, boxy SUV shape, contrasting with the tall, hatchback-like profiles of Kia’s own EV6 and the segment-leading Tesla Model Y.

New EV5 Aimed At Families

Measuring just under 182 inches in length, the EV5 is only a few inches shorter than the EV6. However, thanks to its taller roofline and more upright rear design, it offers more interior space. The EV5 provides approximately 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 63 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. In comparison, the EV6 offers approximately 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded.

Both vehicles ride on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), a dedicated EV architecture also found in the larger Kia EV9. In markets where the EV5 is currently available, buyers can choose between 60.3- and 81.4-kWh battery options. The larger battery offers approximately 330 miles of range on the WLTP test cycle used overseas, but a lower figure would result under the stricter EPA test cycle used in the US.

Powertrain options include single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive, producing 215 and 308 horsepower, respectively. The dual-motor version, which is available in a GT-Line trim, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about six seconds. Towing capacity is rated at 1,800 pounds, and a dedicated Trailer Mode automatically detects trailer weight and adjusts the estimated driving range accordingly.

Inside, buyers will find the same minimalist dashboard design Kia is rolling out across its EV lineup. A single panel houses dual 12.3-inch screens – one for the digital gauge cluster and another for the infotainment system – alongside a five-inch touchscreen for controlling the three-zone climate system. A fingerprint scanner identifies the driver, while features like a head-up display and ambient lighting package are also available.

Pricing Expected to Start Below $50,000

Final pricing will be announced closer to the US launch next year, but at the EV5’s reveal in 2023, Kia said it was targeting a starting price below $50,000 for the US market. The EV6 currently starts around $42,900, meaning the EV5 may not be significantly cheaper, despite being positioned lower in Kia’s EV hierarchy.

The EV6 is also assembled at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia, making it eligible for US federal EV incentives, at least for the time being; the federal tax credit has been done away with as of last week, and there are only two months left to cash in. The EV5 is currently built in China and Korea, with Korean production expected to supply the US market. However, given ongoing changes in tariff rules, there remains a possibility that Kia will add local production for the EV5 in the future.

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Kia has several additional EVs planned for the US in the coming years, including a midsize pickup truck being developed specifically for this market. A larger crossover – presumably to be called the EV7 – is also in the pipeline. Unfortunately, plans for a sporty electric sedan to succeed the Stinger appear to have been shelved.