Kia’s Sportage-sized EV has all the right ingredients

The EV5 is the electric SUV we want, but can’t have. Kia’s new mid-size EV has it all: long driving range capabilities, fast charging, a spacious tech-oriented interior, and all of that at a competitive price. Sadly, those in the US won’t get to see it.

Why is Kia’s Sportage-sized EV skipping the US?

It’s official. The EV5 is not coming to the US. We knew it was unlikely after Kia revealed the Sportage-sized electric SUV in Canada in July, saying it would be “exclusive to Canada for the North American market.”

That didn’t stop the rumors from spreading after a few EV5s were caught testing on US streets. After kicking off sales in Europe and South Korea, Kia said the global rollout of the EV5 will extend to Canada in early 2026. Again, there was no mention of the US.

Kia built the EV5 with young families in mind, offering its latest connectivity tech, a spacious interior, and more than enough driving range.

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Like Kia’s latest electric vehicles, including the EV9 and EV3, it features Kia’s new style. The biggest change is the new digital tiger face at the front, featuring Kia’s signature Star Map daytime running lights.

The EV5 is 4,610 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,675 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,750mm, or about 10 mm wider, 70 mm longer, and 30 mm taller than the Kia Sportage.

A spacious interior, advanced tech, and more

With an extended wheelbase, the electric SUV offers “best-in-class” rear passenger space, featuring 1,041 mm of second-row legroom.

Inside, the EV5 features Kia’s new panoramic connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system. The setup includes nearly 30″ of screen space, including a dual 12.3″ instrument cluster and infotainment screens, plus an additional 5″ climate control display.

The electric SUV offers Kia’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including Highway Driving Assist 2 and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2.

Kia also introduced Pet Mode in the EV5 (a feature that should be standard on all vehicles, not just EVs) that maintains the cabin temperature while you leave the car.

Powered by Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, the electric SUV delivers a WLTP range of up to 329 miles. It can also recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes, getting you back on the road in no time.

How much does the EV5 cost, and where will it launch?

In the UK, the EV5 starts at £39,295 ($53,000), on-the-road (OTR). In Kia’s home market of South Korea, prices start at 48.55 million won ($35,000). However, with subsidies, Kia expects the EV5 will be available for around 40 million won ($28,800).

So why is Kia skipping the US? The EV5 launching in Canada will even feature a built-in NACS port to enable charging at Tesla Superchargers.

Although Kia didn’t specifically say it, we have a good idea that it’s thanks to the new US policy changes. The EV5 is built at Kia’s Autoland Gwangju plant in South Korea for export to global markets. It also produces the EV5 in China, mainly for domestic buyers, but it also exports to Australia and New Zealand.

After the US slapped a new 15% tariff on auto imports from South Korea, Kia is already facing billions in extra costs. Kia currently builds the EV6 and EV9 at its West Point, Georgia, plant and is launching its first electric sedan, the EV4, in early 2026.

Although I do think Kia could sell a Sportage-sized electric SUV in the US, would it be able to offer it at a competitive price? That’s the question.

Would you buy the EV5 in the US for around $40,000 to $50,000? The new Tesla Model Y Standard RWD starts at $39,990 with an EPA-estimated range of 321 miles. That might be hard for Kia to beat.