The lifted Kia EV5 caught without camouflage. The screen is shifted toward the passenger side.
The refreshed Kia EV5 was spotted in an underground garage in South Korea without any camouflage, with the video posted by the ShortsCar channel. The electric SUV, sized similar to the Sportage, features a new front bumper and a redesigned interior where a large screen runs from the center of the dashboard all the way to the passenger side. According to a sticker on the back of the car, this unit will first be delivered to the Philippines.
The EV5 made its debut in China in 2023, and Kia unveiled its global version last year. It is now available for purchase in countries such as Europe, Canada, and the UK. As Electrek reports, the model has significantly helped Kia regain its market position in China and has the potential to become one of its best-selling electric vehicles.
Bumper from the WKNDR concept
At the front, the grille and headlights remain almost unchanged. However, a black lighting element has been added, and the bumper now has a different shape, similar to that of the off-road styled EV5 WKNDR concept car that Kia showcased at the Canton (Guangzhou) auto show last November. Thus, some of the prototype’s styling elements make it to the production version.
Inside turned upside down
The biggest changes are in the cabin. The current EV5 features a large screen panel running from the driver to the center of the dashboard, while in the new version the display starts in the middle and extends toward the passenger. In front of the steering wheel, there is a narrow, separate screen. Hyundai installs a similar narrow display in cars with its new Pleos multimedia system, so the same configuration is expected in the Kia. The center console also looks different: instead of a row of physical buttons, there is a cover under which the switches are hidden, giving the overall design a cleaner appearance.
Kia has not confirmed either Pleos or any other changes.
When in Europe
So far, only the Philippines is known about this. Since the EV5 launched in China in 2023, the standard model cycle suggests a facelift around 2027. Kia has not stated whether or when the new version will arrive in Korea or Europe. It is likely to appear there later than the version produced in China, as was the case with the current generation.
Those in Poland aiming for an EV5 now will have to buy the pre-facelift version. Vehicles from 2025 are part of Kia’s October electric vehicle sale.
From the editorial team: Euro NCAP now evaluates separately whether basic functions can be operated directly, and in the XPENG X9 test, it resulted in a 20% score in this category. The cover over the buttons in the new EV5’s console could therefore cost points if something the driver uses while driving gets hidden underneath it.
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