Kia’s EV5 Preview & Test Drives at the 13th PEVS – CleanTechnica

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I’ve spent the better part of this afternoon at the first day of the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) at the SMX Convention Center, and the entire hall is buzzing with new metal from various brands, including the ACMobility booth providing an exclusive “preview” of the all-new Kia EV5.

While Kia had its full, impressive electric lineup on display, the EV5 was its new centerpiece.

This is the first time the vehicle has been shown in the Philippines, and it’s immediately obvious what Kia is doing here: this is their direct challenger to the Tesla Model Y.

It’s a striking vehicle in person. It looks like a scaled-down version of its big brother, the EV9, sharing the same bold, futuristic “Opposites United” design language, but in a more compact, two-row, five-seater package that’s far better suited for Manila traffic.

The specifications Kia provided are just as aggressive as its styling. The Philippine-spec model on display is equipped with a large 88.1 kWh battery. This powers a single motor (217 PS, 310 Nm) with an estimated range of up to 550 kilometers on a single charge. If that range holds up in real-world driving, it’s a very strong number for the segment. It also includes features we now expect, like vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and the full “DriveWise” suite of driver-assist systems.

What made Kia’s exhibit so effective, in my opinion, wasn’t just the new car. It was that they let attendees experience the “why.” While the EV5 was on a static display, Kia was running test drives for its two existing flagships: the Kia EV6 and the Kia EV9.

I saw a steady stream of people (myself included) getting behind the wheel of these cars. The EV6 remains a low-slung, sporty crossover, but the EV9 is a different beast entirely — it’s a massive, three-row luxury lounge on wheels, and it’s easy to see why it won the 2024 World Car of the Year.

This strategy is smart. Kia lets you feel the incredible refinement and power of its E-GMP platform in the EV6 and EV9, and then directs you to the EV5 display, which is essentially the same technology in a more accessible and, presumably, more affordable package.

After talking with the staff at the booth, they confirmed that this isn’t an immediate release. The official Philippine launch for the Kia EV5 is slated for the first quarter of 2026. It’s a bit of a wait, but seeing it here today, it’s clear that Kia is positioning this as its high-volume EV. This was, without a doubt, one of the most significant and forward-looking displays at the summit.