Kia's top-selling electric car is set for an overhaul in Australia, with the possibility of a revised appearance and longer driving range.
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The Kia EV5 electric SUV will be treated to a mid-life makeover in Australia by the end of next year, to help close the gap to the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, and more.
Details of the updated EV5 are yet to be revealed, but Kia has confirmed it is due in Australian showrooms in the second half of 2026, pending any delays.
The EV5 will have only been in local showrooms for two years once its facelift arrives, but it launched in China in late 2023, so based on the typical life cycles of Kia SUVs, it will be due for its 'mid-life' update.
"It's what you typically expect from a PE [Kia speak for facelift]," Kia Australia general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, told Drive of the EV5 facelift.
"So yes, there'll be some cosmetics, and there'll be some tech."
The reference to "tech" may point to a technical update under the skin – rather than interior technology – to address the shortcomings of the current, Chinese-made EV5 in local showrooms today.
Among those is energy efficiency, as the entry-level EV5 Air Standard Range is rated with only 400km of driving range based on European WLTP testing from a 64.2kWh battery pack, where a Tesla Model Y RWD gets a claimed 466km from a 62.5kWh battery.
Real-world testing by Drive has found more expensive Kia EV5 grades to use about 25 per cent more energy than equivalent, dual-motor Tesla Model Ys, and 10 per cent more than an all-wheel-drive Zeekr 7X.
DC fast charging can also be improved, as the 38-minute 10 to 80 per cent claimed recharge time for Long Range EV5s is also a few minutes slower than a Model Y or BYD Sealion 7, and twice as long as a 7X or XPeng G6.
Styling changes could include revised vertically-stacked headlights, new front and rear bumpers, and fresh wheel designs, to mirror newer models in the Kia range, including the EV4 and updated EV6 electric cars.
Inside, the existing EV5 runs Kia's current infotainment suite, but the updated model could draw inspiration from the cabin of the recently-revealed Weekender concept.
It swapped the showroom version's dual 12.3-inch screens for one broad display stretching across much of the dashboard, and a slim instrument display ahead of the driver.
It is reminiscent of the EV5's twin under the skin, the Hyundai Elexio, which offers a similar widescreen arrangement that's tailored to the Chinese market.
The EV5 Weekender also draws cues from the traditional centre console of Korean-made, European-market EV5 production models, which could come to Australia with the facelift to replace the current version's bench-style design.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
