Electric SUV on tour

A prototype of Kia’s fully electric midsize SUV is being taken on an eight-week tour of dealerships in New Zealand.

The EV5, pictured, will be available here from $67,990 including GST, plus on-road costs. All models will have a range of more than 500km on the WLTP.  

Todd McDonald, managing director of Kia NZ, says: “The EV5 redefines sustainable mobility, and will join the EV6 and EV9 as part of our zero-emissions model portfolio.

“The tour is an excellent opportunity for people to see the new model for themselves and appreciate the design, as well as understand its versatility and functionality.

“The EV5 is the perfect midsize electric SUV that Kiwi families have been waiting for. It’s a no-compromise proposition and features a very competitive price position considering the range and that it’s laden with new technology.”

The new model also showcases a number of firsts for Kia, details of which will be revealed closer to its on-sale date early in the second half of 2024.

It will launch in New Zealand with the added benefit of an extensive local tuning, engineering and validation programme.

A team of 45 engineers covered almost 25,000km in an EV5 prototype and support vehicles during the first quarter of this year testing its software and hardware to enhance its suitability for Kiwi conditions.

The chance to pre-purchase one of the first EV5s to arrive here is open at Kia dealers and, as an added incentive, a special tour offer is also available. The first 100 customers who pre-order one will receive 10,000km of complimentary road-user charges for their new vehicle.