Between universal health care, Kinder eggs, and money named after ducks, it’s not often that we Canadians get something our neighbours south of the border don’t. And now, we can add the 2026 Kia EV5 to the list.
The EV5 is the third model to join Kia’s fully-electric-from-the-ground-up lineup, after the EV6 and EV9. It’s penned with Kia’s new, so-called ‘Opposites United’ design language we’ve seen rolled out across their gas and electric models, so there’s an immediate familiarity to the EV5. You don’t have to look too hard, or too long to pick out the design cues—the front and rear fascias and LED lighting, the chiselled character lines, the kinked d-pillar—that bear more than a passing resemblance to its big-brother EV9. The EV5 rolls on 18-, 19-, or 20-inch wheels depending on the trim level, and introduces Canadian buyers to two new colour options: Magma Red and Frost Blue.
The familiarity continues inside the EV5, with a cockpit and touch points very clearly inspired by the EV9. It uses the same dual 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and infotainment touchscreen setup, with a smaller five-inch display sandwiched between the two for climate controls—though you still have physical switchgear for temperature and fan adjustments. Its steering wheel and lower column-mounted shifter are both hand-me-downs from its big brother as well, though that’s pretty much where the similarities end. By and large, the EV5 is perhaps just as minimalist as is the industry-wide norm among EVs, though it’s perhaps a bit more creased and angular inside than the EV9.
Granted Kia has yet to confirm exactly what features we’ll see on Canadian-spec models, but the EV5 packs a few clever tricks inside. What we’re guaranteed to see is Kia’s full compliment of “environmentally mindful” materials, such as upholstery made from recycled plastic or plant-based leather, as well as mood lighting because that’s what the kids want. In other markets, massaging seats, a refrigerator-warmer combo, and a luggage divider that can also serve as a table will be offered.
Perhaps the coolest thing we’re missing out on is the EV5’s so-called bench seat. Chinese-market EV5s will come with a widened front passenger seat and a second seatbelt, essentially giving it a six-seat layout—though we wouldn’t call it a bench, as the driver’s seat is separate from the rest. Still, it’s a novel arrangement that we’ll miss, as all Canadian-spec EV5s will be two-row, five-seaters. Better than trying to squeeze in a third row.
Underneath it all is where the EV5 unexpectedly differs from its electric siblings. Rather than the scalable E-GMP platform used in the EV6 and EV9, the EV5 actually uses a modified version of the N3-eK platform—the same one underpinning gas-powered models like the Sportage, Sorento, and much more. Using the N3-eK platform also means the EV5 misses out on the 800 V charging architecture as its siblings, but it will utilize the NACS charge port, meaning you can take advantage of Tesla’s Supercharger network without needing an adapter.
Nevertheless, we’ll have two battery size options to choose from. Base EV5s will ship with front-wheel-drive and a 60.3 kWh battery pack, while a long-range 81.4 kWh unit will also be available in front- and all-wheel-drive flavours. The exact figures haven’t been finalized, but rest-of-world EV5s can pump out between 215 to 308 horsepower, and cover between 400 and 555 kilometres of range, depending on the powertrain configuration.
At this point, what the electric future looks like is anyone’s guess, but Kia is still going all-in. The 2026 Kia EV5 is the next step in this, offering clever interior appointments, competitive EV range and performance, and an easier-to-live-with charging experience, all wrapped up in a more conventionally handsome and right-sized package. There’s still a lot up-in-the-air about exact specs, features, and pricing for Canadian-spec EV5s, but count on seeing them in dealers next year.