LOOK: Kia EV5 units now in PH

Late last year, ACMobility Group president Antonio “Toti” Zara confirmed that Kia's EV lineup in the country will include the EV5. It will join the likes of the EV6 and will serve as the brand's compact electric crossover.

Since their announcement, there have been no updates about the status of the EV5 coming into the country. Fortunately, it looks like Kia Philippines is making the final preparations for the eventual launch of the EV5.

Recently, a fleet of EV5 units was spotted being driven on Philippine roads. Not only that, but the vehicles that were sighted have temporary plates as well as LTO conduction stickers on their windshields. This means Kia Philippines may soon hold its official launch either later this year.

No official details or specs about the Kia EV5 are available as of now. However, a quick look at what other markets get has given us an idea of what to expect. For starters, the EV5 is available with two powertrain options in Thailand. There's the single electric motor variant that pushes 217 PS and 310 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the dual-motor version generates 313 PS and 480 Nm of pull.

The single motor variant is available with either a 64.2 kWh battery pack or an 88 kWh battery pack for the Long Range Variant. The former can travel up to 490 km of range while the latter can reach up to 665 km. The dual-motor version only gets the 88 kWh battery which will allow it to cover up to 620 km.

It doesn't have a 400V architecture but the Kia EV5 will still be able to recharge its battery from 30% to 80% in 27 minutes via DC fast charging. With the onboard 7kW single-phase AC charger, the EV5 can be fully charged in around 8 to 9 hours.

With the Kia EV5 already sighted in the country, it may not be long before Kia's newest electric crossover becomes available. Perhaps we might even see it make its official debut alongside the EV9 at this year's Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).