If placed side by side, Kia EV5 concept debuted recently and Carens look very similar in their design and proportions
For a long time now, EV juggernauts like Tesla and BYD have been dominating the market. On the onslaught of EV growth, mainstream manufacturers are jumping into this bandwagon too. We have seen Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia and many more mainstream manufacturers diving into this head first as well.
We recently saw Kia EV9 getting unveiled which will be Kia’s flagship EV. Kia seems to be aggressively expanding its EV envelope to include an extensive lineup. Result of which is the Kia EV5 concept SUV, unveiled on Chinese EV day. It has debuted in its design form and looking at it, we can’t help but wonder, whether this will be the electrified Carens that India gets. Let’s take a look at why.
2024 Kia EV5 Electric SUV Concept
For starters, this will sit below Kia EV6, which was launched in India last year. Kia EV5 concept aims to be an SUV-ish EV with starkly similar design and proportions to Kia Carens. We can see it in its front profile, side profile and rear as well. Even the overall proportions match that of Carens.
EV5 is a concept only and production-spec model is likely to retain most of its design elements. On the inside, we get a single wide screen which is part of both Instrumentation and infotainment. There are hardly any buttons. Seats run upwards and double as armrests as well.
Front seats swivel and face the rear, creating a lounge area for four people. Behind second-row chairs, there is a table and rear-facing bench seats too. In crevices for cup holders for the third row, we have a literal plant as well. It is an EV concept, why not? Interiors feature sustainable and recycled materials, to boast their eco credentials.
Similarities With Carens
In terms of dimensions, 2024 Kia EV5 concept is likely to be smaller than EV6. The latter is 4695 mm in length and we would wager Kia EV5 to measure around 4600 mm. This is very close to Carens with around just a 50 mm difference. One look at both Kia EV5 concept and Carens from the side, and what we are saying starts making sense.
Both feature an almost identical side profile with a mostly similar window area as well. Even belt line for both matches in its approach. Kia has not revealed specifications of EV5. So, there is a grey area regarding battery capacity and motor specifications. One can say that around 60 kWh of battery with 400 km of range from a single motor layout is possible.
Kia unveiled the EV5 design concept on Chinese EV day. So, it is evident that this will cater to the Chinese market first and maybe even launch later in markets like Russia, India and the ASEAN region. Launch timeline is not yet revealed, but we can expect the production-spec model to debut by the end of 2023. If it is an electrified Carens, it could be manufactured here in India and exported as well.
