Oz to get one of three Kia BEVs shown in Spain

ALTHOUGH Kia Australia has confirmed the EV4 small passenger sedan and hatchback will be sold in Australia, it is yet to decide on the PV5 commercial vehicle; and says this market is unlikely to see a production version of the EV2 small SUV concept unveiled this week at its 2025 EV Day event in Spain.

While the PV5 – which will be built in people mover, cargo van and cab-chassis formats with more versions planned – is on Kia Australia’s wish list, production of the EV2 in Slovakia is expected to stymie the business case for this Stonic-sized model.

Slovakian sourcing could also impact the EV4 hatchback that is described in global media materials as "Europe only" and due to enter production at Kia’s Žilina facility during the second half of this year, with EV2 assembly scheduled to commence a few months later.

Bringing both the EV4 sedan and hatch to Australia will Kia’s rapidly broadening BEV portfolio, which started with the Niro crossover (also available as a hybrid) but accelerated in earnest with dedicated electric models including the EV6 large SUV, EV9 upper large SUV, EV5 medium SUV and soon-to-arrive EV3 small SUV.

The Korean car-maker says it is aiming to introduce 15 new BEVs globally by 2027 but Kia Australia issued a statement reiterating its commitment to expanding its battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-up with as many models as possible – provided they suit local conditions and consumer demands.

While not yet confirmed for Australia, the PV5 will be Kia's first production model in its global Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business strategy. The ‘car derived van’ will be offered in various formats designed to suit commercial and private buyers.

The passenger variant can accommodate up to eight occupants, providing Kia with an electric alternative to the popular Carnival people mover that is available with petrol, diesel and hybrid drivetrains.

Kia says that in people mover format, the PV5 “can be optimised for luggage or camping scenarios and has been developed with ride-hailing use cases in mind”.

The Cargo model will be Kia’s first delivery van since the Pregio that was axed in 2006, the electric newcomer claimed to provide up to 5.1 cubic metres of load space in the long wheelbase, high roof version.

Standard- and long-wheelbase options will also be available with the regular roof height.

In cab-chassis guise, the PV5 platform can be adapted for specialised applications such as ambulances, delivery vans, motorhomes or a drop-side ute with various further configurations to be developed and supplied by both Kia and third-party body builders.

A crew-cab Cargo variant is also planned along with a wheelchair accessible version with integrated ramp and universal harness plus flip-up seating designed to ease ingress and egress for all.

The front-wheel drive PV5 has a 120kW/250Nm traction motor. Battery pack sizes of 51.5kWh and 71.2kWh will be offered across all PV5 variants, with a smaller 43.3kWh option on cargo models destined for last-mile delivery duties.

Kia quotes a battery range of up to 400km with a 30-minute fast charging time.

A surprise third vehicle showcased at Kia’s 2025 EV Day was the Concept EV2, a light-segment SUV that provides insight into Kia’s plans for its entry-level electric offering.

Given the brand’s recent form with concepts, the production version’s styling is expected to remain faithful to the show car but some of the interior’s more outlandish themes – and the rear-hinged back doors – will almost certainly be toned down by the time the Slovakian factory comes online.

Some innovations, including the customisable in-window message displays, removable wireless speakers or pop-up cargo dividers, could come to fruition.

With a 45kWh battery delivering approximately 350km of range, the production version of the EV2 would likely compete with upcoming affordable electric vehicles such as the BYD Dolphin and MG 4.

Fast-charging capability enables a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 20 minutes.

Despite potential appeal to urban Australian buyers, the EV2’s European production location presents significant obstacles for local introduction.

Kia Australia has previously highlighted challenges with sourcing European-built vehicles competitively for the Australian market, making the EV2’s local prospects dim despite interest from the Australian operation and could also impact the EV4 hatchback that is described in global media materials as "Europe only" and will also be produced in Slovakia.

The EV4 is Kia’s first foray into electric passenger cars following an initial roll-out of battery powered SUVs and will launch globally throughout 2025, beginning in South Korea imminently but with Australian timing not yet confirmed.

Kia announced global specifications for the EV4 at the event in Spain but Australia’s line-up for the BEV counterpart to the petrol-powered K4 sedan and hatch remains to be decided.

It shares much technically with the EV3, including a 400-volt version of parent company Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform that is primarily front-wheel drive unlike the 800-volt version used for larger models including the EV6 and EV9 that are biased toward a rear-wheel drive layout.

A 30-inch digital display made up of dual 12.3-inch displays separated by a 5.3-inch panel, is home to a ‘vehicle smart TV’ system providing access to entertainment services such as YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ along with games and karaoke plus the ability to add further features in future through an app store.

Kia makes sure to point out in its media materials that “intuitive-to use physical buttons” form part of the EV4’s human-machine interface.

This works in parallel with various modes for spending time in the car while charging, including a ‘rest’ setting that reclines the seats and activates a mood lamp or ‘theatre’ setting that “optimises settings for the 30-inch-wide screen display, interior lighting and audio system (an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon setup will be available on higher trim levels)”.

On the move, Kia is targeting top-tier safety ratings from global watchdogs including EuroNCAP, US NCAP and the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety through physical engineering measures and advanced driver assistance and safety technologies.

In sedan guise, the EV4 is about 10mm longer than a Tesla Model 3 at 4730mm but slightly taller (1480mm vs 1443mm) and narrower (1860mm vs 1933mm). The Kia’s wheelbase is 2820mm against the Tesla’s 2875mm. Boot space of 490 litres is quoted for the EV4 sedan (Model 3: 594 litres including underfloor storage) but no frunk (the Tesla provides another 88 litres of cargo capacity under the bonnet).

As a hatchback, the EV4 is trimmed to 4430mm long (an MG 4 is 4287mm) and adds 5mm to the height while width and wheelbase match those of the sedan. Boot space is 435 litres (MG 4: 363 litres).

The slippery sedan form factor enables a 630km WLTP range for versions with the larger 81.4kWh battery or 430km for the 58.3kWh pack. Hatchbacks cut those figures to 590km (big battery) and 410km (regular battery).

All variants share a 150kW front motor, meaning the smaller battery pack yields quicker 0-100km/h acceleration (7.4 seconds plays 7.7 seconds) on the way to a governed 170km/h top speed.