2024 Kia EV5 electric car is ready to roll in production form, revealed by government images and documents

After a surprise reveal in March following that of its bigger EV9 sibling, the mid-size Kia EV5 SUV is set to make its debut in production form this month.

The electric car's production-ready design has been revealed ahead of its public debut in a filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The Kia EV5 is set to make an official debut at the Chengdu Auto Show in late August, but Chinese media has been able to discern some details about the production model ahead of time thanks to the MIIT's publication.

Departing only slightly in design from the concept version revealed in March, the EV5 is reported to be built in China on the E-GMP platform as the EV6 is, initially for the Chinese market then for export to other regions.

Without abandoning the upper line of the 'tiger nose' grille shape that has adorned Kia models for years, the EV5 "heralds a new design era for Kia and gives an intriguing glimpse into the aesthetic direction of the brand's future fully electric models", Kia said upon its announcement.

What we didn't know before, however, was what the EV5 would boast in terms of outputs and mechanicals.

Information from the Chinese MIIT publication reveals the EV5 will borrow a lithium iron phosphate battery from BYD, which will provide power to a 160kW/310Nm electric motor in what appears to be a front-wheel-drive version for China.

The Kia EV5 is set to make an official debut at the Chengdu Auto Show in late August (Images: MIIT via CarNewsChina).

It's unclear yet whether another version of the EV5 will be available in other markets, or even in China eventually, but given the EV6 and soon-to-launch EV9 both have all-wheel-drive, dual-motor variants, don't be surprised if more versions of the EV5 become available for international markets.

The publication also revealed the EV5 will weigh in this form about 1870kg, and measure 4615mm long, 1875mm wide, 1715mm tall and have a 2750mm wheelbase. It'll also, as mentioned, ride on the brand's E-GMP platform with 800-volt architecture.

Kia Australia product planning boss Roland Rivero told CarsGuide the local arm has already raised its hand for the EV5 to come Down Under, though there was some hesitation around the idea of a 'cheap' entry into the EV market should the EV5 end up a more budget-focused model.

"It is still unconfirmed, but we'd love to bring the EV5 to market in Australia given a chance," he said.

"Right now, what our EV products represent is really the upper end of our range, the brand enhancement and halo of our range. And it's having that effect of lifting not only the desirability of the Kia brand, but the desirability of just about every other product in the Kia range.