KATHMANDU: South Korean automaker Kia Motors’ new electric SUV, the Kia EV5, has arrived in Nepal.
A demo unit of the China-made SUV has arrived at the Birgunj customs and is undergoing customs clearance, according to Ashish Paudel, a director of Continental Trading.
Continental Trading, the authorized distributor of Kia in Nepal, plans to unveil the compact SUV during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo in the first week of August.
The EV5 is Kia’s first model produced in China and exported globally. It is the third model in Kia’s ‘EV’ series after the EV6 and EV9. Built on Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design language, the car is 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide and 1,715 mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.
The demo unit currently in Nepal is equipped with a 160 kW motor. The car is likely to be offered with a 99 kW motor in Nepal. It supports both 60.3 kWh NMC and 64.2 kWh BYD LFP Blade battery.
The Kia EV5 is expected to compete with models such as the BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor C10 and Proton eMAS 7.
The EV5 boasts a high-tech setup with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch connected infotainment touchscreen and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. Additional features in the car include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way power front passenger seat, paddle shifters, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) socket and 19-inch alloy wheels.
On the safety front, the EV5 includes seven airbags and has features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines and rear occupant alert.
The Kia EV5 is expected to directly compete with models such as the BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor C10 and Proton eMAS 7.
