It was back in October 2025 when Kia Philippines distributor ACMobility officially previewed the EV5. It features the brand's “Opposites United” design language, a high-tech cabin that comes with a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays, and an 88.1 kWh battery pack that gives it a range of up to 550 km on a single charge.

At the time of its preview, Kia Philippines stated that they plan to launch the EV5 in Q1 2026. Today, it's February 2026, and Kia appears to be getting ready to launch the EV5.

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently updated its list of recognized EVs and now includes the Kia EV5. More importantly, there were two distinct variants listed: GL and GLS. Both variants measure 4615mm long, 1875mm wide, and 1715mm tall. In addition, both the GL and GLS models have a maximum electric power of 160 kW (or 217 PS) and are equipped with an 88.1 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, which was confirmed as early as last year.

Other specifications of the Kia EV for the Philippines have yet to be revealed. However, we can expect the EV5 to come with features, like leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, AC/DC charging, a wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, intelligent driver aids, and selectable drive modes including Eco, Normal, and Sport.

Once revealed, the Kia EV5 will be aimed against the likes of the BYD Atto 3 and Tesla Model Y. How much do you think Kia Philippines will price the EV5 once they officially launch it? Let us know in the comments.