Key highlights
- The updated Kia EV5 gains up to 19kW more power, depending on the variant.
- ADR documents reveal revised battery specifications remain unchanged, with two LFP battery options continuing.
- Australian arrival is confirmed for mid-2027, with suspension tuning and cabin technology upgrades also expected.
The 2027 Kia EV5 facelift has been revealed through Australian Design Rules (ADR) certification documents, giving an early look at the changes coming to the electric mid-size SUV.
While the exterior updates are relatively subtle, the bigger changes are underneath. The updated EV5 is listed with more power across its single-motor and dual-motor variants, while the existing battery options appear to carry over.
Kia Australia has previously confirmed that the facelifted EV5 will arrive in local showrooms around mid-2027. Australian pricing and the final variant lineup have not been announced yet.
Read more: 2027 Kia Seltos Hybrid initial specs revealed as launch begins
More power for the Kia EV5, but batteries remain unchanged
According to the certification documents, the updated Kia EV5 will continue with two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery options, measuring 64.2kWh and 88.1kWh.
However, power outputs are set to increase across the range.
The front-wheel-drive variants will produce 175kW, up 15kW over the current model’s 160kW output. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive versions will receive a larger 19kW increase, taking their combined output to 249kW.
For context, the current Australian-market EV5 uses a 160kW/310Nm front electric motor. The all-wheel-drive versions add a 70kW/170Nm rear motor, giving them a combined output of 230kW and 480Nm.
Torque figures for the updated models have not been disclosed in the ADR documents.
The current EV5 offers a claimed driving range of up to 400km with the Standard Range battery, while Long Range versions deliver between 470km and 555km, depending on the variant.
It remains unclear whether the facelift will bring any improvements to these figures. The battery capacities listed in the certification documents are unchanged, although revised power outputs could affect efficiency.
Suspension changes and styling updates
The facelift is also expected to bring suspension revisions, with Kia Australia’s local engineering team reportedly taking responsibility for tuning the updated EV5’s ride and handling for Australian roads.
That matters for local buyers, as suspension calibration can make a noticeable difference to how an SUV deals with uneven surfaces, potholes and longer highway drives.
There is also a small but noticeable change to the exterior.
The EV5 Air and Earth retain their distinct silver-coloured bumper elements, but the inserts have been redesigned. The front air dam now features a diagonal pattern, replacing the previous slatted treatment.
The flagship GT-Line gets a different approach, with chunky body-coloured elements across its front and rear bumpers. Its updated design also appears to draw inspiration from the EV5 WKNDR concept shown in 2025.
The changes bring the electric SUV closer to the styling direction of Kia’s newer models, including the latest Seltos, although the headlights and tail-lights appear to remain unchanged.
The certification documents also list 18-, 19- and 20-inch alloy wheel options, depending on the variant.
One practical change is the increased braked towing capacity of the Standard Range model, which rises from 300kg to 750kg. Other variants retain their existing 1250kg towing capacity.
Cabin technology could be a major upgrade
While the ADR documents do not reveal the updated EV5’s interior, a more substantial technology update is expected.
The facelift could adopt a wide 27-inch display arrangement similar to the one previewed in the EV5 WKNDR concept. This combines the infotainment touchscreen with a passenger display, alongside a separate 10-inch digital instrument cluster.
The current Australian EV5 uses two 12.3-inch screens for the driver’s instruments and infotainment, with a smaller 5.0-inch display for climate controls.
A similar wide-screen arrangement is already used in the Chinese-built Hyundai Elexio, which shares its manufacturing origins with the Australian-market EV5.
However, it is not yet clear whether Kia will introduce the same interior technology across all global versions of the updated EV5.
Kia EV5 continues to compete in Australia’s electric SUV market
The EV5 has become an important model for Kia Australia, particularly as buyers look for electric SUVs with more interior space than smaller alternatives.
According to sales figures cited in October 2026, Kia had delivered 4722 EV5s in Australia by the end of September, representing a 21 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Despite the growth, it remains behind the Tesla Model Y, which recorded 35,930 deliveries, and the BYD Sealion 7, with 19,964 deliveries over the same period.
The EV5 arrived in Australia in late 2024, positioned as a more affordable and practical alternative to the sleeker Kia EV6.
As of November 2026, the current range starts at $56,770 plus on-road costs for the EV5 Air Standard Range. Kia is also advertising selected examples from $49,990 drive-away.
With more power, revised suspension and potentially a more modern cabin, the facelift could give the EV5 a stronger proposition when it reaches Australian showrooms in mid-2027. Pricing, range figures and the final local specifications are still to be confirmed.
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