MIAS 2026 | The Kia EV5 has arrived in PH with up to 550km of range, Php 2.298M starting price
The Kia EV6, the brand’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) offering for the Philippine market may have been discontinued, but that doesn’t mean Kia Philippines is giving up on its full electric lineup.
The Korean automaker, under the distributorship of ACMobility, has officially launched at the 2026 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) the EV5 compact crossover, one of the few non-Chinese cars present there. This also marks the brand’s first new fully electric introduction in the local market since 2023.
Design-wise, the Kia EV5 is looking a lot like a baby version of the brand’s flagship EV9. It wears Kia’s signature Opposites United design language with Star Map LED headlights and the Digital Tiger Face look.
The interior is sleek with angular and geometric designs on the dashboard, a large panel that houses multiple screens, and the front passenger seat features an extension above the center console which has a pocket that can be used for storage of items such as mobile phones.
The Kia EV5 comes in two variants for the Philippine market—GL and GLS. Standard equipment on the former includes multi-reflector LED headlights, LED taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels, power folding and heated side mirrors, fabric seat upholstery, synthetic leather steering wheel material, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 5.3-inch climate control screen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless phone charger, and a column-mounted electronic gear selector.
The GLS variant adds a panoramic sunroof, combination of leather and fabric seat upholstery, four-way power adjustment for the driver seat, and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Available exterior colors for both are Frost Blue, Ivory Silver, Shale Gray, Snow White Pearl, and Starry Night Black.
As for its all-electric powertrain, the Kia EV5 for the Philippine market is powered by a single electric motor that produces 217 horsepower and 310Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels and the vehicle is capable of a top speed of 185kph.
On the GL, this is paired to a 64.2kWh LFP battery that allows for up to 400km of range on a single charge, while the GLS gets a larger 88.1kWh LFP battery for a range of up to 550km on a single charge. Charging can be done via Type 2 AC charging or CCS2 DC charging in as fast as 38 minutes.
Both variants are also equipped with a suite of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), having adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and lane following assist as standard. The GLS adds parking collision avoidance assist and blind-spot view cameras.
As for pricing, it starts at Php 2,298,000 for the GL variant. Meanwhile, the GLS variant is priced at Php 2,698,000. This puts it directly in line with rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ4X, and undercuts the Hyundai Ioniq 5 by a huge margin.
Buyers will also be able to take advantage of an eight-year of 160,000km battery warranty, five-year or 160,000km vehicle warranty, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Not only that, but Kia Philippines will also be offering a free 7kW home wall charger with a one-year warranty and free installation (worth Php 25,000), and Php 2,000 worth of ACMobility charging credits.
If you already want to see the Kia EV5 in the metal, you can check it out at the 2026 Manila International Auto Show which is happening at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City until April 12, 2026 (Sunday).
Photos by Sam Surla
