The adventurous new Kia EV5 WKNDR concept quietly made its world debut at the Guangzhou motor show in China last week, revealing the off-road potential of the Korean auto brand’s mid-size electric SUV.
It’s the fourth WKNDR concept to be revealed by the Korean automaker, following the similarly tough show cars based on the Tasman ute, the EV9 large electric SUV, and PV5 electric van.
This time Kia’s Chinese design team has fitted a host of rugged off-road-themed extras that you’re unlikely to see on a Tesla Model Y – the EV5’s top-selling rival – any time soon.
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These include chunky new front and rear bumpers, functional roof rails/racks that extend to tool mounts over the rear side windows, and pumped-out wheel-arches wrapped around aggressive 20-inch wheels and mud tyres.
There are also retractable yellow recovery points front and rear, and – perhaps most significantly – what looks like a decent suspension lift.
The outdoorsy theme continues inside, where there are bold yellow highlights across the new octagonal-shaped steering wheel, as well as the centre console, door cards, and the rugged new seats. The cabin is also full of eco-minded BIO PU materials.
The rear seats fold down and can also be easily removed to create an entirely flat rear load space, complete with yellow straps and sliding mounts to store all manner of glamping equipment.
Other camping-oriented goodies include a tailgate that doubles as a camp table, plus ambient camp lighting, a built-in radio, and a pair of binoculars.
In line with the thoughtfully curated weekend-away theme, there’s also said to be a one-touch mode that automatically plots routes, suggests charging stops, and identifies potential points of interest for nature lovers.
No details were provided for the EV5 WKNDR, but it’s likely to be based on the flagship all-wheel drive GT-Line variant.
Priced at $71,770 before on-road costs in Australia, it’s fitted with dual electric motors with total outputs of 230kW of power and 480Nm of torque, powered by an 88kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
The four-variant MY26 Kia EV5 lineup opens at $56,770 plus on-roads for the entry-level 2WD Standard Range, powered by a single 160kW/310Nm motor fed by a 64kWh LFP battery.
Unlike Kia’s previous WKNDR concepts, this one will reportedly enter production, according to an X post by Chinese industry analyst Tycho de Feijter, though it’s not clear when.