EVs

Kia’s Next SUV Concept is Basically a Lounge with Swiveling Seats and a Solar Roof

The Concept EV5 wants you to hang out outside of it just as much as inside.

by Jackson Chen
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Kia

Kia

Kia has been eager to establish a design philosophy for its blooming EV lineup. With its latest Concept EV5, the midsize SUV solidifies a lot of the design cues from its older sibling, the recently-revealed EV9.

Kia

We first saw Kia’s swiveling seats with its full-size electric SUV, the EV9. If the three-row boxy build was too much car for you, the good news is that Kia is bringing them back with the slimmer Concept EV5.

Hang out anywhere

Looking at the design, Kia wants to emphasize the Concept EV5 as a portable lounge as much as a vehicle. The conceptual EV even has a table that pops out of the trunk to give you another hangout option.

Kia
Another conceptual yoke

The Concept EV5’s front row houses a steering yoke and an ultrawide display, but the production model may offer a more traditional design.

Kia previously showed off its conceptual EV9 with a yoke but replaced it with a standard steering wheel for the production model.

Kia

Kia

On the exterior, Kia’s Concept EV5 also features the “Digital Tiger Face” that debuted with its EV9. The pixelated light cluster design for the headlights is back, which Kia is calling a “Star Map” lighting design.

Kia

The rest of the exterior shows a roof spoiler for aerodynamics, 21-inch wheels, and a full-length panoramic sunroof that doubles as a solar array.

Kia hasn’t revealed the specs just yet, but we’re expecting these details to come out when a production version is announced. Don’t be too surprised if Kia gets rid of some of the conceptual features, though.

Kia

Kia is launching a production version of the Concept EV5 in China first, marking the automaker’s push into the market. Kia says it will eventually reveal future plans for releasing the EV5 to other markets.

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