Journalists from the Chinese portal Autohome got acquainted with the electric car after finding out the prices. At the start of sales, two rear-wheel drive versions with a 218-horsepower (300 Nm) engine will be offered – depending on the equipment, the Kia EV5 will cost 160 or 230 thousand yuan (equivalent to 21.8 or 31.4 thousand dollars). For a comparable amount (180-240 thousand yuan) in the Middle Kingdom you can buy a current Sportage.
For the Kia EV5, power plants with one or two electric motors, rear-wheel drive (218 horsepower) or all-wheel drive (313 horsepower) have been confirmed. There are two traction battery options: 64 or 88 kilowatt-hours. The base version has a smaller battery, allowing it to travel up to 530 kilometers on the CLTC cycle. With the optional battery, the range increases to 700 kilometers.
The all-wheel drive version will be available only with the “older” battery. Autonomy is not specified. You can recharge the battery from 30% to 80% in 27 minutes. In addition, the Kia V5 will have an advanced kinetic energy recovery mode for one-pedal driving. There are no special features of equipping the crossover for the Chinese market: all information is promised to be revealed at the Guangzhou Motor Show.
The expected starting price of 160 thousand yuan for a modern 4.6-meter crossover is very attractive: the current Kia Sportage (Lion) for this money can only be purchased with discounts and in a poor configuration. Those wishing to purchase a richly equipped version will have to choose the third generation Sportage Ace.
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