Rain couldn’t stop the shine on Kia’s latest model launch on Saturday, November 2, at the Sky Deck, AC Hotel Kingston, as the brand revealed its first electric vehicle to Jamaica — the EV5.

“A fun fact, we actually have the Kia EV5 before the US. We have it before most markets, so we’re one of the first countries to be launching the EV5. It’s an impressive vehicle, nice size, very attractive, and we think it’s going to do well,” Kevin Jackson, senior sales manager, Kia Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

The EV5 is not the first electrified Kia model, but it is the first to hit Jamaican shores. The five-seater SUV will be sold in two trim levels, and two battery types on the highest trim.

The technical specifications begin with front-wheel drive and a 64.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery under the floor giving 214bhp and a rated 400km of range, all on a 400-v architecture. It can handle up to 11kWh of AC charging and up to 350kWh of DC fast charging. Eighty per cent of battery charge can be regained in as little as 36 minutes dependent on the charging station.

The EV5 will be later available in a long-range version using a larger 88.1 kWh battery for a rated 555km of range. An all-wheel drive drivetrain, with two electric motors for a combined output of 308bhp, is a further drivetrain options.

Jackson explained that Kia customers have been asking for EV options.

“So far the customer base checking for EVs has been our regular customers thinking about transitioning to electric, but what we have found is that there is a niche market of people who are looking just for electric cars,” he shared.

Jackson said these people have a lot to look forward to from Kia: “Our customers have been asking for EVs, and another anticipated model coming out next is the EV9. We should get that Q1 next year. The EV9 is a huge vehicle, about the size of a Land Cruiser. And then following that is the EV3, which is the size of the Seltos.”

Since it was acquired by the ATL Automotive Group in 2017, and officially opened its doors in 2018, Kia has found its way to sit currently second in the market, with the Seltos its most popular model.

“Kia is #2 in the market right now, a strong #2. Toyota is a worthy competitor, but we’ve overtaken every other brand and we’re a far #2,” he said.

Jackson revealed the next step for Kia, which is to move into the very competitive pickup segment with the recently announced Tasman.

“I’m in the process of choosing the specification for the new Kia Tasman. That’s very exciting for us.”

Jackson expects the body-on-frame turbo-diesel pickup by summer 2026.