KIA is to launch an electric mid-size SUV and the EV5 will be an alternative to the top-selling Sportage priced from around £38,000 and with a range of up to 329 miles.

The EV5 is a five-seater that sits on the latest EV architecture with 400 volt technology said to give it an 80 per cent recharge time of around 30 minutes.

"The EV5 is a cornerstone of Kia's European growth strategy," says Sjoerd Knipping, chief operating officer of Kia Europe. "We are entering Europe's most competitive EV segment with a model that blends our iconic ‘Opposites United' design, everyday practicality, and innovation rooted in electric mobility.

The car is 4.61 metres long - slightly bigger than the Sportage - and Kia says it is designed with European tastes in mind and has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) offering up to 3.6kW of power, the EV5 empowers drivers to use the vehicle's battery to power and charge external devices with an interior socket or an external adapter.

The EV5 is equipped with Kia's latest ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit) system, including a panoramic wide display combining a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and a 5.3-inch climate control display.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates and the Kia Upgrades platform keep the model future-ready, with new features and services being released over time.

Connectivity, especially routing, has been improved. The EV5 is equipped with Online Navigation, a feature that provides live map information to the car and pulls data from the server, which is updated every four weeks.

The EV5 will be one of Kia's first models with the latest version of Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and audio notifications have been improved for driver comfort.

Parking Collision-avoidance Assist - Rear has been expanded to include the front and side with the system using sensors and cameras to help prevent collisions in the front, side, and rear while parking.

Furthermore, Highway Driving Assist 2 with Hands-On Detection (HDA 2 with HOD) helps the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, stay centred in the lane, change lanes, and adjust lateral positioning.

Finally, for even greater convenience, drivers can use Remote Smart Parking Assist 2.0 to enter or exit a parking space, even from outside the car.

Kia says the EV5 is built for the next era of electric mobility in Europe and is a confident step forward for Kia and Europe's growing community of EV adopters.

Boot space is 556 litres extending to 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded and it is also fitted with a 44 litre frunk.

On the performance front it can accelerate to 62mph in 8.4 seconds with a top speed of just over 100mph.