Kia EV5 Facelift Leaked in Australian Certification Documents

The Kia EV5 facelift has leaked ahead of its debut. Images of the updated SUV have appeared in Australian vehicle certification documents, according to Korean community Autospy. They show two versions, labeled "STD PE" and "GTL PE", where PE is the internal code Hyundai and Kia use for a facelift.

The leak comes just over a week after we showed you an updated EV5 spotted without camouflage in Korea, and the design matches.

Two Versions: Standard And GT-Line

Judging by the labels and the details, STD PE is the standard version and GTL PE is the GT-Line.

• STD PE: body-colored paint with silver skid plates on the front and rear bumpers, and a silver strip along the sills.

• GTL PE: a two-tone look with a black roof and black C-pillars, plus white vertical elements on both bumpers. At the rear, these elements include vertical red reflectors.

Both versions share new aero wheels with a turbine-like design.

Same Design As The EV5 We Spotted In Korea

The hood, headlights and the vertical L-shaped taillights carry over from the current EV5. The changes are in the bumpers, which get the vertical elements and angled details we saw on the uncamouflaged EV5 in Korea. These details come from the EV5 WKNDR concept.

Earlier this year we also showed you the first EV5 facelift prototypes, and the final design looks very close to what we expected.

A 27-Inch Screen Inside

There are no interior photos yet. According to Autospy, the cabin should get a 27-inch display, like other Chinese Kia models and the EV5 WKNDR concept. That matches the car we saw in Korea, whose dashboard had the same layout as the Chinese Kia Seltos.

Autospy also says the electric motor gets more power, but no figures have been shared.

Will Korea And Europe Get The Same Car?

The EV5 sold in Australia is based on the Chinese EV5, so these changes may not all reach the Korean model. We still do not know if the 27-inch screen will be offered in Korea or Europe. Back in February we explained how Kia could apply Pleos Connect to the EV5 facelift, with a different layout.

Our Take

With the facelift now in certification documents, the launch is getting close. We expect it in early 2027. The exterior changes are small but they make the EV5 look tougher, especially the GT-Line. The big question is the interior, and which markets will get the 27-inch screen. The EV5 also just won a Golden Steering Wheel in Germany, so the facelift arrives at a good moment.

More images from the leak:

Images: Australian certification documents via Autospy. The last image shows the Chinese Kia Seltos interior, for reference only.