Buying a brand-new vehicle after driving the same one for more than 15 years is a major change.

For the owners of this 2026 Kia EV5, that change was even bigger: they weren’t simply replacing their longtime Nissan Murano—they were making the move into a new generation of fully electric vehicles.

Their children already drive EVs, and with the family’s experience with electric vehicles, they decided it was finally a good time to upgrade to something new and take advantage of the technology available in a modern EV.

With the new Kia arriving in pristine condition, they also wanted to keep it that way.

Before everyday driving had a chance to leave its first collection of rock chips and road wear, the EV5 came to Speed Projects Laboratory in Richmond, BC for XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS full front paint protection film.

For drivers researching paint protection film in Vancouver and Richmond, protecting a vehicle while the factory paint is still new is one of the best times to consider PPF.

Project Snapshot

Vehicle: 2026 Kia EV5
Condition: Brand new
Previous Vehicle: Nissan Murano, owned for more than 15 years
Protection: Full Front Paint Protection Film
Film: XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS
Installation: Speed Projects Laboratory
Location: Richmond, BC

The Kia EV5 Is a New Arrival in Canada

The EV5 represents an important addition to Kia’s growing electric vehicle lineup—and it’s particularly interesting for Canadian drivers.

Kia announced that the EV5 would arrive in Canada beginning in spring 2026. Even more unusually, Kia says the EV5 is being offered exclusively in Canada within the North American market.

That makes this vehicle one of the first examples of a completely new Kia model beginning to appear on roads around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Its arrival also gives buyers who want an electric SUV another option as they transition away from conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.

For this couple, the timing made sense.

After more than 15 years with their Nissan Murano—and seeing their children make the switch to EVs themselves—the EV5 represented an opportunity to move into a much newer vehicle with the technology and conveniences that have developed over that time.

And when you plan to keep vehicles for that long, protecting a new one from the beginning makes a lot of sense.

Why Install PPF on a Brand-New Kia EV5?

PPF is preventative protection.

It works best when there is good paint underneath it to preserve.

Every kilometre driven exposes the front of a vehicle to gravel, road debris, insects, construction debris and other contaminants. Once a stone chips through the paint, installing PPF afterward can help prevent additional damage, but it cannot undo the chip that is already there.

This EV5 arrived before that accumulation of everyday wear had taken place.

That gave us the opportunity to protect more of its original factory finish from the beginning.

SPL’s current PPF coverage packages allow owners to choose protection based on how they use their vehicle, from targeted high-impact areas through full-vehicle coverage.

For this EV5, full front protection offered the balance the owners were looking for.

XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Full Front PPF

We installed XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS clear paint protection film across the EV5’s full front end.

SPL’s full-front coverage includes the major forward-facing surfaces most exposed to road debris:

Full hood
Full front fenders
Front bumper
Headlights
Mirror caps
Partial A-pillars

These areas experience much of the impact from gravel, stones and debris thrown up during normal driving.

Rather than changing the appearance of the Kia, clear PPF is intended to preserve it.

Once properly installed, the goal is for the EV5’s original paint colour and styling to remain the visual focus while the transparent urethane film acts as the sacrificial layer above the paint.

Protecting the EV5’s Distinctive Front End

One of the most visually distinctive parts of the EV5 is its front-end design.

Instead of the traditional grille opening associated with an internal-combustion SUV, the EV5 has a broad painted front fascia combined with its vertically oriented lighting and contrasting lower trim.

From a PPF perspective, that creates a significant painted surface directly facing the road.

Our installation photographs show the front bumper and hood during the PPF process, including the positioning and squeegeeing stages used to install the film accurately over the vehicle’s contours.

SPL Tech Tip: Large painted front fascias on modern EVs make front-end PPF especially worth considering. Eliminating a traditional grille doesn’t eliminate road impacts—it can mean there is more painted surface exposed directly to them.

Full Hood Protection Without a Visible Film Line

The hood is another important part of the full-front package.

Rather than using a partial strip of film across the leading portion of the hood, full-front coverage protects the entire hood panel.

Besides increasing the protected area, this eliminates the horizontal film line associated with partial-hood installations.

For a brand-new vehicle where maintaining a clean factory appearance is part of the objective, this is one of the reasons we generally prefer full-panel coverage when the customer’s budget and protection goals allow for it.

PPF Is About Preserving the Vehicle You Bought

Paint protection isn’t limited to exotic or high-performance cars.

A vehicle someone intends to own for many years can be just as strong a candidate.

This particular project illustrates that well.

The owners kept their previous Nissan Murano for more than 15 years. If they approach their new EV5 with a similar ownership mindset, the condition of the vehicle several years from now matters considerably more than it would to someone planning to replace it after a short lease.

PPF won’t prevent every possible form of damage, nor does it make a vehicle indestructible.

What it does provide is a physical layer designed to take everyday abuse that otherwise reaches the factory paint.

For an owner beginning what could be another long period of vehicle ownership, that’s a practical investment in preservation.

Moving from a 15+ Year-Old SUV to a Modern EV

There’s also something enjoyable about this particular project that has nothing to do with PPF specifications.

Going from a Nissan Murano that’s more than 15 years old to a brand-new electric vehicle represents a substantial technological jump.

The owners had watched their children adopt EVs and eventually decided it was time to make the transition themselves.

Rather than changing vehicles every few years, they waited until they found something that made sense for the next stage of ownership.

The new EV5 became that vehicle.

And instead of waiting until the first chips appeared before thinking about paint protection, they decided to start this ownership cycle differently and protect the front end while everything was still new.

SPL Technician’s Insight

New models are always interesting for our installation team because every vehicle presents a different combination of panel shapes, body lines, lighting and trim.

The EV5’s broad front fascia and angular design make careful positioning particularly important around the front bumper and lighting areas.

The objective isn’t for someone to walk up and immediately notice the PPF.

It’s for them to see a clean Kia EV5—and for the film underneath to quietly do its job.

Finished Result

After installation, the deep red finish remains the defining feature of the vehicle.

The XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS film provides transparent protection across the high-impact front surfaces without taking away from the EV5’s factory styling.

Looking at the finished vehicle from the front, side and rear three-quarter angles, the intention is simple: it should still look like the brand-new EV5 the owners just purchased.

Only now, the areas most likely to encounter road debris have another layer between the outside world and the factory paint.

SPL Verdict

This project wasn’t about transforming the Kia EV5.

It was about preserving it.

After more than 15 years with their previous SUV, these owners made a significant upgrade into a brand-new electric vehicle and modern automotive technology. Protecting the EV5 early gives them a better opportunity to maintain its original finish as they begin the next chapter of vehicle ownership.

For new EV owners, full-front PPF offers a practical balance: concentrate physical protection on the surfaces most exposed to road debris without requiring full-body coverage.

Speed Projects Laboratory provides automotive paint protection services in Richmond, BC for Kia, Tesla, Rivian and other EV owners throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Perform. Protect. Maintain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PPF worth installing on a brand-new Kia EV5?

For owners concerned about rock chips and preserving the factory finish, a brand-new vehicle is an ideal time to consider PPF because the paint has had minimal exposure to road debris and everyday driving damage.

What PPF did SPL install on this Kia EV5?

SPL installed XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS clear paint protection film across the full front end of this 2026 Kia EV5.

What does full front PPF cover on the Kia EV5?

SPL’s full-front PPF coverage includes the full hood, full front fenders, front bumper, headlights, mirror caps and partial A-pillars.

Why is PPF useful on an electric vehicle?

EVs face the same rock chips, gravel and road debris as other vehicles. Modern EV designs can also feature large painted front fascias rather than traditional open grilles, leaving substantial painted surfaces facing the road.

Does PPF change the colour or appearance of the Kia EV5?

Clear XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS is designed to preserve the appearance of the underlying factory finish rather than create a colour change. A properly installed clear PPF should be visually unobtrusive.

Should I install PPF immediately after buying a new vehicle?

Installing PPF early helps protect the paint before rock chips and other road damage accumulate. Existing chips will not disappear simply by installing PPF over them later.

Do I need full-body PPF on a Kia EV5?

Not necessarily. Full-front PPF can be a practical option for daily-driven vehicles because it concentrates protection on high-impact forward-facing areas. Owners wanting more comprehensive paint preservation can consider full-vehicle coverage.