Is this the dawning of something significant? Because it feels like it is.
A lot of noise has been made about Kia entering the van market, but now the proof of the pudding is here as we sample the brand’s first global van.
Why is it a ‘global van’? Well, because Kia began life as a commercial vehicle manufacturer, so although in the west we know it as a car maker, its heritage is rooted in LCVs.
We’ve already had a taster in prototype form at Kia’s vast new factory in Hwaseong, when IVOTY editor George Barrow got behind the wheel. Now it’s time for the main course, and the PV5 doesn’t disappoint.
Unveiled in Las Vegas in 2024 as a veritable buffet of options, with tastes to suit everyone, the PV5 is a small- to medium-sized, battery-powered van designed to take Kia straight into the thick of the LCV market at home and abroad.
Design and interior
It certainly looks the part, with a design that is modern yet functional, with upright LED headlights and a vertical front end that projects strength rather than aggression. It’s a proper van, not an oversized car. Inside, the dashboard blends work-ready toughness with passenger car tech. A 7in driver’s display is joined by a larger 12.9in central screen, running on Android Automotive OS with full over-the-air update capability, which comes on both trims – Essential and Plus.
There’s air conditioning, LED headlights, automatic wipers, parking sensors front and rear, and a reversing camera all as standard, alongside the slick touchscreen system. The Plus trim adds a few comforts like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and vehicle-to-load capability.
Performance and drive
Under the skin, the PV5 uses a modified version of Kia’s familiar E-GMP platform, as found in the EV6 and EV9 cars. For van duties, it’s been adapted into what Kia calls E-GMP.S where “S” is for service. It’s a working tool then, with two battery sizes for the UK, a 51.5kWh unit with up to 184 miles of range and a 71.2kWh pack that extends that to 258 miles on the WLTP cycle.
Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 120kW (161hp) and 250Nm of torque with the larger battery, or 89kW (120hp) with the smaller pack. Out on the roads that equates to brisk performance rather than outright pace.
There are three driving modes; Normal, Eco and Snow, which let you adjust power delivery, while four levels of regenerative braking, plus an Auto setting, make good use of energy recovery on the move.
The steering is light and easy-going with enough precision, but the turning circle is the piece de resistance: the van spins around so tightly it could embarrass a black cab. There’s a bit of lean in faster corners, but the chassis feels composed and stable, helped by the low centre of gravity from the battery pack. On the open road it cruises quietly and confidently, feeling every bit as refined as the passenger EVs for which Kia is renowned.
Ride comfort is one of the PV5’s biggest assets, polishing out the bumps on a rough surface, even when unladen.
The driving position helps as the seat and steering wheel adjust fully, but the thick double A-pillars can obscure tight junctions, otherwise visibility is good. The only ergonomic niggle is the fixed-height armrest, which can leave one arm slightly adrift depending on your seating position. Cupholders low down in the console also get in the way of cross-cab movement, but otherwise it’s a practical van – which makes you think Kia has been doing this for years.
Load space ranges from 3.4m³ to 5.1m³ depending on configuration, and payload peaks at 770kg. At launch, the long-wheelbase L2H1 version leads the line-up, priced from £27,645 excluding VAT – before the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, for which the PV5 qualifies thanks to its 2,650kg gross vehicle weight.
As with all Kias, the PV5 comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, which will surely give peace of mind to anyone sceptical of its LCV pedigree. There’s a new network of around 60 Kia Van Centres to handle sales and servicing.
The PV5 feels complete right from the start: covering the basics of a van brilliantly while also meeting expectations in this crossover world as we journey towards zero emissions.
It drives well, it rides nicely, the spec is generous and the price won’t sting.
Kia has applied the same discipline that has made its cars so successful to the world of commercial vehicles and the result is an electric van that immediately ranks among the best in its class. What class that is, is up to you, because even the size of the thing is disruptive.
| Model | Kia PV5 L2H1 Plus |
| Price (ex VAT) | £28,555 |
| Price range (ex VAT) | £27,645 – £30,145 |
| Warranty | 7yrs/100,000 miles |
| Service intervals | TBA |
| Load length | 2,255 mm (L2H1 version) |
| Load width (min/max) | 1,565mm/1,745mm |
| Load bay height | 1,365 mm (standard roof H1) |
| Gross payload | 770kg |
| Load volume | 3.4-5.1m³ |
| Engine size/power | 120kW electric motor |
| Energy use | 3.4mi/kWh |
| CO2 | 0g/km |
| On sale | October 2025 |
| Key rival | Volkswagen ID. Buzz |
| Verdict | The extremely accomplished PV5 van surely heralds a successful LCV future for Kia. |
| Score | 10/10 |
