In association with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
New electric Kia PV5 van will get 249 miles of range
Kia PV5 will be the first in a line of new electric vans from the South Korean car maker, and will be followed by panel vans, a people carrier and a taxi...
On sale Summer 2025 | Price from £30,600 (est, ex.VAT)
Develop once, deploy anywhere is the mantra of website builders. The philosophy makes it possible to do more, with less expense, by building something that can be reused many times, rather than focusing on bespoke products.
It’s something Kia is putting into practice for its entry into the electric vans market. The first model – called the Kia PV5 – is based on new underpinnings designed to be scalable so they can be used to build vehicles in a range of sizes and body types.
The PV5 will make its UK debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show on 29 April, but more details surrounding product offerings will be unveiled at Kia's EV Day on 24 February. It's expected to hit showrooms in the middle of 2025 and be followed by the larger Kia PV7 later this year.
Three base variants will be available: the 'Passenger Van' and the slightly boxier 'Cargo Van'. As the names suggest, they're designed for passenger comfort and cargo-loading convenience respectively.
Both variants will get some chunky cladding inspired by the rugged, go-anywhere looks of Kia's SUV lineup, alongside some sleek razor-thin LED headlights and tall windows. While it almost looks like a vehicle out of a sci-fi film, its shape has the real-world benefit that it should offer great visibility and practicality.
The Cargo Van will get three versions: Standard, Long and High-roof, with the High-roof also being available in walk-through form. It'll get cargo space of up to 5100 litres, and has a step height of 419mm, which could make it fairly easily accessible.
The cargo space will get an L-track rail system, allowing you to secure cargo safely.
Unlike the Passenger Van, the Cargo Van will get twin side-opening tailgate doors, and it will be available with a typical two-seat passenger layout, with a three-seat layout as an option.
The Passenger Van, however, gets a three-row seat configuration, which allows you to customise luggage space to your preferences. For example, with the third row of seats not in use, there should be space for plenty of kit, thanks to an additional bottom luggage tray and side storage trays.
The seat beside the driver can also be removed to create an extra multi-storage area.
The Passenger Van will get a single lift-up tailgate rear door, which will likely open the same way as the boot of a regular car. This could be a significant compromise on practicality – you'll probably need to leave a lot of exterior space to load cargo comfortably.
There's also a Chassis Cab option, which comes as an 'incomplete vehicle' and is designed to support a range of customisable configurations.
Kia has confirmed that more variants are on the way, including the PV5 Crew, which offers more cargo securing options, as well as a wheelchair accessible vehicle and a 'family' model.
Another strong selling point of the PV5, especially for owner-operators planning to keep their van beyond a three-year lease period, is that it gets the same seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as Kia car models.
That's the longest available, with the exception of Toyotas, which are available with up to 10 years/100,000 miles of cover if the vehicle is serviced at an approved dealership.
The PV5 will be powered by either a 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh (total capacity) battery. The Cargo gets an additional 43.3kWh option.
A 161bhp electric motor will power the front wheels, and will deliver an official range of up to 249 miles with the 71.2kWh battery. That's more than the 236 miles offered by the rival Ford E-Transit Custom.
The larger battery should be pretty quick to charge to, with a 10-80% top-up taking 30 minutes.
The PV5 and PV7 will connect with Kia's Plug & Charge app, which is designed to make finding charging points and starting a charge simpler and quicker. For example, it will allow charging to start as soon as the cable is plugged in and include a route planner showing public chargers around the operator's depot.
The PV7 will also be front-wheel drive, and will have a tight turning circle for greater manoeuvrability in tight spaces.
The fixed driver area of the PV5 features 7.0in digital instrument screen and a 12.9in Android-powered infotainment screen spanning the width of the interior. A digital key will make it easier for multiple drivers to share each van.
Kia has introduced an 'AddGear' feature which allows buyers to customise their interior with modular accessories such as storage solutions or objects that act as furniture.
In the Passenger Van, the second row gets a footrest and USB ports, as well as heated seats. There will also be cup holders in the floor console, a coat hook and luggage nets.
Vehicle-to-load capability allows other appliances to be powered by the van's battery.
Although prices have yet to be confirmed, Kia is said to be targeting an entry price of around £30,600 – less than you’d pay for the Renault Kangoo E-Tech small electric van today, without VAT. Kia is working with external partners on building a self-driving taxi version of the PV5, although that isn't due to arrive until 2028 at the earliest.
The PV7 will be the largest van in Kia’s line-up, and will take on other electric large vans including the Ford E-Transit and Maxus eDeliver 9 when it arrives in 2027. The PV7 will be available with four-wheel drive.
At the other end of the range is the PV1 electric small van, which is designed for transporting items in the city and could eventually arrive without space for a driver, and instead rely on self-driving technology.
All Kia’s PBV vans (an umbrella term referencing the range's scalable electric underpinnings) will feature a rail system designed to help load items between the vans, and reduce strain on human workers. The vans will also be able to power devices, meaning your van could charge your tools as you drive to your next job.
Since this is a new market for Kia, the brand will launch a new side of its business dedicated to vans, and plans to use artificial intelligence as part of the fleet management systems it will eventually offer to businesses.
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