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Kia PV5 electric van to feature seven-year warranty
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. It's expected to hit showrooms in the middle of 2025 and be followed by the larger Kia PV7 later that year.
It has a sleek design incorporating razor-thin LED headlights, tough cladding around its lower edges 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.
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.
There’s no detail yet on what might power the PV5, but official charging figures suggest it could borrow the 95kWh (usable) batteries from Kia’s growing range of electric cars, including the Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 SUVs. At its maximum charging rate of 150kW, it should take less than 30 minutes to charge from 10-80% at a fast public charger.
It can also accept a 22kW DC charge, which is twice that of the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric. That could be key to the PV5's appeal, because it will enable faster charges from depots for far less cost than from a public charge point.
Kia has not given range figurers for the PV5, but for context, Kia's big electric seven-seater, the EV9, has an official range of up to 349 miles, while and the PV5-rivalling Ford E-Transit Custom van can officially manage 236 miles between charges.
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 PV5 and PV7 will both be front-wheel drive, and will have a tight turning circle for greater manoeuvrability in tight spaces. At launch, the PV5 will be available in a medium van, high-roof and chassis cab forms. The new van underpinnings would theoretically allow operators to change their vans' bodystyles to meet their needs.
The fixed driver area of the PV5 features digital instruments and a large Android-powered infotainment screen spanning the width of the interior. A digital key will make it easier for multiple drivers to share each van.
The front passenger seat can be removed depending on what the van is being used for. Kia says the PV5 will have best-in-class loading height and "superior" cargo volume, although no figures have been revealed.
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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