Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards 2026: Best Small Electric van

Priced from £27,645 (excl VAT and PiVG) Range 181–247 miles (WLTP combined) CO2 emissions 0g/km Load space 4.4m3 Payload Up to 790kg Power 120–160bhp Torque 184lb ft

The small electric van market has matured rapidly over the past few years, but many models still feel like adaptations of combustion-era designs. The Kia PV5 Cargo changes that. Designed from the outset as an electric commercial vehicle, it brings a level of packaging efficiency and modern thinking that moves the class forward.

Unlike most of its established rivals, the PV5 isn’t constrained by legacy architecture. Its dedicated electric underpinnings provide a flat floor, clever battery integration, and a square, usable load bay that maximises the available footprint. The result is a van that feels properly engineered for the job, rather than retrofitted to suit it. Load volume is competitive for the class, and payload figures are strong enough to meet the needs of urban trades and last-mile operators.

Range is equally important in this segment, and here the PV5 strikes an intelligent balance, offering enough range for a full working day without pushing costs unnecessarily high. Its battery options offer up to 247 miles of range, according to official figures, and in our testing that translated into genuine real-world usability. With 500kg on board, we got within one mile of the official figure, while a winter drive showed only a small drop in range. Charging capability is strong, too, making it practical for both depot-based fleets and sole traders relying on public infrastructure.

The PV5’s cab benefits from being a clean-sheet design. It feels closer to a modern passenger car than a traditional small van, with clear digital displays, a large infotainment screen (though the buttons are frequently too small), and a considered layout that makes long days less tiring. Driver assistance systems are comprehensive, reducing stress in congested city settings where these vans spend much of their time.

Rivals such as the Renault Kangoo E-Tech and the Stellantis-built Citröen e-Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo Electric remain competent choices, and in some cases offer marginally higher payload figures or established dealer familiarity. However, they’re based on underpinnings originally designed around combustion engines, and that compromise shows in packaging and overall cohesion.

The PV5’s appeal isn’t limited to engineering alone. Kia backs it with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty — a level of cover unmatched in this class — providing long-term reassurance for small businesses and sole traders.

Even more significantly, once the plug-in van grant is factored in, the PV5 Cargo undercuts some diesel-powered rivals on list price. That shifts the conversation around electrification from potential compromise to common sense. And it means that while the PV5 Cargo may look like a van from the segment above, the small electric market is firmly where it sits on price.

The PV5 Cargo feels like the next step for the segment: purpose-built, intelligently packaged and genuinely pleasant to drive. It blends practicality with forward-thinking design in a way that few small electric vans currently manage.

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