I like to think of myself as a level-headed sort of guy, someone who doesn’t rush into things and make outlandish judgements or go a bit overboard…always consider things…don’t be rash.

But I think I may have just seen the future…of vans.

It’s got a rather anonymous sort of name — a PV5 — but it comes from the Kia stable.

We shouldn’t be surprised that Kia have come up with a cracking van because building commercial vehicles was something the company did long before they moved into the world of car manufacturing. They started life building bicycles and then motorbikes. But they really started motoring when deciding to build trucks and vans, so they know what they’re doing.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why their van is called a PV5, it’s because it’s built on the ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ powertrain, and it lies 5th in their potential range of vans. Larger PV7 and PV9 vans are in the pipeline.

What is the Kia PV5?

It rates as a mid-size van which is referred to as the PV5 Cargo. The entry-level PV5 Cargo has two seats up front. There’s also a PV5 Double Cab with five seats, and even a PV5 chassis which has the front two-seater cab, and a base rear chassis to allow for any custom builds. You can also get it as a 5-seater people carrier (the PV5 Passenger). Even one or two campervan conversions is starting to appear. Over the coming years, there’ll be a tipper version, a wheelchair accessible vehicle, a short and long wheelbase box van and a proper motorhome. There’ll also be the choice of 6 or 7-seat Passenger versions.

And they’re all 100 per cent electric.

Exterior & Price

When it comes to vans, it’s all about purpose and not necessarily about looks…but the Kia PV5 is futuristic in a good way. Kia refers to the front as having a tiger face. I’m not too sure about that, but the vertical headlights are different and they work well. The front bumper has easily replaceable corners just in case they get scuffed.

Spending £34,299 (including VAT, April ’26) gets you into the Cargo version. That’s cracking value in my book.

Performance, range & charging times

So here are the important stats. The load area has two rear doors or a tailgate-style single door, plus a single, nearside sliding door. You can opt for a sliding door on the offside too, for about £300. The load height is incredibly low at 419mm, which is perfect when it comes to humping a pile of boxes into the back. You can carry up to 4.42 cubic metres of stuff and load using a pair of standard Euro pallets. The payload is either 665kg or 790kg, depending on the size of the battery you have slung underneath the vehicle.

Range will also be important, and it’s good to see that the figures which Kia provides are predictions with the PV5 fully loaded. The standard 120bhp battery will manage up to 185 miles while the longer-range power unit (which Kia expects to be the main seller) offers up to almost 260 miles. Power goes to the front wheels, and a 0-60mph sprint with the standard battery looks leisurely at around 16 seconds, but feels quicker. Go for the bigger battery, which develops 160bhp, and the sprint drops to just over 12 seconds. Your top speed is restricted to 85 mph. In terms of charging, a 10-80 per cent boost takes under half an hour with a rapid charger.

Warranty

And even though this is a commercial vehicle, it still gets Kia’s usual 7-year / 100,000-mile warranty. Impressive, as is the full 5-star safety rating. Kia’s electric vehicles also have a seriously good reliability record.

Driving Experience

Out on the road, the Kia PV5 Cargo is the same to drive as a car but with the obvious visibility restrictions. It handles tidily and is surprisingly comfy. The ride is well controlled and, although it does lean a bit into corners, the PV5 is fun to punt along. A tight turning circle (no engine under the tiny bonnet to restrict the wheels) means you can easily do a 3-point turn, while wider streets mean you can just spin the van around, something that’s handy for any delivery driver. Taxi drivers will love the Passenger PV5. One thing that would be handy, and does appear in some competitors, is a rear-view camera which shows an image on what would normally be the interior mirror.

Interior, Battery & Trim Options

The cab has a mix of useful kit and should be hard wearing. Two trims are available — Essential and Plus. Both get LED lighting, powered and heated external mirrors, auto wipers, powered windows, air con, sat nav via a 12.9-inch central touchscreen, smartphone connectivity, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, and paddle shifters for the regenerative braking system. Move up to Plus trim, and you’ll add kit like heated seats, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, 3-pin plug in the cargo area, and powered folding external mirrors.

As for which battery and trim you go for, it’ll depend on the sort of work you intend doing with the PV5, how long you’re expected to be sat in it, how far you’re going and whether you’re doing street or long-distance work. If you want a bigger battery for long distance work, add exactly £3000. If you want Plus trim, add just over a grand, which is probably worth it.

Even if you go for the bigger battery and the top trim, you’re still only looking at £38,391 on the road (Apr ’26), which means the Kia PV5 is one of the cheapest electric vans on the UK market…and it’s one of the best. If you want the 5-seat Passenger version, it works out at around £800 less than the Cargo prices.

Should you buy one?

If you’re looking for a mid-size electric van that has a decent amount of carrying capacity, low loading height, excellent driving manners, a stunning warranty, has adequate range and is extremely competitive in terms of pricing, then look no further. The Kia PV5 is so impressive that it’ll shake up the UK van market. It really is that good.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Kia

Kia PV5 Cargo Review | It’s a Van, But Not As We Know It