The new Kia PV5 line-up is now available to order in the UK – an all-electric range that includes cargo and people carrier variants, with crew cab and chassis cab versions to follow later.
A new entrant in the battery-powered small van class, though noticeably longer and taller than the likes of the Citroën e-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Rifter and Ford Transit Connect, the PV5 ‘Cargo’ line-up will eventually include two length (L1, L2), two height (H1, H2) and two different battery size options, with two different trim grades.
At launch, the van will only be available in L2/H1 form across Cargo and PV5 Crew, and L2 for PV5 Chassis Cab, with L1/H1 and L2/H2 variants to follow sometime in 2026.
Buyers will be able to select between two front-wheel drive battery-powered powertrains, starting with the entry-level 120hp 52kWh battery pack that provides a greater payload due to being lighter in weight, while the more expensive 160hp 71kWh battery pack adds a longer single-charge travel range but reduces cargo payload.
The 52kWh ‘Standard Range’ Cargo model can officially muster up to 184 miles between charges with a maximum payload of 790kg, while the 71kWh version can handle up to 258 miles on a full battery with a reduced maximum payload of 690kg. Top speed is capped at 84mph and the van has a turning circle of 10.8 metres.
Built on Kia’s 400V architecture, the panel van can be charged at speeds of up to 150kW using a DC rapid charging station, with a 10% to 80% battery top-up taking under 30 minutes.
The L2/H1 variant which arrives next month – which can also hold 100kg of roof load – has a cargo volume of 4.4m3, which is enough to accommodate two standard euro-pallets. The smallest L1/H1 version has a cargo volume of 4m3, while the larger L2/H2 size has 5.1m3 of load space in the rear.
The PV5 Cargo is a three-door van as standard – split rear doors with detachable hinges and a single sliding door on the nearside – but can also be specced with an optional sliding door on the opposite side for an additional fee. The options list will also include racking, flooring and additional security features. Kia adds that the van has a ‘best-in-class’ low cargo load height of 42cm from the ground.
Inside, all versions of the PV5 come with a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted to the centre of the dashboard which is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, alongside an eight-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel.
The van sits on 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, and the entry-level ‘Essential’ trim equipment list also includes LED headlights, daytime running lights and rear lights, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, rain sensing front wipers, an artificial leather steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera system.
The top-spec ‘Plus’ grade adds vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability with a charging port in the cargo bay interior, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a wireless phone charging pad in the cabin, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic collision avoidance tech.
The PV5 will qualify for the current Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) Plug-in Van Grant (PIVG) which gives buyers a £5k price cut, with pricing starting at under £28k for the ‘Essential’ L2/H1 Standard Range model. Opting for the larger Long Range battery size increases the price to just over £30k. This limited model range will become available to order in the UK from 1st May, with the first customer orders scheduled to arrive towards the end of this year.
Kia says that pricing for the other L1/H1 and L2/H2 versions of the Cargo, as well as pricing for the Crew Cab and Chassis Cab versions, will be announced later this year.
The PV5 Passenger range will also arrive at the start of May with the same battery and trim grade choices. The people carrier will be available with either a 52kWh or 71kWh battery pack, with the latter capable of achieving up to 256 miles on a single charge.
This Passenger range will only include a five-seater configuration at launch, with a seven-seat version coming “at a later date”. This five-seat version also offers 1,320-litres of luggage space behind the seats in the rear. Pricing for this people carrier range will start at £33k.
That sums up what we know so far about the new Kia van range. Now building its commercial dealership network across the UK, the Korean brand has announced plans to expand its commercial range in the coming years, with the PV5 to be followed by the larger PV7 and PV9 model ranges.
Note: This article was originally published in April 2025. Last updated in June 2025 to include updated battery range data for both cargo and passenger models.
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