Kia has officially entered the world of electric vans with the reveal of its first production model, the Kia PV5. And now it’s starting to put some meat on the bones with the initial performance and specification details. This includes both the power output and the predicted driving range.
We need to be clear that UK specification is still to be finalised at this stage – we expect to know more about this when the PV5 makes its UK public debut at the 2025 CV Show in April – so everything should still be taken with a pinch of salt. And there are some key details, including payload, that are still missing.
The info we do have so far isn’t quite as gamechanging as the radical looks and engineering design might suggest, either. But if you’re soon to be in the market for a distinctive-looking electric van that claims nearly 250 miles of driving range per charge then the PV5 could well be worth a closer look.
Confirmed Kia PV5 details so far
The PV5 is the first of Kia’s new range of PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) commercial models to be revealed and will be the first to go on sale. It has so far been shown in Cargo (van) and Passenger form, with a Chassis Cab variant also confirmed. The PV5 Cargo is slightly boxier in profile than the PV5 Passenger, reflecting its more utilitarian purpose.
Beyond this, Kia is already talking about a number of key conversion models, including an in-house wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) and Crew Van that have already been revealed, plus Drop Side, Box Van and Freezer Box variants. On top of this, there’s now word of a Prime passenger variant (targeting at private buyers) and even what Kia is calling a Light Camper.
The now official powertrain details promise a 120kW electric motor driving the front wheels – that’s equivalent to 163hp – providing 250Nm of torque (pulling power) and hooked up to a choice of 51.5kWh and 71.2kWh battery packs, with an additional 43.3kWh option available for Cargo versions. We have already been made aware that the UK is unlikely to take the smallest option, while the bigger battery may have too much of a negative impact on payload to be worthwhile here.
Most significantly, Kia has now put a figure to the maximum driving range. The quoted 400km per charge – that’s 248 miles – applies to the bigger battery pack, and perhaps isn’t quite the leap forward we were hoping for. Even if the PV5 is a relatively small van.
Kia has also confirmed that 10-80% charging should be possible in 30 minutes using 150kW DC fast charging. Up to 22kW AC charging will also be offered, though we’re yet to get a figure for 7kW AC charging using a standard UK wallbox.
V2L – that’s Vehicle-to-Load – technology means you can use the drive battery to power electical items such as powertools, too.
Kia PV5 dimensions
Speaking of size, Kia has announced some dimensions details for its new van:
| Variant | Cargo (Long) |
| Length | 4,695mm |
| Width | 1,895mm |
| Height (European specs) | 1,923mm with antenna / 1,899mm without antenna |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm |
Kia had previous said it was targeting the space between conventional van classes, and that the PV5 would be slightly larger than the likes of the Citroen Berlingo and Ford Transit Connect, though still smaller than the mid-size Citroen Dispatch and Ford Transit Custom. However the ‘Long’ PV5 is actually slightly shorter than the Berlingo XL. There is also a shorter Standard version of the PV5 coming.
Where the PV5 does seem to have an advantage over those establishing models is load volume, with Kia quoting up to 5.1 cubic metres of capacity. This will be possible due to the additional high-roof variant that no current small van rival offers. In summary, the PV5 Cargo will come in two lengths and two heights but three variants in the UK: an L1H1, L2H1 and an L2H2.
The Long model will swallow two Euro pallets, while an optional ‘L track’ load restraint system looks to provide innovative storage management. Step-in height to the load space is as low as 419mm, which is especially impressive given the ‘skateboard’ style structure of the PV5 that places all of the critical components inside a flat underlying chassis. To put that into context the recently announced new Renault Trafic boasts a 500mm entry point, which sits on a similar such structure. A Berlingo is 547mm.
The PV5 Chassis Cab variant has a confirmed length of 4,525mm. This will be supplied as an ‘incomplete vehicle’ sharing a front half with the PV5 Cargo mated to a flat exposed behind. Kia is working with a wide range of global converters as it aims to provide an easy transition for customers coming to the PV5 from other brands.
What do the pictures tell us?
It turns out that Kia wasn’t fibbing when it said that the production model would be close in looks to the PV5 concept, which was first shown at the CES show in Las Vegas at the start of 2024. A silhouette on the brand’s IAA van show stand in late 2024 hinted this would be the case, and the first official pictures have confirmed that features such as the stylish S-shaped headlights and curvaceous front end have all made it to the finished vehicle.
Kia describes its approach to the vehicle as having two halves, with a more high-tech upper and a more ‘rugged and purposeful’ lower half. This is not just for show, though, with the black plastic cladding around the wheel arches offering protection for the paintwork and the bumper coming in several sections, which can be individually replaced. Handy in the case of a van/fence-post interaction.
These details feature on the passenger version, too, but there are a couple of notable differences. First and most obvious is that huge amount of glassware on the side of the vehicle, suggesting it should be light on the inside. Second is the rear doors. The van has a pair of side-hinged doors while the passenger model has a top-hinged opening, which is handy for hiding from the rain.
What’s the inside of the Kia PV5 like?
The smart ‘goemetric’ cabin design includes a 7.0-inch digital instrument display and a 12.9-inch central infotainment screen featuring an Android Automotive operating system. This has been chosen for the ease of integrating business-specific apps.
It looks very modern inside, but also very practical. Cupholders, hooks, storage nets and more are all present, and Kia even speaks of the front passenger seat being removable if the space is needed for other things.
A ‘Kia AddGear’ system will furthermore allow owners and operators to add ‘modular accessories’ to customise the inside of the van after purchase. Kia describes these as being like ‘tailored furniture’.
There are no less than five interior colours mentioned in the latest info, but again it’s unconfirmed what we’ll be getting in the UK at this point. Perhaps not the Iceberg Green. More eco-friendly materials are utilised where possible, including something called TPO in place of PVC on the floor and Bio Polyurethane for the seat covers.
Flexible seating
The PV5 is also set to offer a wide variety of seating options. The Cargo will have the option of two or three seats in the front – the former available with a walk-through bulkhead – and later a Crew variant with a second seating row.
The Passenger version is aimed at ride-sharing businesses and has been developed with input from Uber. This will offer up to three rows of seating. Kia will sell these alongside the vans rather than in its conventional passenger car showrooms.
Multiple seat-folding options create further versatility – including combining the flattened second row with a raised board in the load area to create an instant camping bed platform – while the boot space on Passenger versions includes a lower luggage tray and side storage trays to maximise practicality.
Warranty and details
Kia’s vans will be covered by the same seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty that is offered on its passenger cars.
This will mean the PBVs get one of the longest warranties in the commercial vehicle industry, with only Toyota’s 10-year cover offering more. This is in addition to the mandatory eight-year warranty that all electric vehicles have to provide on the battery.
When can I buy the Kia PV5 and how much will it cost?
The PV5’s latest outing was at the Kia EV day in Spain in February 2025, but will be coming to the UK as soon as the CV Show in April 2025. It is at this point that Kia is likely to reveal details on pricing and specification. You’ll probably be able to pre-order one at this point as well.
The UK should be one of the first markets to get the new Kia van, with Korean and European launches planned for the second-half of 2025.
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