A teaser image has revealed the initial glimpse of the production version of the first of Kia’s electric vans, the Kia PV5.
A silhouette picture on Kia’s IAA van show stand has given the first indication of the final version of the van that is due to go on sale towards the latter part of 2025. There is very little detail of the van in question, but there are some crucial elements that point towards it being the production vehicle rather than the concept vans – also referred to as PBVs by Kia – that are dotted around the company’s stand.
The crucial element is the addition of door mirrors – something that doesn’t feature on the concepts, which instead use high-tech cameras. Kia has said that the finished models will be more practical and realistic in terms of what they feature, so a more conventional approach to fixtures and fittings would make sense.
The headlights are the other obvious feature, but these follow much the same basic design as the concept, suggesting that the fundamental look will carry through to the finished article. The lines of the lights are slightly softer and less angular than the concept’s though.
Warranty and details
At the IAA van show, the company also filled in more detail on what customers can expect from the Kia PV5. One big element to this is the confirmation that the brand’s vans will be covered by the same seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty that is offered on its passenger cars.
This would mean that 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.
Kia has also confirmed that it is targeting the space in between the conventional van classes, with the PV5 measuring up slightly larger than the likes of the Citroen Berlingo and Ford Transit Connect, but slightly smaller than the mid-size Citroen Dispatch and Ford Transit Custom.
So when Kia says that it is targeting ‘best-in class’ figures on attributes such as payload, turning circle and capacity, it is comparing to the slightly smaller of those two classes, so an improvement should be expected. However, it has also said that it is looking to move the class on, so a payload in excess of the approximately 800kg that the small Stellantis vans can carry is likely.
Flexible seating
The PV5 is also set to be able to offer a wide variety of seating options. Although Kia hasn’t spoken about exactly what it will come with, there is set to be a choice between a two-seat layout and three-seat arrangement in the panel van, and up to three seats in the second row in the case of the planned crew cab model.
There will also be a passenger-carrying version, which is geared towards business users such as taxi firms. Kia is keen to stress that there is not going to be any crossover with the company’s conventional cars, such as the EV9, with the vans designed to be much more hard working.
The PV5 will come in two lengths and two heights, but three combinations in the UK – an L1H1, L2H1 and an L2H2. However, Kia is working with a wide range of converters, as it aims to provide an easy transition for customers coming to the PV5 from other brands.
What there will be less choice on is the driven wheels. All PV5s will be front-wheel drive, with no plans for a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive model in the future. This will be reserved for the larger PV7, which is expected to come with an all-wheel-drive version. For the PV5, though, Kia wants to keep things simple.
Wide-market appeal
This extends to the trim levels of the van, too, which is likely to have more than one, but not a wide range as it aims to reduce complexity. This means there will likely be an entry-level version and a more well-equipped trim, as Kia looks to appeal to mass-purchasing fleets and small businesses alike.
There will be three battery packs available from Kia, but it is likely that not all of these will be offered in the UK. The smallest one is unlikely to offer the range that the UK market would like, while there is a decision to be made on the relative benefits of payload versus range for the biggest battery.
While there are no official figures that have been released yet, it is expected that it will move the game on in the class for range. The current best in the class is just over 200 miles, but Kia insiders have spoken of the need to move things on notably from this as a new entrant to the market. Something around the 300-mile mark could therefore be a possibility.
Kia also confirmed at the IAA show that the PBVs will offer the same 150kW DC charging that will allow it to get from 10-80% charge in 30 minutes, It will also be able to offer 22kW AC charging.
When can I buy the Kia PV5 and how much will it cost?
The next stage of the Kia PV5 launch process is expected in February 2025, which is when the final production vehicle will be revealed and when there might well be more information around pricing and spec.
It will then appear at the Seoul motor show in April. However, this might be too close in time to the CV Show, which takes place later in April 2025, although Kia has said it intends to be at the NEC event to talk to prospective customers.
The on-sale date is currently expected to be around September 2025.
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