Kia has an ambitious target of becoming a top three player in full-electric vans. While Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and the Stellantis group lead the electric van market, their respective models are based on combustion engine conversions, compared to Kia’s dedicated electric vehicle platform.
While Kia will eventually go for the jugular in competing with the kingpin of large vans in the Transit, the Korean brand is starting relatively small with its PV5 Cargo. This, you could argue, is the closest rival to Volkswagen's ID.Buzz Cargo. And the good news for van buyers is that Kia edges VW for efficiency, and obliterates it on price.
Starting from €33,230 (including grants but excluding VAT ), the PV5 Cargo light commercial vehicle would make a shrewd buy for fleets or private operators that cover regional mileage per day and can cheaply charge overnight. Not to mention the average forecourt visit at the moment is more expensive than a stay at the Ritz-Carlton. For reference, the ID.Buzz Cargo has an on-the-road price of over €55k.
Also available as a five-seat (and soon to be seven ) passenger version, the PV5 sits on a 71.2kWh battery and 120kW electric motor as standard. Kia claims a range of up to 416km from a full charge, with the 380km mark proving easy to achieve. It did also set a new Guinness World Records title last year, travelling 693.38km on a single charge while carrying its maximum payload.
And it is no surprise. Kia's battery technology is amongst the best on the market. All PV5 variants offer 400V fast charging capability, meaning when connected to a 150kW charging point the van can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 30 minutes. It has 11kW AC charging. Additionally there is an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty, extendable to 260,000km.
The PV5 Cargo has a cargo capacity of up to 4,420-litres (4.4m³ ) and a maximum payload of 790kg. It is designed with a 419mm rear step height, a 1,520mm internal height, and a 2,255mm load length. Its flat floor design also allows it to hold two Euro pallets. For convenience it has sliding doors on both sides and barn-style doors at the rear.
The exterior design of the PV5 stays true to the prototype version revealed a couple of years ago. It is a real head-turner, particularly amongst the van community as I observed. The PV5 also scored top marks in the Euro NCAP crash test.
The interior is airy and is set up much like a passenger vehicle. This is true also in how it drives. It is very refined through corners and is quiet inside even by electric vehicle standards. It packs enough punch in straight lines but isn't overly torquey like most EVs.
Unlike other vans, there is no option to include a three-seater bench up front as the PV5 Cargo only comes in a two-seat configuration. The large side windows and their low beltline provide for enhanced visibility but do feel intrusive from the outside.
The PV5 Cargo by no means feels like beginners' luck for Kia. It surely heralds a successful van future for the brand. And with the larger PV7 and PV9 currently in development, other van makers best take notice.
