‘Game Changer’: The Kia PV5 May Be The Go-To Bargain Electric Van

• The Kia PV5 is the Korean automaker’s first proper electric van.
• Based on a reworked version of the E-GMP platform that underpins the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, the PV5 promises a lot of tech at a great price.
• The first reviews of the promising EV are now out, and it’s looking good for the Kia PV5.

The Kia PV5 is one of the most serious contenders to the loveable Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It’s a highly modular electric van that tries to offer just about every feature of the ID. Buzz, but at a lower price. That’s a great proposition, especially knowing that Volkswagen’s battery-powered people carrier ticks a lot of the right boxes, but some might see it as a little too expensive.

Now, the first wave of auto journalists got the chance to test drive the PV5 in Korea, and the first impressions are very good. We’ll write our own review once we get the chance to jump behind the wheel of Kia’s innovative electric van, but until that happens, we’ll hand it over to Jack Scarlett from Everything Electric.

Right off the bat, the exterior design of the PV5 is unlike anything else on the market, but everything has a purpose. There’s a super-low beltline, a huge glasshouse and the entry height is very low, making it very easy to get in and out.

Three battery options are available, starting with a 43.3-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack for the cargo version. The passenger versions can have either a 51.5 kWh or a 71.2 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack. 

The passenger van’s smallest battery allows for 183 miles (294 km) of WLTP range, while the big battery enables 256 miles (411 km) of range. It’s exclusively front-wheel-drive, with 122 horsepower when paired with the small NMC battery or 163 hp with the bigger battery.

Gallery: Kia PV5 Passenger (2025)

Source: Kia

There’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality with a maximum output of 3.6 kilowatts. Meanwhile, Kia says that going from 10 to 80% will take roughly 30 minutes from a powerful enough DC fast charger.

But enough about the specs. The Kia PV5 has immense space inside, with a lot of storage trays, including one in front of the driver and one in the front passenger footwell. It’s well put together and it oozes practicality, but there is one downside: it’s a little boring, at least compared to the ID. Buzz, which is a bit friendlier.

However, there’s an explanation for the dull colors and surfaces, and it comes down to practicality once again. The PV5’s interior was designed to be easily wiped and cleaned.

On the road, Kia’s first proper electric van offers fantastic visibility and a superb turning circle. It’s also refined, quiet and comfortable, and there’s loads of space for the second-row passengers, as well as a completely flat floor. The trunk is also cavernous.

But it’s the price where the Kia PV5 shines. In the United Kingdom, the base passenger version with the smaller battery starts from the equivalent of $44,375 (£32,995), including VAT. Meanwhile, the big battery version starts from $48,400 (£36,000). That’s a lot of car for the money, considering an entry-level Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which admittedly has a larger 79 kWh battery, starts from $80,650 (£60,005) in the UK.

The reviewer reckons that the PV5 drives about the same as the ID. Buzz, but in terms of efficiency, it’s likely better, with an observed efficiency of around 4 to 4.5 miles/kilowatt-hour, which is very impressive for a big van.

The fate of Kia’s electric van in the United States feels unlikely, at least for now. Tariffs have forced the automaker to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude, and it’s unclear if the PV5 will ever make it stateside. But if it does, it will bring a fair fight to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz—and maybe even some gas vans.