Design Driven: Kia PV5

Passenger cars based on commercial vehicles – sometimes derogatorily termed ‘vans with windows’ – have a mixed history. There’s good logic in maximising the potential of shared underpinnings for both people and cargo, but when the project is too biased in one direction, a van-first approach can mean practicality at the expense of comfort, while a car-biased vehicle can cause the van version to lack function and robustness.

Luckily the PV5 was conceived to cover both needs. The PV5 Passenger model can carry five (with a seven-seater PV7 on its way later in 2026); while the metal-backed PV5 Cargo is optimised for hauling stuff (with a maximum cargo space of 5.1 m³); and then there’s the PV5 Chassis Cab which shares the Cargo’s front section and accommodates all kinds of boxes – from freezers to food truck fit-outs – at the back.

Given the ‘Car’ part of Car Design News, this Design Driven report focuses on the Passenger version, which has already attracted positive feedback in advance of its customer launch with a credible sixth place finish in the 2025 CDN Production Car Design of the Year awards (see Car Design Review 12). Indeed, CDR 12 judge and Ford global head of design Todd Willing called the PV5 “practical, futuristic and characterful, all at once”.

The PV5 also attracted attention (of all kinds) on the road during our test. One urbanite couple in Lidl Peckham’s car park were clearly fans and even struck up an impromptu conversation, but a group of hi-vis-wearing scaffolders sounded less convinced, calling it “f*cking weird,” from afar followed by much sniggering. Which suggests the PV5 could suffer from “The Shock of the New” – as coined by art critic Robert Hughes in his 1980 book of the same name – through some eyes for a while.

This ‘newness’ comes partly from being a ground-up electric minivan without need of a significant grille – like most van-based passenger vehicles of old – and because Kia’s designers had the chance to start with a clean slate, as the company had never made an all-new van before. As a result, they had no need (or chance) to connect their modern design to previous hits – like VW’s designers did with the ID. Buzz and their brand’s classic campers (albeit successfully, scooping second place in the 2019 CDN Production Car Design awards). The ID. Buzz is the PV5’s most obvious design-led minivan EV rival, although a bit shorter (4695mm), narrower (1895mm) and lower (1923) but sits on a longer wheelbase (2995mm) compared to the five-seat ID. Buzz (4712 L x 1985 W x 1936 H x 2989 WB).

Exterior

The PV5’s exterior stays true to the current Kia EV line-up in form language so that translates to a largely ‘closed mouth’ upper front face with slim, angled headlights that define and accentuate its edges rather than dominate. Bold geometric shapes and lines govern the three-dimensional and graphic design and colour is important too: the same-colour body and roof are separated by a gloss black section encompassing the window pillars and bonnet with more matt black cladding around the wheel arches and side sills. With gloss black also featuring strongly on the cross-shaped wheels the overall effect is coherent, original and modern.

Interior

Getting inside the high-sided PV5 is straightforward due to low sill steps behind large conventional front doors, or even bigger sliding ones at the rear (all sport chunky grab-style handles). Once inside the driving position is high in comparison to the low windscreen cowl and side window beltline. This creates excellent outward visibility, marred only slightly by the double A-pillars with quarterlights in-between on each side blocking some diagonal vision when driving through corners.

Storage

There is a lot of clever storage upfront, especially in the deep door cards with room for phones and keys in a horizontal tray along the doors’ shoulders and lower down, multiple big bottle holders. Under the driver’s seat there’s a somewhat secret transversally aligned cubby hole storage space too, accessed behind a plastic flap. Above the driver display, there’s a lidded storage cubby hole to house documents and in the centre console and ahead of centre armrest more deep trays. The PV5 really could encourage you to carry too much stuff.

Rear seats & boot

Sitting in the back, head, shoulder and knee room is superb, with large diagonally aligned and textured ledges behind the front seats acting as effective footrests. In the boot, multiple deep below-floor storage trays stop shopping bags rolling around and with second-row seats folded an even bigger 2300-litre luggage space unfurls. Another functional touch is a light behind the centre-front recharging flap to illuminate where to plug in clearly at night. Neat.

UX & driving

Charging info on the 12.9-inch centre screen is logical – but the car’s UX is peppered with too many audible safety beeps and boings (like all modern Kia EVs). Luckily, the ones you’d rather not hear can be unchecked according to each journey’s needs (and driver tolerances) via a steering wheel short-cut button marked with a star. Which is a blessing. Apple CarPlay or similar mobile phone device mirroring is easy to hook up too. 

Driving

Minivans are rarely about performance and the PV5 cannot be described as ‘dynamic’. But it feels solid and stable and comfortable for passengers, despite the stripped back, grey-dominant plastic feel to the cabin in Essential trim. Surfaces are durable, easy-to-clean and more sustainable though, featuring TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) flooring as a more environmentally friendly and recyclable alternative to PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).

Conclusions

Two battery choices – 51.5 kWh / 183-mile range or 71.2 kWh / 256 miles – underpin the PV5 range which starts at a very affordable £32,205 in the UK (almost half the price of a VW ID. Buzz). Kia is also working with specialist conversion firms to offer the PV5 as a bona fide 21st Camper van (with the 2024 Kia PV5 WKNDER concept providing clues). In summary, the PV5 feels as fresh in the market to drive, as it did when we first encountered it. A future classic? Just maybe.