The Kia PV5 wins ‘Best New Van’ at the inaugural 2026 Van Reviewer Awards

• ‘Best New Van’ won by the Kia PV5 at first ever Van Reviewer Awards
• PV5 praised for its clean-sheet approach and already-proven efficiency

The Kia PV5 has been named ‘Best New Van’, picking up the top award at the inaugural Van Reviewer Awards and the vehicle’s first award this year.

Judges commented that the Kia PV5 stands out as the most significant new van of the year thanks to its clean-sheet approach and Kia’s wider Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy. The PV5 is engineered to support multiple body sizes, types and conversions as well as digital services, the software-led architecture underpins advanced connectivity, which will see over-the-air updates and seamless integration with fleet systems.

Furthermore, the electric drivetrain has already proven itself with a Guinness World Record, but it’s the attention to detail in producing a stunning debut commercial vehicle which has really got people talking, the judges added.

George Barrow, Editor of vanreviewer.co.uk, commented: “The Kia PV5 has been designed from the ground-up around electrification and software, underlining the forward-thinking nature of the whole PBV concept.

“To produce a van of this quality, and with such clarity of purpose, the first time of asking, shows how seriously Kia has taken its entry into the light commercial vehicle market. The PV5 has impressed at every opportunity and the bar for competitors and future Kia vans has been set very high.”

Record setting
In September 2025, Kia set a new global benchmark with the PV5 Cargo, with George Barrow behind the wheel, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the ‘greatest distance travelled by a light‑duty battery‑powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge’. The all‑electric PV5 Cargo covered 430.84 miles (693.38km) under real‑world driving conditions while fully loaded, demonstrating its exceptional efficiency, capability, and practicality.

The Kia PV5
The Kia PV5 Cargo is Kia’s first purpose-built electric light commercial vehicle (e-LCV), and marks the brand’s bold entry into the highly competitive and populated UK van market. Designed from the ground up, it is built on a new Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service (E-GMP.S).

Keeping the buying process simple, the PV5 Cargo is initially offered in the UK with two trim levels; ‘Essential’ and ‘Plus’, and with the choice of a Standard Range 51.5kWh or Long Range 71.2kWh battery pack to offer a balance of single-charge range or payload. Prices start from £27,645 excluding VAT, and the PV5 Cargo is additionally available with the maximum Government Plug-in Van Grant, reducing the cost by £5,000.

In addition, the Kia PV5 Passenger is initially available with five seats, with further variants in the future. This model is one of Kia’s first vehicles to be eligible for the UK Electric Car Grant, reducing its cost by £1,500. On-the-road pricing for the PV5 Passenger starts from £32,995, excluding the grant.

In addition to the PV5 Cargo and PV5 Passenger, further PV5 variants will launch in the UK in the future; including Crew, Chassis Cab, and WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle).

Dedicated PBV network
To launch the PV5 in the UK market, Kia has formed a brand-new network of dedicated PBV Centres to sell and service all Kia PBVs. The PBV Centres are the dedicated point of sale for all variants of PV5, including the PV5 Passenger, ensuring expert commercial vehicle knowledge and dedicated service support for all customers.

Multiple award winner
The ‘Best New Van’ award from Van Reviewer joins a host of other awards the PV5 has won, despite only appearing in Kia PBV Centre showrooms in December 2025. The PV5 has been named the 2026 ‘Van of the Year’ by Electrifying.com, What Van?, Parkers and The Sun. Furthermore, the BBC TopGear.com Awards announced the PV5 Passenger as its ‘Family Car of the Year’. Topping its already notable awards achievements, the PV5 was named the outright ‘2026 International Van of the Year’ winner.

Ends

About Van Reviewer
Van Reviewer is a dedicated independent platform providing comprehensive reviews, insights, and practical advice for van enthusiasts, professional drivers, and everyday commercial vehicle users alike. Established by UK International Van of the Year juror, George Barrow, the publication guides first-time buyers, fleets and seasoned owners, serving as a trusted resource in the world of vans and commercial vehicles.

For more information about the Kia PV5’s 2026 Van Reviewer Awards win, visit: https://vanreviewer.co.uk/awards/

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