Kia PV5 Wins 'Van of the Year' and Two Other Honors at 2026 What Car? Awards
Kia's first electric light commercial vehicle, the PV5, has been named 'Van of the Year' at the 2026 What Car? Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards, also winning in two other categories.
416 km
790 kg
~30 minutes
What Happened
The Kia PV5, the brand's first electric light commercial vehicle, won 'Van of the Year' at the 2026 What Car? Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards. It also won Best Electric Van and Best Large Electric Van for the Cargo variant, while the Passenger version won Best Electric MPV.
“Winning the prestigious 2026 What Car? ‘Van of the Year’ Award demonstrates the Kia PV5’s strong relevance across varied markets and customer needs, while also underscoring the model’s growing recognition at a European level.”
- Best Electric Van (Cargo)
- Best Large Electric Van (Cargo)
- Best Electric MPV (Passenger)
Judges praised the PV5 Cargo for its payload capabilities, real-world range, fast-charging capability, and comprehensive aftercare package. The PV5 Passenger was commended for car-like refinement, passenger comfort, and a range of up to 412 km.
Why this matters
The triple win highlights Kia's growing presence in the European electric light commercial vehicle market, signaling competition for established van makers.
Terms in This Story
- eLCV
- Electric light commercial vehicle, an electric van or truck used for business purposes.
- PBV
- Platform Beyond Vehicle, Kia's modular platform designed for various commercial and personal mobility needs.
- E-GMP.S
- Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service, a dedicated electric platform for light commercial vehicles.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.