Kia’s First Electric Van is Coming to Australia!

The Kia PV5 electric van has been confirmed for an Australian launch in mid-2026 following its unveiling earlier this year. However, local pricing, features, trim levels and variants are yet to be officially confirmed by the brand. 

Riding on the E-GMP.S PBV Platform, the PV5 will be the first of three new van models from Kia launching within the next few years, with the PV7 launching in 2027 and the PV9 launching in 2029. 

Overseas, the Kia PV5 will be available in Passenger, Cargo and Cab Chassis configurations, with its standardised cabin module able to be paired with different roof, quarter glass, and rear-end combinations to create up to 16 different variants.

Conversion options will also be available for the PV5, including a wheelchair-accessible configuration, complete with a sloped side-entry ramp and universal securing systems. 

Currently, only the Cargo variant has been officially confirmed for a local launch, with plans to bring the Passenger and Cab Chassis models to Australia yet to be confirmed. 

While full specifics for the Australian-spec PV5 are yet to be announced, the examples coming to local shores will receive local suspension tuning, with testing beginning before the end of the year, according to Kia.   

Kia notes the PV5’s low floor in both the Cargo and Passenger versions, with the latter boasting the lowest in its class. This improves loading and unloading in the Cargo model and offers easier cabin access in the Passenger variant. 

The five-seat Passenger variant has a side step at 399mm and has up to 3,615 litres of storage space with the second row of seats folded. 

Cargo models offer a rear side step at 419mm, as well as 4.0m³ of cargo volume in the standard variant, and up to 5.2m³ in the high-roof model. 

According to European specifications, Passenger variants of the PV5 are powered by a 120kW and 250Nm electric motor, with a choice of either a 51.5kWh or a 71.2kWh Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) battery, good for a WLTP range of 412km with the latter battery option. 

Both battery options from the Passenger versions are also available for the Cargo configurations, with the latter also producing identical output figures, but an additional 43.3kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is also available. With the largest battery option specced, the Cargo version boasts a WLTP range of up to 416km on the WLTP cycle in its Long configuration. 

Fast charging is also supported in the PV5 – allowing 10 to 80 per cent charges to be completed within 30 minutes – as well as 3.68kW Vehicle-to-Load functionality. 

The Kia PV5 comes with a 7.5-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen, the latter supporting fleet management functions, third-party app integration and control of key functions on conversion models. 

Standard features also include Digital Key 2.0 – allowing the PV5 to be locked, unlocked and started using the owner’s phone or smartwatch – LED headlights, and an ADAS safety suite. 

The Kia PV5 will be displayed at the Mobility Live show in Sydney on October 15th and 16th, ahead of its Australian launch between Q2 and Q3 in 2026.