The Kia PV5, the model’s first all-electric platform past car (PBV), is reaching one of the vital in depth international award data for a first-generation mannequin — demonstrating that Kia PBV has secured significant competitiveness within the conventional mild business car (LCV) section from its very first 12 months in the marketplace.
Since its international debut, the PV5 has swept main worldwide awards throughout security, efficiency, design, household usability and real-world functionality. This cross-category recognition not solely validates the PV5’s product excellence but additionally confirms that Kia’s PBV technique—rooted in buyer perception, sensible usability and many years of commercial-vehicle expertise from the Bongo lineage—is resonating strongly with the worldwide market.
“The momentum behind the PV5 displays Kia’s long-term dedication to redefining purpose-built mobility. By combining buyer perception with modular design, electrification and a scalable PBV ecosystem, we intention to speed up innovation throughout international markets and broaden Kia’s position past car manufacturing into mobility options that create lasting worth for companies, cities and people.” – Sangdae Kim, Govt Vice President and Head of PBV Enterprise Division, Kia Company
Sturdy Europe Momentum: Main LCV Media Agree on PV5’s Management
Europe has develop into a decisive proving floor for the PV5’s international competitiveness. Throughout the area’s main commercial-vehicle authorities, the PV5 has secured a number of “Van of the Yr” titles, with constant commentary that it units a brand new benchmark for electrical van practicality, refinement and worth.
Most lately, on the 2026 Electrifying.com Awards, the PV5 Cargo was named ‘Van of the Yr’, whereas Kia acquired ‘EV Model of the Yr’. Judges highlighted the PV5’s modular PBV platform, ease of conversion, balanced EV drivability and operator-focused performance. Kia’s inclusive mobility method—together with the mixing of wheelchair-accessible design from launch—was additionally acknowledged as a significant differentiator within the business EV market.
In December, the PV5 Cargo earned each ‘Van of the Yr’ and ‘Compact Van of the Yr’ on the What Van? Awards 2026, reflecting excessive scores for its quiet and refined EV driving expertise, distinctive worth, city maneuverability, modular flexibility and real-world usability. Earlier in November, What Van? revealed a full evaluation of the PV5, awarding it a good 10/10 ranking—the one electrical LCV to obtain such a rating within the publication’s 2025 evaluations.
The PV5’s momentum continued on the Parkers Van & Pickup Awards 2026, the place it received ‘Van of the Yr’ and ‘Finest Electrical Van’. Parkers described the PV5 as “a primary effort that has shaken the business,” commending its sensible engineering, considerate packaging and aggressive pricing. This was adopted by the Information UK Motor Awards 2025, the place The Solar named the PV5 ‘Van of the Yr’, signalling a breakthrough in mainstream shopper recognition and underscoring the car’s broad enchantment.
Collectively, these accolades set up the PV5 as one of the vital comprehensively acknowledged electrical vans within the UK, reaffirming its place as a brand new benchmark within the LCV section.
World Industrial Management: Winner of the 2026 Worldwide Van of the Yr (IVOTY)
Chosen unanimously by 26 business car journalists, the PV5 earned the 2026 Worldwide Van of the Yr (IVOTY) title, changing into the primary Korean van and Asia’s first EV to obtain this honor.
IVOTY judges highlighted the PV5’s:
- Modular structure enabling versatile derivatives and conversions
- Operational effectivity and real-world usability
- Consideration to security and environmental concerns
This achievement solidifies Kia as a quickly rising contender in international business EVs.
Security Management – five-star 2025 Euro NCAP Industrial Van Security Evaluation
The PV5 Cargo acquired the utmost five-star ranking in Euro NCAP’s 2025 business Van Security evaluation, inserting it amongst Europe’s most secure business vans and reinforcing Kia’s management in EV security.
Euro NCAP recommended the PV5’s:
- Excessive-performance Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) throughout pedestrian, bike owner and car eventualities
- Efficient Lane Assist System (LSS) with secure interventions
- Superior Pace Help System (SAS) with correct speed-limit recognition
- Inflexible PBV-specific physique construction and optimized crash design
This consequence continues Kia’s observe file of top-tier Euro NCAP efficiency following the EV6 (2022), EV9 (2023) and EV3 (2025).
World Design Excellence: Crimson Dot Awards Throughout Completely different Classes
The PV5 additionally excelled on the planet’s most prestigious design competitions, reinforcing Kia’s evolving design philosophy and its management in shaping the PBV period.
On the Crimson Dot Award: Design Idea 2025, the PV5 WKNDR Idea acquired the competitors’s highest honor, Better of the Finest, for its expressive adventure-focused design, modular adaptability and sustainable innovation. 4 extra Kia ideas — PV1, PV5, PV7 and EV2— have been additionally acknowledged, highlighting the depth and flexibility of Kia’s conceptual design course.
Kia additional strengthened its design credentials on the Crimson Dot Award: Manufacturers & Communication Design 2025, incomes a number of awards for its means to speak PBV innovation throughout bodily, digital and experiential touchpoints. Successful initiatives included the PV5 Story sales space on the Seoul Mobility Present and the PV5 Journey Model Movie.
Collectively, these honors underscore Kia’s means to translate its design philosophy into immersive model experiences and user-centric mobility ideas, demonstrating how PBV innovation could be expressed by way of spatial design, storytelling, and superior digital UX.
Actual-World Efficiency Validated by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™
The PV5 Cargo Lengthy achieved a significant real-world milestone acknowledged by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™:
“Biggest distance (693.38 km) travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electrical van with most payload on a single cost”
This confirms the PV5’s effectivity, sturdiness and long-range functionality below genuine business circumstances — a crucial issue for fleets and operators evaluating EV transition.
Know-how and Engineering Rooted in Buyer Perception
The PV5’s engineering course was formed by enter from over 100 international prospects and examined throughout 1,000 real-world use eventualities.
Key applied sciences embody:
- E-GMP.S (Electrical-World Modular Platform for Service) Engineered particularly for business environments, providing structural stability below excessive hundreds, optimized battery format and low-floor packaging enabling
- Versatile Physique System Modularized physique elements – together with doorways and tailgates – help fast by-product improvement, manufacturing facility conversions and future specialised fashions
- PBV-Unique Infotainment (AAOS-based) 12.9-inch extensive show with third-party app compatibility by way of the Pleos App Market and built-in management programs designed for conversion automobiles {and professional} operators
Extra options embody complete ADAS, crash-safety optimization, and a variety of Kia Real Equipment and AddGear choices supporting numerous consumer wants.
A Beginning Level for Kia’s PBV Journey
The PV5 represents the start of Kia’s long-term plan to construct a full PBV ecosystem. Within the coming years, Kia will broaden the PV5 lineup with new derivatives whereas introducing bigger PBV fashions such because the PV7 and PV9. The corporate will even broaden its PBV presence throughout international markets together with the Center East, Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific area. As software-defined mobility evolves, the PV5 platform will combine new related companies, digital functions and mobility-enhancement options that unlock extra buyer worth.
With this basis, Kia goals to speed up the transition towards extra versatile, environment friendly and accessible purpose-built mobility—positioning the PV5 not solely as an award-winning car, however as step one in a transformative mobility technique.
