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By David Lewis | 3 December 2025
The Kia PV5 Cargo has been named both Van of the Year and Compact Van of the Year at the 2026 What Van? Awards.
The honours were announced at a ceremony held at the London Hilton Bankside, with judging carried out by independent experts from across the UK light commercial vehicle sector.
The PV5 Cargo impressed judges with its design, long-range capability and high levels of comfort. It also received a rare 10 out of 10 rating in a separate What Van? review, making it the only electric van to achieve a perfect score this year.
The panel praised its smooth drivability, quiet cabin and strong real-world efficiency.
James Dallas, Editor of What Van?, said the PV5 Cargo set a new standard for compact electric vans thanks to its well-planned design and strong battery performance.
Kia UK President and CEO Paul Philpott said the award arrives at a key moment as the first PV5 models reach UK customers, highlighting Kia’s growing presence in the commercial EV sector.
The PV5 range has picked up several awards throughout 2025 and 2026. Recent accolades include the 2026 International Van of the Year title, Best Electric Van and Van of the Year at the Parkers Van and Pickup Awards, and The Sun Van of the Year.
The PV5 Passenger has also earned Family Car of the Year at the BBC TopGear.com Awards 2026.
The PV5 Cargo is available in L2/H1 form with two battery options. The Long Range model offers up to around 258 miles of range and a 690kg payload. The Standard Range version provides up to around 184 miles and can carry up to 790kg.
More versions will join the line-up in 2026, including L1/H1, L2/H2, Chassis Cab and Crew variants.
In October 2025, the PV5 Cargo achieved a Guinness World Records title after travelling 430.84 miles on a single charge while carrying its maximum payload. The attempt highlighted the van’s capability on realistic delivery and fleet routes.
Kia says the PV5 is built to support everyday business use as part of its wider Purpose Built Vehicle strategy. Every model comes with a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, with the battery covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.
The PV5 Cargo and Passenger are available to order now through Kia’s new PBV Centre network, with first customer deliveries expected later this year. Larger models, the PV7 and PV9, will follow in 2027 and 2029.
For businesses in Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, and across the Midlands, the PV5 offers a practical electric option to reduce running costs while supporting their electric transport goals.
