Kia has launched its first dedicated battery-electric van in Australia, with the PV5 Cargo arriving in dealerships priced from $55,990 RRP.
The new light commercial EV is the first Australian model from Kia’s upcoming Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) range and has been developed on the company’s E-GMP.S electric commercial vehicle platform rather than being adapted from an existing internal-combustion van.
That dedicated approach is reflected in the PV5 Cargo’s packaging. Kia says the van offers 4,420 litres of cargo capacity, a 740kg maximum payload and a low rear loading height of 419mm, aimed at delivery, trade and service fleets operating in urban environments.
The PV5 Cargo S 4DR Long Range is the sole Australian variant at launch. It uses a 71.2kWh battery, front-mounted electric motor producing 120kW and 250Nm, and front-wheel drive. Kia quotes a WLTP driving range of up to 416km.
For fleets, the charging capability will be a central consideration. Kia says the battery can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes on a 350kW DC fast charger, while 11kW AC charging takes approximately six hours and 30 minutes from 10 to 100 per cent.
Built around the working day
The PV5 Cargo measures 4,695mm long, 1,895mm wide and 1,899mm high, with a 2,995mm wheelbase. Kia says its 11-metre turning circle and dual sliding side doors should make it suitable for tight streets, laneways and busy delivery zones.
Cargo space measures up to 2,255mm long, 1,565mm wide and 1,520mm high. Twin rear doors can open to 180 degrees, while the front-wheel-drive layout removes the need for a rear driveshaft and helps enable the low load floor.
Inside, the van has a 7.5-inch digital driver display and a 12.9-inch central infotainment screen, along with storage areas designed to support drivers using the vehicle as a mobile workplace. Over-the-air software updates, wireless smartphone charging, USB-C ports and a column-mounted shift-by-wire selector are also standard.
A key feature for trade and mobile-service fleets is the Vehicle-to-Load function. The PV5 Cargo can provide up to 3.6kW of power through an internal cargo-area outlet or the supplied external V2L adaptor, allowing tools and other electrical equipment to be powered from the vehicle battery.
Safety equipment included
The single PV5 Cargo specification brings a comprehensive list of driver-assistance technology as standard, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, highway driving assist and intelligent speed limit assist.
It also includes surround-view and blind-spot-view monitors, rear-view camera, parking sensors, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, driver monitoring, multi-collision braking and tyre-pressure monitoring.
Kia says the PV5 Cargo has achieved a Platinum safety grading with a 91 per cent overall performance score in ANCAP’s commercial van assessment program.
The van has also undergone Kia Australia’s local ride and handling program, with the company saying the tuning work was focused on balancing stop-start urban comfort with stability across varying road surfaces and payloads.
Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer Dennis Piccoli said the model represents an important extension of the brand’s local electrification strategy into the light commercial vehicle market.
With electric vans still a relatively small but growing part of the Australian fleet market, the PV5 Cargo gives Kia a dedicated entrant for organisations looking beyond passenger EVs and adapted combustion-vehicle platforms.
