Workhorse cargo edition will start off Kia’s electric van push, but a family-functional edition is also on the arrivals board.

PASSENGER in place of package-carrying capability seems likely to occur with Kia’s PV electric van series soon, but the local distributor is not saying exactly when.

The model has released first in PV5 cargo van format, but the brand has revealed it intends to put a seven-seater edition into sales circulation toward end of this year.

Where that MPV substitute will price has yet to be explained, though it would seem safe to assume it will site above the $64,990 entry price for the wholly commercial PV5 series.

The seven seater is internationally suggested as a rival to the Ford e-Transit, Mercedes-Benz EQV and e-Vito Tourer and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

Larger scale PV7 and PV9 editions are all on the horizon, with introduction over the next few years, but what passenger roles they will take has yet to clarify.

PV5 is the first of a series of van-based models as part of the company’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) global strategy and represents the Hyundai Group marque’s first tilt at this kind of vehicle.

PV5 gives Kia an advantage over Hyundai, which has no EV vans, and is just the start of a much larger proposition.

Kia says it has tailored its ‘E-GMP.S’ platform to support multiple vehicle applications for a range of light commercials, including cargo vans, crew cabs, chassis cabs, passenger versions and even a light camper.

While the PV is not the first fully electric van here, Kia NZ has high confidence in it being an important model.

Managing director Todd McDonald says the demonstration examples already here have attracted “an unprecedented interest.” It is not clear if he means ‘for a Kia’ or ‘for an electric van.’

“We have confirmed the impending arrival of the Cargo (five- and six-door), Passenger seven-seat in Q4, followed by the Cargo High Roof (five-door and six-door) configuration in Q1 of 2027.

These new arrivals will open up a world of possibilities for commercial and trade owner operators, large families through to tour group companies and more.

“It’s exciting to be able to deliver such a versatile and innovative vehicle, one which showcases Kia’s technology and development of electrified mobility solutions.”

The first landing Cargo five-door begins to arrive soon. Kia says the Passenger seven-seat will “follow shortly after, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.”

The latter was at last year’s PV international event in Spain where those who experienced it reported the second row providing ample legroom and headroom, with two ISOFIX mounting points and the option of electrically operated sliding rear doors. The lift-up tailgate can also be electrically operated and a low load height is noted. Interestingly, Kia showed off PV5 as a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, designed and built in the factory.

With all PV models power is generated by a 120kW front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 250Nm, fed by a 71.2kWh NCM battery in a 400 volt architecture which can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The battery is the largest of three types Kia facilitates for the vehicle. It cites a range of 416km WLTP for the PV5 cargo.