- Autocar names the PV5 Passenger the UK’s ‘Best Large Car’ at the 2026 Autocar Awards
- Judges praise the Kia PV5 for redefining what an all-electric MPV and LCV can be
- 5-seat, 7-seat and WAV versions each expand the PV5’s capabilities and appeal
- PV5 Passenger pricing starts from £31,695 on-the-road, including £1,500 Government Electric Car Grant
The Kia PV5 Passenger is the ‘Best Large Car’ for 2026, as announced at the prestigious Autocar Awards 2026.
Heaping praise on the PV5, the awards judges noted the Passenger model as a standout example of how electric commercial vehicles can be reimagined, thanks to its progressive design, clever packaging and exceptional value. Judges highlighted the fresh forward-thinking styling, unusually refined driving manners, and impressively efficient interior layout.
Furthermore, the Autocar judges welcomed the PV5’s strong performance and range, made possible by its E-GMP.S (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service) electric vehicle underpinnings, while emphasising the PV5’s attractive price point that sets a new benchmark for both electric LCVs and MPVs. With versatile 7‑seat and WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) versions on the way, the Autocar team concluded that the PV5 represents one of the smartest, most imaginative and accessible all-electric LCV and MPV propositions on the market today.
Mark Tisshaw, Editor of Autocar, commented: “Besides looking so wonderfully progressive, fresh and unusual, the Kia PV5 is very cleverly packaged, appealing to travel in, really well-mannered to drive – and it’s outstanding value for money. With clever seven-seat and wheelchair-accessible conversion versions due soon, the PV5 looks set to be one of the smartest ways you could spend a modest budget on a big, quirky family car for some considerable time to come – and we like it a lot.”
The PV5 Passenger
Ushering in a new era for Kia, the all-electric PV5 Passenger MPV went on sale in the UK in 2025. Initially, the PV5 Passenger was offered with 5-seats and available with a choice of two battery options; Standard Range 51.5kWh and Long Range 71.2kWh, offering 183- and 256-miles range respectively.
Announced on 3 June and with order books open from 8 June, the PV5 Passenger 7-seat joined the line-up, offering a 2-2-3 layout providing generous seating for up to seven adults along with 318 litres of luggage space behind the third-row seats, rising to 785 litres with the third-row folded. In addition, a new high-spec ‘Elite’ grade has been added above ‘Plus’ and ‘Essential’.
All PV5 Passenger models are equipped as standard with impressive features, ranging from a 12.9-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, plus a 7.5-inch driver’s display, to front and rear parking sensors with rear camera.
Above the ‘Plus’ grade, the new top-of-the-range ‘Elite’ grade adds electric sliding rear side doors with power door latch, heated and ventilated front seats, surround view and blind-spot monitoring, side park distance warning and two-tone upholstery.
The PV5 Passenger recently received MY27 updates including: a new antenna design reducing the overall vehicle height to below 1.9m; a height-adjustable driver’s armrest; and an automatic Walk Away Lock system.
Pricing for the PV5 Passenger starts from £31,695 on-the-road, making the entry-grade ‘Essential’ with Standard Range battery particularly competitive in the all-electric MPV segment. That price includes the Government’s Band 2 Electric Car Grant (ECG), which takes £1,500 off the on-the-road cost. The Band 2 ECG applies to both ‘Essential’ and ‘Plus’ grades of the 5-seat variant, with either Standard Range or Long Range battery options, making the PV5 Passenger one of the most compelling value propositions in the electric car market.
A core member of the PV5 family, the Passenger model sits alongside the Cargo model, with WAV, Crew and Chassis Cab expected to join the line-up in due course.
Dedicated PBV network
Kia formed a brand-new network of dedicated PBV Centres to sell and service all Kia PBVs. The now 65-strong network of Kia PBV Centres are the dedicated point of sale for all variants of PV5, including the PV5 Passenger, ensuring expert vehicle knowledge and dedicated service support for all customers, retail or business.
Success at Autocar Awards
Kia has established a formidable record at the Autocar Awards, with repeated recognition for visionary leadership and standout electric vehicles. Recent honours include Ho Sung Song receiving the ‘Issigonis Trophy’ and the Kia EV3 being named ‘Best Electric Car’ in 2025, while the Kia EV9 secured ‘Best Large Car’ in 2024 – the same award won by the PV5 this year. Earlier accolades include the Kia EV6 winning ‘Best Electric Car’ in 2022, while the Kia e‑Niro and Kia Stinger were both recognised as ‘Game Changers’ in 2019 and 2018 respectively.
People are at the heart of Kia and Autocar has shown recognition of this with Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, earning the Autocar ‘Editor’s Award’ in 2023, when Kia was also crowned ‘Best Manufacturer’. Philpott was previously acknowledged as one of Autocar’s ‘Outstanding UK Leaders’ in 2017.
Peter Schreyer, Executive Design Advisor and brand ambassador at Hyundai Motor Group, received the Autocar ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2022, a year after Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman, was honoured with the ‘Issigonis Trophy’ in 2021.
Multiple award winner
Despite only appearing in Kia PBV Centre showrooms in December 2025, the PV5 has already firmly established itself as a key player in the UK van market, while picking up a host of prestigious awards. Among the highlights, the PV5 has been named the outright 2026 ‘International Van of the Year’ winner, alongside numerous UK-focused awards, such as ‘Van of the Year’ by Electrifying.com, What Van?, Parkers and The Sun. Furthermore, the BBC TopGear.com Awards 2026 announced the PV5 Passenger as its ‘Family Car of the Year’.
