The Kia PV5 Cargo has been named both the ‘Van of the Year’ and ‘Compact Van of the Year’ at the 2026 What Van? Awards.
The What Van? Awards celebrate the best brands, products and businesses in the LCV industry, with a glamourous awards event hosted at the London Hilton Bankside hotel. Awards are evaluated by a distinguished panel of independent experts from across the UK LCV sector.
The PV5 Cargo was praised for its sophisticated design and strong single-charge driving range, while also earning high marks for comfort, precise steering, cabin quietness and overall drivability. It also received a perfect 10/10 score in a separate review published by What Van?, the only electric LCV to achieve this year-to-date, further validating its standout product capabilities.
Commenting on behalf of the judging panel, James Dallas, Editor of What Van?, said: “’The Kia PV5 Cargo is a well-researched and meticulously developed electric van that has immediately gone to the top of its class with its sophisticated, versatile design coupled with outstanding battery range.”
Paul Philpott, President & CEO of Kia UK, added: “Winning ‘Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards is a tremendous endorsement for the PV5 that arrives just as the very first units arrive in the UK. We believe PV5 sets new benchmarks for the industry, thanks to its flexible platform, advanced electrified powertrain, and great value for customers. We are immensely proud of this new product, and our new UK network of dedicated PBV dealerships will lead the way in demonstrating its strengths to customers as we seek to lead electrification efforts in the light commercial vehicle sector.”
Awards haul
From winning the ‘One to Watch’ accolade at the 2025 What Van? Awards to ‘Van of the Year’ at this year’s event shows the progression and immediate impact the PV5 has had on the LCV industry.
These latest awards join the Kia PV5’s fast-growing collection, having this year already picked up the ‘2026 International Van of the Year’ trophy; ‘Best Electric Van’ and outright ‘Van of the Year’ at the 2026 Parkers Van and Pickup Awards; and ‘The Sun Van of the Year’ at the News UK Awards. The PV5 Passenger has also been named ‘Family Car of the Year’ at the BBC TopGear.com Awards 2026.
The Kia PV5 Cargo
The Kia PV5 Cargo is initially available in L2/H1 form with a choice of two battery packs to prioritise range and payload. The PV5 Cargo Long Range delivers up to 258 miles on a single charge (WLTP Combined), and has a payload capacity of 690kg. The PV5 Cargo Standard Range offers up to 184 miles of range (WLTP Combined) and offers a payload up to 790kg. Future variants will include L1/H1 and L2/H2 formats, as well as Chassis Cab and Crew variants joining the line-up in 2026.
