All-Electric Kia PV5 Loads Up Another Major Award
The all-new Kia PV5 Cargo has secured the top prize at the annual What Car? Van of the Year Awards 2026.
The latest of several high-profile accolades accumulated by the electric van since its launch towards the end of 2025, the PV5 was named Best Small Electric Van before going on to be named the overall winner.
The PV5, which also scooped International Van of the Year, received praise for making electric vans a ‘complete and commercially rational package’ for the first time.
While it doesn’t fit the mould of other small vans, the PV5 – which is the length of long wheelbase/extended length small vans like the Citroen Berlingo XL – has been celebrated for offering generous payload and load space for its size and running gear.
More significantly, reviewers state that the PV5 gets much closer to its claimed WLTP 258-mile range figures than other electric rivals, even with a payload in the back.
Together with a competitive price tag – which is reduced further by the UK government’s Plug-In Van Grant (PiVG) – and a generous seven-year warranty, the PV5 represents strong value for money for such a well thought out package.
Ford, Volkswagen and Renault Snap Up Awards
With the Kia PV5 Passenger claiming a hat-trick of award wins with success in the Van-based MPV segment, the remainder of the categories were shared between Ford, Volkswagen and Renault.
The Ford Transit Courier took the spoils in the Small Van class (petrol/diesel), while the Ford Ranger – which was updated with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version in 2025 – was named Best Pick-Up Truck.
The Renault Master was a double Large Van winner, taking victory in the full category before being named Best Large Electric Van in Master E-Tech guise.
Similarly, the Volkswagen Transporter was named Best Medium Van, before the Volkswagen e-Transporter claiming the Best Medium Electric Van accolade too.
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