Kia PV5 Scoops Van of the Year at What Van? Awards 2026
The all-new Kia PV5 has added another prestigious award to its rapidly filling trophy cabinet after being named Van of the Year at the annual What Van? Awards.
The PV5 represents the Korean giant’s maiden dedicated entry into the light commercial vehicle market and is set to be the first in a line of electric vans developed around its state-of-the-art PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) underpinnings.
The electric model, which is positioned between the small and medium van sectors in terms of dimensions, has been sweeping up multiple accolades since its introduction, including the coveted International Van of the Year 2026.
Now the PV5 – which achieves 258-miles of range - has been awarded the top gong at the What Van? Awards, which celebrates the great and good of the commercial vehicle industry.
The PV5 had earlier scooped Compact Van of the Year ahead of the commended Ford Transit Courier, before being named the overall winner of the event.
It wasn’t the only van to take away prizes with the Ford Transit Custom and sister Volkswagen Transporter scooping both Medium Van of the Year and the Safety Award, while the Renault Master and Nissan Interstar were joint winners of the Large Van of the Year class.
Pick-Up of the Year went to the new Ford Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid), while the all-new Farizon SV was highlighted as the Zero-Emission Van of the Year.
The Toyota Hilux was named Used Van of the Year and the incoming Isuzu D-Max EV – which represents the Japanese commercial manufacturer’s first foray into electric vehicles – was named ‘One to Watch’.
The critical success of the Kia PV5 so soon after availability will give confidence to Kia’s ahead of its plans to mount a major offensive in the commercial vehicle market.
The manufacturer is plotting to create an entire commercial vehicle eco-system to assist with conversions and fleets with regular OTA (over the air) updates to ensure its vans are kept up to date and require less maintenance.
Following on from the PV5, Kia will launch the larger PV7 and PV9 vans in the next couple of years.
