Australia loves a ute, but could an electric van actually make more sense? We take a closer look at the Kia PV5, a purpose-built electric van built on Kia’s E-GMP.S dedicated EV platform.
Kia says its PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) approach is designed to support cargo, passenger and high-roof configurations, making the PV5 one of the more interesting new EVs heading for Australian roads.
So, can it replace your ute? Maybe not for towing or heavy-duty tradie work, but for families, fleets, delivery drivers and anyone who mostly uses a ute for space rather than capability, the answer might be more interesting than you think.
Kia PV5 key specs
Price: $55,990 + on-roads
Battery: 71.2kWh lithium-ion NCM
Range: Up to 416km WLTP Power: 120kW
Torque: 250Nm
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Charging: 10–80% in approx. 30 mins on a 350kW DC charger AC charging: 10–100% in approx. 6h 30m on 11kW
Platform: E-GMP.S dedicated EV platform
Top speed: 135km/h
Length: 4,695mm Width: 1,895mm Height: 1,899mm Wheelbase: 2,995mm
