Autocar names the Kia PV5 Passenger ‘Best Large Car’ at the 2026 Autocar Awards
Judges praise the PV5 Passenger for redefining what an all-electric MPV and LCV can be
Recognition highlights the PV5 Passenger’s progressive design, clever packaging, value and expanding versatility
PV5 Passenger demonstrates Kia's PBV strategy by offering modular electric mobility across diverse transport applications
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 18, 2026: Kia Corporation (Kia) today announced that the Kia PV5 Passenger has been named ‘Best Large Car’ at the 2026 Autocar Awards.
The Autocar Awards judges praised the PV5 Passenger as a standout example of how electric commercial vehicles can be reimagined, citing its progressive design, clever packaging and exceptional value. Judges also highlighted the model’s forward-thinking styling, refined driving dynamics and efficient interior layout.
Autocar also recognized the PV5 Passenger’s strong performance and range, made possible by Kia’s PBV dedicated E-GMP.S platform, while noting its attractive positioning as a new benchmark for both electric LCVs and MPVs. With versatile 7-seater and wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) versions planned, Autocar concluded that the PV5 represents one of the smartest, most imaginative and accessible all-electric LCV and MPV propositions on the market today.
“The Autocar Award for the Kia PV5 Passenger is strong recognition of our commitment to redefining the electric vehicle experience for customers,” said Sang Dae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of PBV Division at Kia Corporation. “With its flexible interior, dedicated EV platform and expanding range of passenger, cargo and conversion variants, the PV5 shows how Kia’s PBV strategy can create new value across personal mobility, business use and specialized transportation. This award is a meaningful milestone as we continue to build a global PBV lineup designed around real customer needs.”
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 family car for some considerable time to come – and we like it a lot.”
How does the Autocar Award recognize the Kia PV5 Passenger?
The 2026 Autocar Awards recognize the PV5 Passenger as a vehicle that brings new thinking to the large car category. By combining MPV practicality with the flexibility of a modular platform, the PV5 Passenger offers a new approach to passenger mobility for families, businesses and specialized transport users.
Autocar’s recognition reflects the PV5 Passenger’s ability to combine everyday usability, passenger comfort and electric efficiency in a vehicle designed from the outset to support a broad range of customer needs.
The PV5 Passenger is a core member of the Kia PV5 family, sitting alongside the Cargo model, with WAV, Crew and Chassis Cab variants expected to join the lineup in due course.
What makes the Kia PV5 Passenger a compelling all-electric MPV?
Ushering in a new era for Kia, the all-electric PV5 Passenger MPV has been designed to offer flexible passenger mobility supported by dedicated electric vehicle platform.
The PV5 Passenger is available as a 5-seater and a choice of two battery options: Standard Range 51.5 kWh and Long Range 71.2 kWh. A 7-seater version has also joined the lineup, offering a 2-2-3 layout that provides generous seating for seven adults, along with 350 liters of luggage space behind the third row of seats.
All PV5 Passenger models are equipped with a wide range of features, including a 12.9-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, a 7.5-inch cluster, and front and rear parking sensors with rear camera.
The PV5 Passenger has also received updates for the 2027 model year, including a new antenna design that reduces overall vehicle height to below 1.9 meters, a height-adjustable driver’s armrest, and a walk-away automatic locking system.
How does the PV5 Passenger support Kia’s PBV strategy?
The PV5 Passenger plays a central role in Kia’s global PBV strategy, which aims to provide flexible mobility solutions built around diverse customer use cases.
Based on Kia’s dedicated PBV platform, the PV5 family has been developed to support multiple body types and usage scenarios, from passenger transport and cargo movement to wheelchair-accessible mobility and chassis-based conversion applications.
The PV5 Passenger demonstrates how Kia’s PBV approach can bring together electric mobility, modular design and customer-focused packaging to serve both personal and commercial mobility needs.
What recognition has the Kia PV5 already received?
The Kia PV5 has already established itself as a key player in the electric van and MPV market, earning a series of major awards. The PV5 has been named the 2026 ‘International Van of the Year,’ alongside recognition from several leading UK media titles. The PV5 Passenger has also been named ‘Family Car of the Year’ at the BBC TopGear.com Awards 2026.
Kia has also established a strong record at the Autocar Awards. Recent honors 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.
About Kia Corporation
Kia (www.kia.com) is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been providing mobility solutions for more than 80 years. With 52,000 employees worldwide, a presence in more than 190 markets, and manufacturing facilities in six countries, the company today sells around three million vehicles a year. Kia is spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging millions of people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around. The company’s brand slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ – reflects Kia’s commitment to inspire consumers through its products and services.