Kia’s PV5 is spacious, practical and fun

Kia's PV5 Passenger car was introduced here last November along with its PV5 Cargo van sibling, both available only as fully electric models. Built in Korea, PV5 is the brand’s first model to launch under its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy, which will be used for van-like vehicles in the future.

This five-seater was designed to meet the evolving needs of modern transportation, so should attract attention from corporate businesses, hotels, taxi operators, and families looking for an alternative to buying a large SUV. A seven-seat option is due here this summer, depending on customer demand.

This big vehicle measures 4,695mm in length, 1,895mm in width, 1,899mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,955mm, ensuring huge interior space for all occupants and their luggage.

The fact that it is van-derived is obvious when you see the car in the metal, and its exterior styling may put off some buyers. That said, I thought it had its own simple styling and was not as boxy-looking as its van sibling. A key selling point is the big space, comfort, and practicality it provides.

You note all the tinted glass windows, huge windscreen, twin sliding side doors, short overhangs, small 16-inch wheels that extend far out to the corners, and wonder if they are big enough to support the weight of such a large, heavy vehicle. But they do their job well, ensuring the car’s good handling, and help provide a best-in-class turning circle of 5.5 metres, which is useful when parking.

Climbing up into my driver’s seat, using the sturdy grip handle, I noted the huge space upfront provided in part by the car’s upright front end, the excellent visibility thanks to the large window area made possible by the car’s low beltline, and the high dashboard. My car had elevated front seats with power adjustments and lumbar support. They can also be heated and ventilated. With my seat raised, I was able to get a really good driving position and a great view out. Side windows are high and deep but don’t open the whole way down. Front doors have three tiers of storage spaces.

Large side mirrors have blind spot monitors, but when you indicate to make a turn, the road behind is also shown on a circular screen on that side of the driver’s screen, which is a great help, especially in urban areas, to avoid cyclists or e-scooters.

The 12.9-inch free-standing infotainment display screen controls most of the car’s functions, but you have a row of buttons below for some key functions, including opening the tailgate, park assist, and Auto Hold. The 7.5-inch driver’s information cluster provides all the necessary information in a clear format. The multi-function steering wheel can be heated and has a drive mode selector control for Eco, Normal, and Snow modes. A twisty-type automatic gear selector is to the side of the wheel.

Other storage spaces include a very decent glovebox and a good pull-out drawer on the base of the central console. There are two C-type USBs, a wireless phone charger, a 12V power socket, and a 3-pin plug.

Twin, manually operated, sliding doors provide easy access to the second row, and large grip handles help getting in and out, as does the one-step access. Three adults can sit in big comfort, enjoying a flat floor and a slightly elevated long footrest to rest their feet on. The outer two seats have ISOFIX child seat anchors and can be heated. Side rear windows manually slide open but actually open just a small section. There are no rear cupholders, but you can buy some and other accessories as clip-on extras.

Superlatives also apply to the boot, enormous with 1,330 litres of luggage space with all rear seats in place, and expandable to 3,615 litres with them folded down - large enough for an overnight sleep! There are three underfloor areas for cables and other stuff. The huge power-operated tailgate is height-adjustable.

Just one spec is offered. Standards are LED headlights, artificial leather seats, single-zone automatic air conditioning, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice control, a 360-degree surround view monitor, a very good reversing camera, a heat pump, all-around rear parking sensors, and Vehicle-to-Load capability, to name but a few.

My car was powered by the bigger 71.2kWh battery on offer that drives a front-mounted electric motor producing 161hp and 250Nm torque and offering up to 416km of range and ultra-fast charging capability from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Charging with a 7kW wallbox at home would take up to 10 hours. A full charge showed 335km, which was fine, with energy consumption shown as 20.6kWh/100km.

PV5 has secured a top 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. However, I turned off the driver monitoring system and the lane assist features.

I found the car a gem to drive, very quiet on the road with little noise filtering into the cabin, and also plenty agile for its size. An ideal car with space for all the family's sports gear or for shopping sprees to Ikea. Towing capacity is 750 to 1,500kg.

PV5 carries a 7-year warranty/150,000 km and an 8-year battery warranty.

PRICE: from €42,550 including SEAI and VRT grant. Road tax is €120.