Two of last year’s most exciting new commercial vehicles have been named overall winners at the inaugural Van Reviewer Awards.
The Kia PV5 has been crowned Best New Van at the Van Reviewer What To Buy Awards 2026, while the Ford Ranger PHEV has taken the title of Best New Pick-Up.
The new awards recognise the very best vans and pick-ups on sale in the UK, with a strong focus on real-world usability and ownership.
The Kia PV5 secured a main award following its arrival as one of the most significant new electric vans to enter the UK market. The win follows a successful year for the Kia electric van, which also achieved a Guinness World Record and claimed the coveted International Van of the Year title.
Built on a dedicated electric van platform as part of thew new Kia PBV range, the PV5 Cargo and Passenger have been recognised for their flexible body configurations, impressive electric driveline and overall quality of the purpose-built electric light commercial vehicle.
The PV5’s modular design, its car-like yet highly practical interior, advanced technology and all-round usability make it an attractive proposition for operators looking to transition to zero-emission vans without compromising day-to-day functionality. It made it an obvious choice for the Best New Van 2026 award.
Sharing the headlines is the Ford Ranger PHEV, which has been awarded Best New Pick-Up as the sector’s first plug-in hybrid version of the UK’s best-selling pick-up.
The Ranger PHEV combines a petrol-electric drivetrain with four-wheel drive, offering electric-only driving while retaining the payload, towing capability and off-road performance expected of a Ranger.
Ford’s plug-in hybrid Ranger gives both fleet and private buyers a lower-emissions option without sacrificing the versatility that has made it Europe’s most popular pick-up. It's also arrived at the perfect time for buyers as a result of the tax changes for double cab pick-up trucks.
The Van Reviewer Awards 2026 mark the first year of recognising the vans and pick-up trucks buyers should consider when making a new commercial vehicle purchase. The Van Reviewer What To Buy Awards cover all segments of the light commercial vehicle industry, from car-derived to large vans, across both combustion-engine and zero-emission drivetrains.
Future models are also recognised through the Best Van To Wait For and Best Pick-Up Truck To Wait For awards, highlighting that innovation in the commercial vehicle sector never stops and that these significant new products are on the horizon and worth waiting for.
The full list of category winners can be found in the Van Reviewer Awards section, where small, medium and large vans, as well as best work and lifestyle pick-ups, have all been recognised.
