Back in April we got a chance to have an exclusive drive of the new Kia van at their test track facility.
We took an undisguised prototype Kia PV5 Cargo and Kia PV5 Passenger for a very quick spin during a visit to the new Kia factory in South Korea, and here's what we thought about the new medium-sized electric van.
We were lucky enough to be the first British magazine/web title to get behind the wheel of the prototype Kia PV5 Cargo.
The vehicle itself was an early pre-production model, fitted with several plastics not representative of the finished van. Which is why we're making no comment on the overall appearance or fit and finish of the van.
However, during our visit we were able to see several more advanced versions of the van with examples of the finished interior.
The overall impressions were impressive. The materials were of a high standard and the quality exactly what you would expect from a brand willing to slap a seven-year warranty on something.Â
Our test drive wasn’t exactly the immersive, hands-on experience we are used to when we test out a van for the first time. In fact, even as prototype drives go this was exceptionally brief.
If you could imagine maybe five football pitches end-to-end, that was the total distance of our test track. We managed a few up and downs, side to sides, swerving, heavy braking and of course a complete 360 rotation to test out the turning circle.
It was brief, but it was also informative. Calling on my many years of testing and of tests similar (albeit slightly longer than this one) it was possible to understand a few key points about how the PV5 drives.Â
This one comes with a heavy caveat that the surface we were testing on wasn’t any ordinary stretch of carpark, runway or even test track. It was a mirror smooth surface so pristine that a Swiss watch maker would admire the finish.
It’s not therefore really appropriate or even possible to comment on the overall ride of the van more than to say that it was supremely soft and pleasantly smooth (naturally). Without a bump, pebble or leaf within half a mile of our bit of asphalt, there was very little to unsettle the suspension, but destabilising the van showed that there was a soft edge to the ride.
The steering was light, heavily assisted and perhaps leaning towards a fraction on the wallowy side at the fringes. Again, it’s hard to be overly critical or to have a precise opinion on it as without a corner to aim at, we really were just pitching it into a curve to see how it handles the extremes. It was direct, though, meaning that its initial turn in felt very purposeful. Then as the weight begins to shift and the body to roll it feels less pointed.
The driving position, however, is something we can comment upon and thanks to a fully adjustable steering wheel and a very forward seating position relative to the front axle it felt like quite a dynamic van to be in.
Because of the seating positioning the double A-pillar is also less of a problem than you might first worry about when sat in it when stationary or from looking at it in a photograph.
Because of that advanced seating position, the mirrors do feel very close to you, but overall visibility with them isn’t an issue.
Overall, it felt like an exceptionally well-balanced van with good weight distribution from the battery pack, neatly nestled inside the van’s skateboard architecture.
As for the turning circle, well it entirely lived up to expectations. The PV5 turns like a black cab in a London street.
It is not blisteringly quick, the 120kW motor is a sensible size and 250Nm of torque means that it’s pretty punchy right from the moment you floor the throttle.
But it doesn’t feel like an excessive amount of power because the van feels bigger than it perhaps is.Â
Kia keeps mentioning that it’s actually a small van, comparing it to the likes of the Citroen e-Berlingo, when perhaps its height and width make it look more of a natural competitor to the Ford E-Transit Custom.
The 120kW motor puts its firmly in the middle of the E-Transit Custom’s power outputs and at the higher end of the small electric van segment. So it’s powerful, but only within the context of where it sits.
Pack it full of its 800kg max load, and that power will soon feel just about right.
We’re led to believe it’s an adaptation of the Kia EV3 driveline, which would mean it’s also not unduly stressed as the small electric car has more power on offer.
Even on our short stretch of test track we were able to reach the PV5’s 135kph maximum, so it’s definitely no slouch.
If you want to know more about the Kia PV5 battery, range and charging there's a seperate article on the link.
Our prototype van happily ramped up the braking as we cycled through the levels. Regenerative braking is always something that takes getting used to in each individual model, so we need some more time behind the wheel to really give a verdict on its strengths and weaknesses.
That said, it seems like a better solution than the brake pedal which felt slightly spongey. Don’t get me wrong, the brakes certainly worked, but the initial feel was a little soft. Probably not a bad thing for smooth city driving.
Ride comfort as we’ve said is hard to judge, but everything else is a big tick.
Firstly the noise, or lack of noise. The PV5 is definitely a quiet van to be in. There’s some noticeable wind noise, as you might expect, but nothing distracting.
Cabin layout and its overall general feel are also positive. The cockpit feels spacious, with ample room for knees and elbows, while also having the important functions like heating and infotainment close enough to hand.
Without having to use them while actually on the move, it’s hard to judge the overall practicality of the layout and the cabin’s ergonomics, but first impressions are that Kia has done its homework to create an interior that’s very appropriate for the sector.
Kia’s reputation for making some top notch cars in recent years has really set the bar high for its PBV project.
This first drive of an early Kia PV5 Cargo van prototype left us wanting to get behind the wheel for longer, which we are pleased to say we now have. Much much longer. More on that in a few weeks.
For now, you can read our full review of the Kia PV5 Cargo and an entirely seperate but just as interesting review of the Kia PV5 Passenger.
