Kia EV5 vs Kia Pv5

What's the difference?

Make no mistake, you are looking at the biggest challenge the all-conquering Tesla Model Y has ever faced in Australia.

It’s the Kia EV5, a mid-size, all-electric SUV the Korean brand thinks will be its best-selling EV by some margin.

Oh, and it’s cheaper than the Tesla, by more than a little bit.

So, is this the electric SUV that might finally put an end to Tesla’s winning run in Australia?

The all-new PV5 Cargo is Kia’s first full-electric van which expands the popular Korean brand’s growing electrified vehicle range into Australia’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment.

Designed from the ground up on Kia’s new E-GMP.S chassis platform, which is specifically designed for current and future electric LCV applications, the PV5 eliminates the compromises often associated with adapted internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms to optimise interior space, ease of loading and drivetrain efficiency with 400km-plus driving range.

It has not only won the prestigious 2026 International Van of the Year award but its compact dimensions also carve out a new niche for buyers wanting a vehicle larger than a small van (under 2.5-tonne GVM) but more compact than a mid-size one (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM).

We recently spent a working week behind the wheel to see if this purpose-built full-electric newcomer has what it takes to win over Aussie van buyers.