National distributor resolutely mum on local potential for EV5 van, EV4 medium car and city-specific EV2 concept.

FULL disclosure overnight of new Kia electric models that could conceivably make major impact on the New Zealand scene has still not triggered the national distributor to offer any thought about its interest.

One product likely to be of particular interest to Kiwis is a van, the PV5, which configures in commercial and two passenger representations, a crewcab for work and a more plush passenger presentation patently for personal users.

Unveiled along with two versions of the Kia EV4 passenger car and a compact crossover concept called the EV2 (below), the PV5 is the first of a series of van-based models as part of the company’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) global strategy and represents the Hyundai Group marque’s first tilt at this kind of vehicle.

PV5 gives Kia an advantage over Hyundai, which has no EV vans, and is just the start of a much larger proposition.

Kia says it has tailored its ‘E-GMP.S’ platform to support multiple vehicle applications for a range of light commercials, including cargo vans, crew cabs, chassis cabs, passenger versions and even a light camper. Kia’s President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, has also outlined plans for larger PV7 and PV9 vans.

Meantime the production versions of PV5, which bear a close resemblance to the original design concepts showcased at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Nevada, United States, and the EV4 go intro production later this year.

The EV2 is also set for production within 18 months, however it might be the car least likely to ever show here, as it is designed foremost for Europe, where it will be built.

Production is from a plant in Slovakia that has provided vehicles to NZ in the past. The EV4 hatchback could also be specific to Europe, whereas the sister sedan is a global product.

EV4 and EV2 are based on the lower-cost front-wheel-drive version E-GMP electric-vehicle architecture – also used in the EV3 and EV5 - with 400-volt charging, as opposed to the more expensive types’ 800 volt facility.

Kia New Zealand was first asked about its interest in EV4 and PV5 a week ago, when the parent brand showed off the exteriors. It simply didn’t reply.

Now the vehicles have been fully revealed, at the 2025 Kia EV Day in Spain this week.

The brand’s public relations provider was again asked if the Auckland-based distributor was likely to offer comment today on any of the cars. Response was that this was highly unlikely.

It instead preferring to re-issue a global press release, which has plenty of comment from parent company high-ups, but nothing regionally relevant.

Coyness is nothing new for Kia NZ; it is famously reluctant to offer a heads up about its strategies. That’s in contrast with other right hand markets, notably Australia - whose line-ups are very often taken up by the NZ operations.

Kia Australia has said it wants PV5 and any other electric vans that are coming and is also keen on EV4, but the latter might only show there as a sedan, which like the PV5 is expected to come from South Korea. The EV4 hatch’s sourcing poses an issue, due to how cars are taxed across the Tasman.

There will be three different battery sizes available for the PV5. The smallest is a 43.3kWh LFP unit exclusively for the PV5 Cargo, targeting light duty and last-mile delivery operators.

Other versions, including the PV5 Cargo (below), avail with 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh NCM battery packs. Depending on specifications, driving ranges will be up to 400 kilometres.

The platform’s 400-volt architecture enables DC fast-charging from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, Kia says.

Regardless of battery size, all versions of the PV5 will be powered by a 120kW motor driving the front wheels, producing up to 121kW.

The PV5 Passenger was shown only as a five-seater with a 2-3-0 configuration, but it’s expected there will be others. It is suggested as a rival to the Ford e-Transit, Mercedes-Benz EQV and e-Vito Tourer and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

Those who experienced it in Spain say the second row provides ample legroom and headroom, with two ISOFIX mounting points and the option of electrically operated sliding rear doors. The lift-up tailgate can also be electrically operated and a low load height is noted. Kia showed off PV5 as a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, designed and built in the factory.

Traditionally, this conversion is done by a third party after production. The ramp is capable of supporting 300 kilograms and is manually opened from the PV5’s floor, providing kerbside access. The rear seat bench can also fold upwards to provide more room inside.

The plan for the Kia PV5 Cargo van is to offer the option of two wheelbase lengths and two roof heights, whereas for now just one body shape has been confirmed for the PV5 Passenger. The Cargo Long on display is 4695mm long, 1895mm wide, 1905mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2995mm.

PV5 comes equipped with a seven-inch instrument display and a 12.9-inch touchscreen.

In respect to EV4? It sits on a longer wheelbase than EV3 and EV5, at 2820mm, and is 4430mm long, 1485mm high and 1860mm wide.

Range is cited at up to 630 kilometres for the EV4 sedan (to image, immediately above) fitted with the larger of two battery options, an 81.4kWh unit. The chunkier EV4 hatchback manages up to 590km.

The same types with the smaller battery, of 58.3kWh capacity, respectively achieve WLTP ranges of 430km and 410km. Kia quotes 10-80 per cent charge times of 29 and 31 minutes for the standard and larger batteries.

All EV4s can be charged at up to 11kW on three-phase AC chargers and the charge port is located above the front wheel on the driver’s side. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality are cited, but whether that’s going to be a full international availability is not clear.