Kia takes on Volkswagen with £25k futuristic van – three versions available

has announced a new rival to the retro-themed as they launch their first all-electric van, with the potential of creating a variant. As many car companies expand their electric vehicle lineup to cater to a wider range of consumers, Kia is set to introduce the range of commercial vehicles, including a van and minibus.

Using the same platform as the entry-level , the and rival will sell in mainland Europe for €30,000 (£25,000), making it more affordable than . Nevertheless, the PV5 features particularly futuristic styling, including a set of thin and sculpted that span from the bumpers to the A-pillars, and a near-flat set of windows. Many examples of the electric van also feature dual-tone paintwork, with the lower half of the bodywork featuring protective elements made from grey plastic.

Three variants of the Kia PV5 will be offered from launch – the two-seater ‘Cargo’ van, the ‘Chassis Cab’ pickup, and the five-seater ‘Passenger’ model.

Despite being a fairly small van, the PV5 Cargo offers a 5.1 cubic metre load volume, twin side-opening doors, and a unique rail system that could help to make loading bulky items much easier.

Buyers can choose from three batteries, spanning from 43.3 to 71.2kWh, with high-end variants featuring a 249-mile range – around 30 less than the top Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

Speaking to the motoring publication Auto Express, Pierra Martin-Bos, PBV Director for Kia Europe, hinted that the brand could be interested in expanding the van’s range with a campervan version.

He explained: “Obviously there is also a big market of campervans that have been built by [other brands] so therefore we want to consider these partnerships. It’s important that we provide for this.

“It’s also clear that when we speak about the bigger offerings today, they are very diesel-oriented, but we will change it, like everything else.”