Kia unveiled the PV5 Prime at the 2026 Busan Mobility Show in South Korea. The model is based on the PV5 Passenger, and is one of three new additions to the PV5 range shown at the event.
Unlike the standard PV5 Passenger, the Prime has been developed as a more premium rear-seat-focused conversion, and we reckon it’s good for both personal and business mobility use cases.
We got to experience the features and comfort of the PV5 Prime, and here’s our first-hand account.
Exterior
The PV5 Prime includes model-specific details such as Moonscape Matte Gray and Snow White Pearl paint finishes, a black skid plate, unique alloy wheels and Prime badging. These elements differentiate the model from the standard PV5 Passenger, but looks-wise, we didn’t notice anything dramatically different.
Interior
The PV5 Prime replaces the standard rear bench with individual second-row seats mounted on sliding rails. The seats include ventilation and can be repositioned to suit different seating arrangements.
We also noticed a special dual-tone brown and dark grey finish on the seats and dashboard, which appears unique to the Prime.
Experience in the PV5 Prime
I spent most of my time in the second row of the PV5 Prime, and it feels much more special than the standard PV5 Passenger we experienced earlier. The individual rear seats, which are unique to this version, make the biggest difference.
Considering my six-foot frame, under-thigh support is very good, and the backrest support also felt properly designed for a long-distance shuttle or chauffeur-style use case. Shoulder support is acceptable, though the cushions could have been slightly wider. That said, overall comfort level is good.
The two armrests are useful and provide enough support, while overall space is abundant. The seats slide forward and backward on rails, and I was able to recline the backrest almost fully. The powered leg rest deploys electrically and gives the rear seat a proper lounge-seat feel, with good thigh and under-thigh support once extended.
In the fully reclined position, the Prime feels closer to a business-class shuttle than a normal van-based people mover, and the flat floor helps it feel roomy.
Kia has also added small but useful amenities around the rear seats. There are cup holders on the side of the seats, rear air vents, USB ports built into the front seatback console areas and a 250-volt, 16-amp power outlet at the back.
These details should make the Prime easier to use as a premium shuttle, hotel transfer van or executive van.
One thing I missed was a sunroof or glass roof. The cabin still feels spacious, but a glass panel would have made the rear area feel more open. As with the regular PV5, the rear side windows do not roll down. Instead, only a small section of the glass slides open, which helps ventilation but does not give passengers the same open-window feel as a conventional vehicle.
Specifications
Kia has not released separate powertrain specifications or battery details for the PV5 Prime. The vehicle is based on the existing PV5 Passenger line.
The standard PV5 Passenger is available with two battery options: a 51.5 kWh pack paired with an 89.4 kW front-mounted electric motor, and a 71.2 kWh battery matched to a 120 kW motor. In U.S. terms, that works out to about 120 hp and 161 hp, respectively. Both versions produce 184 lb-ft of torque and drive the front wheels through a single-speed transmission.
The larger battery delivers up to 256 miles of range on the WLTP cycle. A 10-80% DC fast charge takes around 30 minutes.
Pricing & Availability
Also See: First Look Review: Kia PV5 7-seater has brilliant space, basic interior
Kia has not confirmed pricing, market availability or launch timing for the PV5 Prime, but it’s evident to us that South Korea will be the first to receive it. The company has also not announced whether this version will be offered in Canada, where the PV5 Cargo goes on sale towards the end of the year.
As for the U.S., Kia is testing prototypes of the PV5 here, but there’s no definite plan to sell any variant of the electric van stateside for the moment.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
