Kia Unveils Its ID. Buzz Fighter

When you think of Kia, you probably think of cheap and cheerful sedans or crossovers that offer lots of space and features at lower-than-average prices. But what happens when the automaker launches a serious competitor for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz with just as much quirky van style and no retro baggage attached?

The Kia PV5 is that model. Kia first previewed its new cargo and passenger hauler at CES in 2024. Now, the exterior design of the first model has been revealed, built on a new platform that will let the automaker give you more customization options, including different body styles. The PV5 will come to market with not two but three different bodies, and that’s just a start.

Kia’s New Flexible Cargo EVs Are Coming

We’re focused on the passenger model more than the cargo one, so if you’re an Amazon driver excited for their new ride, scroll down a bit. The PV5 Passenger has ultra-tall windows and a very low beltline for excellent sightlines for your passengers. The dark trim surrounding the greenhouse will be part of the vehicle’s signature, helping make the model look a little less slab-sided with all that glass.

The geometric cladding around the wheel wells is meant to help make it look like Kia’s SUVs. It’s also intended to suggest that this has some off-road capability, though Kia hasn’t gone into what that capability might look like. That said, the PV5 concept shown at SEMA hints at what the future may hold.

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At the rear, the passenger version has a conventional liftgate. The PV5 Cargo differences start here, with twin side-opening doors instead of the hatch. This design makes it easier for constant loading and unloading, and that’s why you’ll find twin doors on nearly every cargo van around.

The Cargo model doesn’t have the rear glass of the Passenger, either, but the rest of the shape is the same.

More Innovative Models Will Be Revealed Next Week

What about the third one, you ask? Kia isn’t talking, at least not yet. With the flexible platform, some sort of chassis-cab-style model is possible, but that’s speculation on our part. Kia said, “Passenger and Cargo models will be joined by further additions to the range, including specialized conversion options.”

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There will be more PV models on the way, both larger and smaller. They are part of a concept Kia calls Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV). A business strategy the company has created to work to provide better solutions for a wider customer base. That’s corporate for “more flexible vehicles for business.”

Kia plans to unveil the PV5 range at its 2025 Kia EV Day on February 24. But we won’t see it for a few more days, with that release set for the 27th.