Kia PV5 gets seven-seat option and fresh updates

On sale October 2026 | Price from £36,995

Bonnie Tyler once sang about holding out for a hero, and while she’s unlikely to have been referencing the Kia PV5 people carrier, the title could just as well apply. That’s because despite already being the best MPV on sale, it’s been made even more tempting thanks to the arrival of a seven-seat version.

Available exclusively with the 71.2kWh (usable capacity) Long Range battery, the seven-seat PV5 is officially capable of more than 242 miles of driving. That’s slightly less than seven-seater versions of the Volkswagen ID Buzz, which officially manage up to 291 miles. It’s also a handy leap over the 143-mile ranges of Van-based MPVs including the Citroen e-Spacetourer and Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric – though it’s worth noting that those models are available with up to nine seats.

Power comes from a 161bhp electric motor which drives the front wheels, and in our experience in the five-seat model, performance should be gutsy enough to ensure smooth driving on the motorway. It won't be Faster Than The Speed of Night, but should be peppy enough for the needs of most buyers.

As you might expect, with all seven seats in use the available boot space inside the PV5 shrinks, to 318 litres. Still, that’s about the same as you’d find in the Volkswagen Golf family car, so a couple of suitcases aren’t likely to pose any trouble. If you fold down the third row of seats, the space opens up to a van-like 785 litres.

The seven-seat PV5 is being introduced alongside a range of updates for the 2027 model year, designed to broaden the appeal of the people carrier. These include the arrival of a new range-topping Elite trim level, which brings luxuries including electric sliding doors, ventilated front seats, a surround-view monitor and a blind spot warning system. This sits above the existing entry-level Essential and the mid-range Plus trims.

Standard kit for the seven-seat PV5 includes 16-in alloy wheels, a multi-position driver’s armrest and a heat pump for efficient warming of the car’s interior.

The only option for potential buyers to choose is premium paintwork, which costs £750 across Essential and Plus trims.

While all versions of the PV5 in five-seat form are eligible for a £1500 discount through the Government’s Electric Car Grant, it’s yet to be revealed whether the same will apply for the seven-seat model.

Even so, with prices starting at £36,995 for the seven-seat PV5, the Kia represents a substantial saving over the ID Buzz LWB, which costs £60,533. 

The table below shows how each version of the PV5 measures up in terms of pricing.

The PV5 has already impressed us in five-seat form, scooping our MPV of the Year Award back in January. And in commercial vehicle form, the PV5 Cargo is our reigning Van of the Year. It's already a hero, then, but in seven-seat form, the best may be yet to come.

Read more: Best and worst 7-seat cars >>

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