Kia adds seven-seat PV5 Passenger and new Elite trim as electric people mover targets taxi and airport operators
- Perry Richardson
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Kia has expanded its all-electric PV5 Passenger range with the launch of a new seven-seat variant and a high-specification Elite trim level, broadening the vehicle’s appeal to taxi operators, airport transfer firms and shared mobility providers.
The latest additions form part of the model-year 2027 update programme for the PV5 Passenger, with order books opening on 8 June and first UK customer deliveries scheduled from October. The move strengthens Kia’s position in the growing electric multi-passenger vehicle sector, where operators are increasingly seeking larger zero-emission vehicles capable of carrying groups while maintaining low operating costs.
The new PV5 Passenger 7-seat introduces a three-row seating layout in a 2-2-3 configuration and is designed to serve a range of passenger transport applications. Kia said the model is suitable for family travel, ride-hailing services, airport transfers, commercial shuttle operations and other shared mobility uses.
Built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP.S electric platform, the seven-seat variant offers up to 318 litres of luggage capacity behind the third row, increasing to 785 litres when the rear seats are folded. The manufacturer said the platform enables up to 1,041mm of legroom, 1,076mm of headroom and 1,732mm of shoulder room, while also supporting connectivity features that can integrate with fleet management systems.
The UK-market seven-seat model will be offered exclusively with Kia’s 71.2kWh long-range battery. The vehicle is expected to deliver more than 390km of driving range on the WLTP test cycle, subject to final homologation. Charging speeds of up to 150kW allow the battery to be replenished from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
Alongside the new body style, Kia has introduced an Elite trim grade above the existing Essential and Plus specifications. The Elite model adds electric sliding doors, ventilated front seats, surround-view monitoring, blind-spot view monitoring, side parking sensors, full PU upholstery and premium paint as standard.
The MY27 updates also bring a number of usability enhancements across the PV5 Passenger line-up. These include a height-adjustable driver armrest, walk-away locking functionality and a compact roof antenna designed to help keep overall vehicle height below 1.9 metres, improving access to height-restricted locations such as multi-storey car parks.
For taxi and private hire operators, the PV5 continues to offer features aimed at urban use, including a 5.5-metre turning radius, advanced driver assistance systems and a digital cockpit featuring a 12.9-inch infotainment display and 7.5-inch driver instrument screen. Plus and Elite models also include Vehicle-to-Load technology, allowing external devices to be powered directly from the vehicle.
Pricing for the seven-seat PV5 Passenger starts at £36,995 on-the-road for the Essential grade, rising to £41,975 for the flagship Elite version. The five-seat range continues from £33,195 before application of the Government’s Electric Car Grant, with eligible variants receiving a £1,500 reduction.
The expansion comes as Kia continues to build out its Platform Beyond Vehicle strategy. The company plans to add the larger PV7 in 2027 and PV9 in 2029, creating a broader electric commercial and passenger vehicle line-up targeted at fleet, mobility and specialist transport operators. The PV5 range already includes Cargo, Passenger, Chassis, Crew and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle derivatives, providing a platform that can be adapted for a wide variety of transport requirements.
