• Kia PV5 shortlisted as ‘Top Three’ contender in the 2026 World Car Design of the Year category at the World Car Awards
• Finalists selected by a jury of 98 international automotive journalists from 33 countries and announced via World Car TV
• PV5 is Kia’s first dedicated PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle), featuring a purpose-built, modular design 
• Overall winners will be announced live on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at the 2026 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)

The Kia PV5 has been named as a ‘Top Three’ vehicle in the 2026 World Car Design of the Year category at the World Car Awards. The finalists were announced virtually via World Car TV, having been selected by a jury of 98 highly respected international automotive journalists from 33 countries.

In which category was the Kia PV5 announced as a ‘Top Three’ vehicle?

The Kia PV5 was selected as a ‘Top Three’ vehicle in the 2026 World Car Design of the Year category, with the winner of the category to be announced on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

What are the Kia PV5’s key design highlights?

As Kia’s first dedicated PBV, the PV5 applies a purpose-built, modular approach to design, adaptable across passenger, cargo and conversion use cases.

Key PV5 design-focused highlights include:

• Modular “Flexible Body System” concept enabling a wide range of variants from a standardized core architecture 
• Proportions optimized for space and usability, including a 2,995 mm wheelbase and compact 5.5 m turning radius for easy urban operation 
• Low-floor, easy-access design, with step heights of 399 mm (sliding door) and 419 mm (Cargo tailgate) to support frequent and accessible entry and loading 
• Passenger- and cargo-led packaging, with a maximum cargo volume of up to 4.4 m³ (Cargo Long) and up to 5.1 m³ (Cargo High Roof variants) 

Has Kia won any World Car Awards titles before?

Kia has a strong record at recent World Car Awards events. In 2025, the Kia EV3 was named 2025 World Car of the Year, while in 2024 the Kia EV9 achieved a double victory, winning World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle.

Earlier wins include the Kia EV6 GT as 2023 World Performance Car of the Year, the Kia Telluride as 2020 World Car of the Year, and the Kia Soul EV as 2020 World Urban Car.

What other awards has the Kia PV5 won?

The Kia PV5 has already won multiple global awards, including being named ‘2026 International Van of the Year’, chosen unanimously by 26 leading commercial vehicle journalists worldwide.

Kia’s first PBV has also taken multiple independent award wins from highly respected institutions and editorial publications.

When will the overall winners of the 2026 World Car Awards be announced?

Winners in all six categories will be announced on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a live World Car Awards ceremony at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).