Kia PV5 was named TopGear's "family car of the year." This is the first time a van, rather than a passenger car, has received this award. That the PV5, which already won "International Van of the Year," has again been honored as a "family car" is further proof of the PV5's versatile usefulness.
The Kia PV5 (The Kia PV5, hereafter PV5) on the 26th of last month (local time), at the U.K. automotive media TopGear's (TopGear) "2026 TopGear.com Awards," received the "Family Car of the Year" award in the PV5 passenger model.
The PV5 had already been unanimously selected by 26 judges as "International Van of the Year," the top award in the light commercial vehicle industry. The van award was a first for a Korean brand and the first for an Asian electric light commercial vehicle, setting a rare record.
This TopGear award shows that the PV5 has been setting a new benchmark in the electric commercial vehicle market since its global market debut. The fact that a van, the PV5, was the first such vehicle to be chosen for TopGear Awards' Family Car of the Year—an honor usually given to SUVs and passenger cars—says a lot.
TopGear's Jack Scarlett said, "The PV5 combines generous space, a forward-looking and fresh style, and excellent efficiency while remaining competitively priced," and noted, "It is a car that stands out for detailed design aimed at family customers and a clear direction, with excellent driving performance and quietness that surpasses other electric cars."
TopGear also expressed high expectations for the PV5's scalability, noting that in addition to the five-seat passenger PV5 launched in Europe, a 6-7 seat version and PV5 WAV for people with reduced mobility to be released later will offer a variety of models to meet customer needs.
The PV5 is Kia's first electrified dedicated PBV model and, based on the PBV-exclusive electrified platform "E-GMP.S (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service)," can provide a variety of personal mobility services.
Marc Hedrich, head of the Europe region, said, "The PV5 passenger opens a new chapter in practical electrified mobility: its generous space, flexible modular structure, and refined driving experience show that PBVs can upgrade family daily life," and noted, "This TopGear award proves that and will give Kia strong momentum to expand PBVs in Europe."
Hyundai Motor Company's small electric car Casper Electric was also named "Supermini of the Year" at this ceremony.
Casper Electric was launched in Europe by Hyundai Motor Company to accelerate the popularization of electric cars. It features a sturdy yet compact SUV style that is easy to drive in urban areas and a maximum range of 229 miles (about 369 km), delivering strong performance even on long-distance trips.
Tom Ford, deputy editor of TopGear, said, "Casper Electric is a small but strong car that blends enjoyable design, excellent performance and practicality," and explained the selection by saying, "It scored highly for versatility, fast charging speed, driving performance and driving enjoyment."
Hyundai Motor Group extended its record to five consecutive years of wins at the TopGear Awards with this award.
Hyundai Motor Company in '21 received Manufacturer of the Year (manufacturer of the year), i20 N (Car of the Year); in '22 N Vision 74 (Instant Icon Award); in '23 Ioniq 5 N (Car of the Year); and in '24 Santa Fe (Car of the Year), with the Santa Fe earning that honor.
Kia, with the PV5's Family Car of the Year award, extended its consecutive TopGear Awards wins to five years following '21 EV6 (Crossover of the Year), '22 Kia (Manufacturer of the Year), '23 EV9 (Family Car of the Year), and '24 EV3 (Crossover of the Year).
The TopGear Awards are an annual automotive awards ceremony run by U.K. automotive media TopGear magazine, evaluating new cars released globally over the past year across criteria such as technological innovation, design, practicality, driving performance and running costs, and selecting a "car of the year" for each segment.
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