The Kia PV5 WAV is real rarity in its class, as it is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that has been designed and built in-house by the vehicle manufacturer. This means Kia has put thought into its wheelchair-using customers right from the start, and the passenger version of the electric van will come with some features that should make life easier for them.
This includes the ability to load the wheelchair from the side door, meaning that you can get in from the curb rather than having to bump off the pavement and wheel in from the rear of the vehicle as is often the case. The ramp is fitted on the passenger side of the PV5 and is rated to take up to 300kg, which should mean it can take even a fairly hefty mobility scooter.
The only downside of loading at the side is that it would appear you would have to go in backwards in order to face forwards. Otherwise it would require a bit of fiddling around once on board. Kia has made provisions for this though, with the third row of seats being able to flip upwards to make room and allow a fellow passenger to assist with onboarding. There is also a specially designed seatbelt system to keep the chair safely in place.
On-board integration
One other benefit of the PV5 WAV being a factory-built model is that it can enjoy a greater degree of integration right from the start. Kia has said that it will be possible to connect any necessary apps up to the vehicle’s on-board software, although it hasn’t given loads of detail on what those could be and how that would work.
The WAV will be based on the passenger-carrying version of the PV5, specifically the seven-seat model but with the middle row removed. This means that there would still be seating for five on the occasions that a wheelchair isn’t on board.
Although specification details are not yet confirmed, it is likely that it will be offered with both the 51.5kWh standard range which has an electric range of up to 179 miles and the 71.2kWh long range version that claims 249 miles.
How much is the Kia PV5 WAV and when can I buy one?
Pricing and specification has not yet been finalised for the WAV, but the passenger model starts at £32,995 for the five-seat standard range model, so expect it to be a bit above that. It will also be available on Motability, which means you will be able to use your allowance to fund it.
It’s set to be available after the standard versions of the PV5, which are due to head out from the end of 2025.
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