Kia's latest checks all the boxes and the price is right

KIA have gone on a bit of a solo run of late, banging out excellent but pricey electric cars in the form of the brilliant new EV4 and EV5, their beautiful and top of the range new midsize SUVs.

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We wrote about them a couple of weeks back and said they ticked every box going in terms of range, appearance, driving qualities and so on, but we did caution that the prices in the late 40s and early 50s were likely to see some potential buyers turn to the cheaper Chinese offerings.

We also wrote recently and separately about the lack of a value, large electric vehicle for bigger young families, as it’s getting harder and harder to find a car with three isofix child seat locking points across the second row, meaning families with only three children are often forced into the far more expensive 7-seat options, which in electric land sets you back some serious dough.

Well it would seem Kia were aware of the same gripes and spotted a dent in the market as they've just announced two versions of an all-new class for them that would seem to tick a lot of boxes for Irish consumer and professional needs.

Behold Kia's first light van, the PV5, which will be sold in a Cargo AND Passenger form.

Initially to be sold here in a five-seater format with a boot you could store a train in, you'll be glad to know that the PV5 WILL be coming as a 7-seater in the very near future and hopefully in time for the 262 plate. We had a quick drive of the passenger variant at its launch in a rain-lashed Sandyford in Dublin last week and I came away impressed at how comfortable it was to drive.