Kia PV5 Cargo Sets Guinness World Record with 430 Mile Drive on a Single Charge

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Kia’s all-new PV5 Cargo (71.2 kWh) has made history, by setting a Guinness World Record and setting a new global benchmark for its all electric range.

The PV5 travelled 693.38 kilometres which equated to around 430 miles on a single charge while carrying its maximum payload.

This record breaking drive took place in Germany in late September 2025, under real-world conditions. The route was carefully designed to replicate the daily realities of delivery and logistics operations. Over a 58.2 kilometre urban route (around 38 miles), the PV5 Cargo faced traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts and elevation changes, and was completed the 12 times whilst also carrying its maximum payload. The demanding conditions that the course set out highlight the PV5 Cargo’s exceptional efficiency and reliability.

Driving the van during the record breaking attempt was George Barrow, a respected commercial vehicle journalist who specialised in vans and Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Euope Technical Centre.

“I'm genuinely excited to have been part of this incredible Guinness World Records achievement. It was a demanding but unforgettable journey,” said Barrow. “I was seriously impressed by how far the Kia PV5 can go: more than 430 miles on a single charge and with a full payload. That’s no small feat, and I have a feeling this record won’t be easy to beat! ThePV5 and Christopher were great teammates for this challenge, and I’m proud to have been part of a record that pushes the boundaries for electric vans.”

“As an engineer, this challenge was both technical and personal,” said Christopher Nigemeier, Senior Engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center. “George brought an incredible amount of driving experience from testing other vans, while I had the advantage of knowing the PV5’s powertrain inside out. It became a friendly competition between us - who could squeeze the most out of each kilowatt-hour. In the end, it was the vehicle itself that impressed us both.”

Kia’s engineers have fine-tunes the PV5 to practical use, with internal test showing that even with an extra 100kg of payload, the range only drops by around 1.5%.

The Kia PV5 cargo features a clean, modern and functional design, and its boxy shape maximises interior space while the bold geometric lines and black cladding give it a rugged, capable appearance. The interior boasts a cloth upholstery and height adjustable front seats and a bio-artificial leather steering wheel. It also has a 12.9 inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Want to know more about the PV5? Click here for more information.