Kia will unveil the PV5 WAV Side Entry, a factory-built wheelchair-accessible electric van with a two-step manual ramp rated to a maximum incline of 13.1 degrees, at the Motability Scheme Live exhibition opening Friday in Birmingham. The vehicle is a curbside-access variant of the carmaker’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup and was developed under Kia’s Made-In-Plant conversion strategy, the company confirmed in a UK press release. Production runs on the same lines as standard PV5 variants, alongside output from Kia’s dedicated conversion center.
Highlights
- Ramp delivers a maximum 13.1-degree incline, dropping to 11 degrees when deployed from a 150-millimeter curb
- Two seating layouts available: a 2-0-3 standard passenger configuration or a 2-0-1 wheelchair-user setup
- E-GMP.S architecture with 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh battery options, delivering 282 km or 391 km WLTP range
- GM Coachwork, one of Kia UK’s first five approved PBV Conversion Partners, will display three rear-entry PV5 WAV conversions at the same event
Side-Entry Configuration Targets Urban Use Cases
The PV5 WAV Side Entry introduces what Kia describes as a segment-first side-entry layout for the small van category, allowing wheelchair users to board directly from the curb. The configuration is optimized for urban applications including private transport, taxi services, and shuttle operations.
The two-step manual ramp accommodates variable road and pavement conditions, with an integrated floor lighting module to improve visibility during boarding. Reinforced floor structures and an integrated wheelchair anchorage system handle securement during transport. A 60:40 split, tip-up third-row seat lets a companion travel alongside the wheelchair user.
Centrally positioning the wheelchair space — rather than at the rear, the more common WAV configuration — creates what Kia frames as a more integrated cabin layout for occupants.
E-GMP.S Platform and WLTP Range
The PV5 WAV Side Entry is underpinned by Kia’s E-GMP.S architecture (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service), the dedicated PBV variant of the broader E-GMP EV platform. Buyers can specify either a 51.5 kWh battery rated at 89.4 kW or a 71.2 kWh long-range pack rated at 120 kW. Torque is 250 Nm on both versions.
WLTP-rated range is 282 km (175 miles) for the standard battery and 391 km (243 miles) for the long-range pack. WLTP figures are not directly comparable to EPA-rated range used in North American markets, where the same vehicle would typically rate meaningfully lower. DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent is rated at 30 minutes; AC charging covers the same window in 4 hours 45 minutes or 6 hours 30 minutes depending on battery.
For context, the PV5 Passenger long-range variant available in the UK is rated at 249 miles WLTP — roughly six miles more than the WAV Side Entry’s 243-mile figure. The gap reflects the added weight of the wheelchair ramp assembly (28 kg), reinforced floor structures, and the anchorage system, all of which trade range for accessibility hardware.
Standard ADAS coverage includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist 2 with Hands-On Detection, and a Surround View Monitor.
GM Coachwork Adds Three Rear-Entry Conversions
Alongside the factory-built Side Entry vehicle, GM Coachwork will display three rear-entry PV5 WAV conversions at Motability Scheme Live: the eChorus, eQuantum, and eNevada. The conversions feature a fold-flat ramp system, powered tailgate with automatic ramp deployment, and full drive-from-wheelchair capability.
GM Coachwork is one of the first five approved PBV Conversion Partners in Kia’s UK network, a model the carmaker has used to scale conversion output across European markets without committing the full lineup to factory-line production.
UK pricing and final market specifications for the PV5 WAV Side Entry will be announced later this year
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