You may not know it, but minivans are making a comeback in the US. Look around, and you’ll start to notice an uptick in these breadboxes on wheels.

Sales were up 21 percent in 2025, suggesting that the humble minivan is shaking off its “uncool” stigma and finding new fans among an SUV-weary public. I’m here for it.

One of the companies currently carrying the torch for minivans is Kia, which has sold its popular Carnival minivan here since 2021. Kia is also one of the few automakers making all-electric vans.

This week, the Korean automaker rolled out its new PV7 at IAA Transportation in Germany. This is the second electric van from Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup, following the PV5 “people mover,” which went on sale in 2025.

The PV7 is longer than the PV5 by about 2 feet and comes in two variants, one for passengers and one for cargo. All of which is to say that Kia should bring its increasingly interesting electric vans to the US.

If they are attractively priced — and this is Kia, so it’s safe to assume that’s possible — I really think these vans would do numbers. 1/5The PBV vans are technically impressive on several levels.

S) that features a flat-floor layout for easy loading and unloading. 2kWh one.

8 miles) on the generous WLTP cycle (which tends to be around 10–20 percent more generous than the EPA’s estimates). It’s built on an 800-volt architecture, which enables 10—80 percent charging in under 25 minutes using a 350kW DC fast charger.

And it supports vehicle-to-load outlets to power external tools and equipment. 1/6This all sounds great!

And the design is just forward-looking enough to erase any concerns about the typical clunkiness of van ownership. The front end features a distinctive two-tone design with a dark upper section that wraps around the windshield, giving it a visor-like appearance.

The upright look and tall, flat roof suggests a large interior space perfect for vanlife compartmentalization. The low front bumper and plastic body cladding around the base add a rugged, practical border.

Both the passenger and cargo versions feature distinctive wheels with a squarish multi-spoke design. It’s not boring, but it’s not so in your face as to challenge your worldview.