E-Transit Custom vs ID. Buzz Cargo vs Kia PV5 vs Vivaro Electric
The Ford E-Transit Custom, Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, Kia PV5 Cargo and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric are the medium electric vans UK businesses most often weigh up. Here's how they compare on range, payload, load space, charging, towing and price.
Quick answer: which should you buy?
- Heavy loads and towing: the Ford E-Transit Custom. It has the most load space, up to 9.0m³, can tow up to 2,000kg and carries over a tonne. [1] [2]
- Maximum payload: the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, at up to 1,226kg, but it charges the slowest and has the shortest range. [3] [4]
- Range and fast charging: the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, with up to 277 miles and 185kW charging, but the least load space and payload. [5] [6] [7]
- Lowest price: the Kia PV5 Cargo, from £27,645 before the grant (£22,645 after), with room for two Euro pallets, but under 800kg of payload. [8] [9]
How do the four vans compare side by side?
| Ford E-Transit Custom | VW ID. Buzz Cargo | Kia PV5 Cargo | Vauxhall Vivaro Electric | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | 71kWh usable [10] | 79kWh; a smaller battery is also offered [5] [7] | 51.5 or 71.2kWh [11] | 75kWh [3] |
| Range, up to (official) | 232 miles [12] | 277 miles [5] | 258 miles [11] | 205–219 miles, by version [3] |
| Payload | 1,008–1,088kg [1] | about 600–765kg [7] [5] | 690–790kg [9] | up to 1,226kg [3] |
| Load space | 5.8–9.0m³ [1] | 3.9m³ [7] | 4.4–5.1m³ [9] | 5.3–6.1m³ [4] |
| Fastest DC charging | 125kW; 10–80% in about 29 min [10] | 185kW; 10–80% in 26 min [6] | 150kW; 10–80% in under 30 min [13] | 100kW; 0–80% in about 45 min [4] |
| Braked towing | up to 2,000kg [2] | 1,000kg; 1,800kg with 4MOTION [7] | not published in the UK specs we checked | 1,000kg [4] |
| Price from, excl. VAT | about £43,630 before the grant [14] | £34,460 [5] | £27,645 before the grant; £22,645 after [8] | £38,450 after the grant [15] |
Prices are on the bases shown, because manufacturers and reviewers quote them differently. Medium vans of 2.5 to 4.25 tonnes qualify for up to £5,000 off through the Zero Emission Van Grant, and dealers often discount further, so get quotes.
Which medium electric van has the longest range?
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, at up to 277 miles on the official test, followed by the Kia PV5 Cargo with its larger battery (258 miles), the Ford E-Transit Custom (232 miles) and the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric (205–219 miles). [5] [11] [12] [3] Real-world range is lower, especially in winter and with heavy loads; see how far electric vans really go.
Which carries the most?
- Payload: the Vivaro Electric leads at up to 1,226kg, with the E-Transit Custom close behind at up to 1,088kg. The PV5 Cargo (up to 790kg) and ID. Buzz Cargo (about 600–765kg, by version) carry much less. [3] [1] [9] [7]
- Load space: the E-Transit Custom is the biggest, from 5.8m³ up to 9.0m³ in the long, high-roof version. The Vivaro Electric offers 5.3m³ or 6.1m³, the PV5 Cargo 4.4m³ (enough for two Euro pallets) or 5.1m³ with a high roof, and the ID. Buzz Cargo 3.9m³. [1] [4] [9] [7]
- Coming soon: a long-wheelbase ID. Buzz Cargo with an 86kWh battery and 4.4m³ of load space went on order in Europe in September 2026. [16]
Which charges fastest?
On a rapid charger, the ID. Buzz Cargo is quickest, at up to 185kW and 26 minutes from 10% to 80%. The PV5 Cargo (150kW) and E-Transit Custom (125kW) both take around half an hour. The Vivaro Electric is slowest, at 100kW and about 45 minutes from 0% to 80%. [6] [13] [10] [4] Most vans charge overnight at home or a depot, where these differences matter less; see charging an electric van.
Which can tow the most?
The E-Transit Custom, at up to 2,000kg braked. The ID. Buzz Cargo can tow 1,000kg, or 1,800kg with four-wheel drive (4MOTION), and the Vivaro Electric 1,000kg, well below the 2,500kg of the diesel Vivaro. [2] [7] [4] We couldn't find a towing figure for the PV5 Cargo in its UK specifications, so check with Kia if you tow.
Which is cheapest?
The Kia PV5 Cargo, from £27,645 excluding VAT with the standard battery, or £22,645 after the £5,000 grant. [8] The ID. Buzz Cargo starts at £34,460 [5], the Vivaro Electric at £38,450 after the grant [15] and the E-Transit Custom at about £43,630 before the grant. [14] For running costs against a diesel Transit Custom, see diesel vs electric vans.
Which van suits which job?
- Trades carrying heavy kit or towing a trailer: E-Transit Custom, for its load space, towing and payload.
- Parcel and multi-drop work with heavy loads but short routes: Vivaro Electric, for the highest payload, as long as its range covers your day.
- Long daily mileage with lighter loads: ID. Buzz Cargo, for the longest range and fastest charging.
- Tight budgets and city work: PV5 Cargo, the cheapest of the four, with room for two Euro pallets.
For the battery maker behind each van, see who makes electric van batteries. For small and large vans, see electric vans compared.
Sources
- Ford E-Transit Custom review, Fleet News: fleetnews.co.uk
- Ford E-Transit Custom road test, What Van?: whatvan.co.uk
- Vauxhall Vivaro Electric review, Van Reviewer: vanreviewer.co.uk; honestjohn.co.uk
- Vauxhall Vivaro review, Fleet News: fleetnews.co.uk
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo review, Carwow: carwow.co.uk; evguide.uk
- Volkswagen LCV line-up and ID. Buzz charging, Fleet News: fleetnews.co.uk
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo: everything you need to know, Vans Direct: vansdirect.co.uk
- Kia PV5 UK pricing, Autotrader: autotrader.co.uk; kia.com
- Kia PV5 Cargo review, Fleet News: fleetnews.co.uk; vanaways.co.uk
- What's new for the 2026 E-Transit Custom, Ford: ford.com
- Kia PV5 prices and specifications, What Van?: whatvan.co.uk; honestjohn.co.uk
- 2026 Ford E-Transit Custom update, Van Reviewer: vanreviewer.co.uk; autotrader.co.uk
- Kia PV5 Cargo review and charging, Carwow: carwow.co.uk
- Ford E-Transit Custom review 2026, Van Reviewer: vanreviewer.co.uk; carwow.co.uk
- Vivaro panel van prices, Vauxhall UK: vauxhall.co.uk
- Long-wheelbase ID. Buzz Cargo launch, electrive: electrive.com; elektroquatsch.de