2027 Kia PV5 Cargo vs 2027 Ram ProMaster City: A Canadian Commercial Van Buyer’s Guide

At a glance

• Cargo volume: The PV5 Cargo lists an estimated 5,016 litres against the ProMaster City’s 4,733 litres, about 283 litres more for the Kia.
• Hauling: The ProMaster City targets 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of payload and 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of towing; the PV5 lists 1,631 lbs (740 kg) of payload, and Kia hasn’t published a towing rating.
• Powertrain: The electric PV5 offers an estimated 350 km of range (NRCan) and a 10 to 80% fast charge in about 30 minutes; the gas ProMaster City makes 166 hp and 221 lb-ft and refuels in minutes.

Key numbers

• Cargo volume: PV5 ~5,016 litres vs ProMaster City 4,733 litres (Kia +283 litres)
• Payload: ProMaster City 2,000 lbs (907 kg) vs PV5 1,631 lbs (740 kg) (Ram +369 lbs / 167 kg)
• Towing: ProMaster City 2,000 lbs (907 kg); PV5 not specified
• Energy: PV5 ~350 km estimated range on the NRCan cycle (400 km WLTP), electric; ProMaster City gas, fuel economy not specified
• Confirmed price: PV5 from $46,995 MSRP; ProMaster City not announced

The compact end of Canada’s commercial van market is picking up two new options, and they could hardly be more different under the skin. The 2027 Kia PV5 Cargo is the brand’s first dedicated commercial vehicle in Canada, a battery-electric van due in the fourth quarter of 2026. The 2027 Ram ProMaster City returns to the Ram Professional lineup as a gas-powered midsize van, with orders opening in the second half of 2026 and dealer deliveries in the first quarter of 2027. Both chase tradespeople, delivery operators and small fleets, which makes them natural cross-shops.

Here’s the catch before we start. Ram hasn’t announced Canadian pricing for the ProMaster City, so nothing below positions either van as cheaper; only the Kia’s pricing is confirmed. Several PV5 figures are Kia estimates and are labelled that way, and any number a manufacturer hasn’t released shows up as “Not specified” rather than a guess. With that settled, the comparison comes down to one axis: electric efficiency and depot charging against gas refuelling and a rated tow figure.

Cargo Space and Load Access

For a work van, the box is the whole reason to buy. Both of these prioritize a flat, usable load floor, but they get there differently.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 lists an estimated 5,016 litres of cargo volume on a 2,995-millimetre wheelbase. A low step-in height of 419 millimetres eases loading, and the rear tailgate opens through a range of 95 to 180 degrees. Kia hasn’t published cargo-area height, width or load-floor length for the Canadian model.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City lists 4,733 litres of cargo volume. The load floor runs 2,821 millimetres, with 1,243 millimetres between the rear wheel wells, enough to fit a standard pallet with room for two front to back. Maximum cargo height is 1,371 millimetres, and the box holds nearly the same shape from floor to roof. A passenger-side sliding door opens more than 910 millimetres wide, and buyers pick between 180-degree rear swing doors or, for those who load at a dock, an available liftgate with fixed glass, defrost and wiper. A 405-millimetre front step eases cabin entry, and the rear lift-in height is 590 millimetres.

Payload and Towing

Capacity decides what a van can legally carry or pull, which is usually where fleet math starts.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 lists 1,631 lbs (740 kg) of payload. Kia hasn’t specified a towing rating.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City targets more than 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of payload and 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of towing with the optional Class 3 hitch and two-inch receiver. Ram calls it a Class 2 van built to haul a ton and tow a ton.

That works out to 369 lbs (167 kg) more payload for the Ram. Whether the gap matters depends on what an operator actually loads.

Powertrain: Electric vs Gas

This is the fork in the road, and it colours everything from the morning fuel routine to the monthly energy bill.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 runs a 71.2 kWh battery feeding an electric motor rated at 161 hp and 184 lb-ft. Kia estimates about 350 km of range under Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) testing, translated from a 400 km WLTP rating. It charges through a NACS port and can go from 10 to 80% in as little as 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. A heat pump is standard, which helps hold range when the temperature drops, a real consideration for Canadian winter routes. The trade-off is straightforward: the PV5 needs access to charging, whether at a depot, at home or on a public network.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City uses a turbocharged 1.6-litre inline-four making 166 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. It fills up at any gas station in minutes, with no route planning around chargers. Ram hasn’t released Canadian fuel-economy ratings yet, so there are no L/100 km figures to compare.

Size and Garage Fit

Footprint decides whether a van fits the parkades, docks and storage bays a business already uses.

Kia PV5 Cargo. Kia now lists full exterior dimensions: 4,695 millimetres long, 1,895 millimetres wide and 1,923 millimetres tall, or 1,899 millimetres without the roof antenna, on a 2,995-millimetre wheelbase. Even with the antenna, it clears the two-metre garage mark. Kia hasn’t published a turning circle.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City measures 5,334 millimetres long, 1,924 millimetres wide and 1,947 millimetres tall, still under the two-metre garage mark Ram highlights. It rides a 3,276-millimetre wheelbase with MacPherson struts up front and an independent trailing-arm rear, and it turns inside a diameter of just over 12,800 millimetres. That makes it 639 millimetres longer than the PV5 overall, on a 281-millimetre-longer wheelbase.

Safety Technology

Driver aids cut collision risk, and for a fleet that reads as less downtime and lower repair bills.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 comes standard with Blind Spot Collision Avoidance, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Assist and Highway Driving Assist, plus front and rear parking sensors. Step up to the PV5 Plus and you add a Surround View Monitor and Blind Spot View Monitor.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City brings forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, Driver Attention Alert, automatic high beams, a digital rearview mirror, Hill-start Assist, a rear backup camera, rear parking sensors, an exterior temperature alert with ice warning and a programmable speed limiter. Front parking sensors arrive on the SLT trim.

Interior Technology and Connectivity

Screens and phone integration shape the daily grind for whoever lives in the driver’s seat.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 pairs a 7-inch digital cluster with a 12.9-inch infotainment display, and it includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, smart key with push-button start, and Kia Connect with over-the-air updates. The PV5 Plus adds wireless phone charging, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and vehicle-to-load power inside and out that can run tools or equipment off the battery.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City counters with a 10-inch digital cluster, a 10-inch centre touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 5-inch digital rearview mirror. Heated front seats are standard, and the SLT trim adds a wireless charger.

Trims and Configurations

Configuration breadth sets how close a van gets to the job before any upfitting starts.

Kia PV5 Cargo. The PV5 Cargo comes in two trims, Basic and Plus, as a two-passenger cargo van.

Ram ProMaster City. The ProMaster City Cargo Van comes in Tradesman and SLT trims, across six window-and-panel layouts. Every variant except full security panels can be optioned with the rear liftgate.

Pricing

Only one of these vans has a confirmed Canadian price, so here’s what’s known and what isn’t.

Kia PV5 Cargo. Kia has announced pricing. The PV5 Basic starts at $46,995 MSRP, or $49,744 all-in. The PV5 Plus starts at $49,095 MSRP, or $51,844 all-in.

Ram ProMaster City. Ram says ProMaster City pricing will come closer to launch. Until that number lands, there’s no honest way to compare the two on cost.

Availability

The PV5 Cargo is expected in Canada in the fourth quarter of 2026. ProMaster City orders open in the second half of 2026, with vehicles reaching dealers in the first quarter of 2027.

The Bottom Line: What’s Actually Different?

These two vans chase the same customer from opposite directions. The PV5 Cargo is electric, lists more cargo volume (5,016 litres estimated versus 4,733 litres), carries the larger centre screen, and offers vehicle-to-load power that the gas van can’t match. The ProMaster City is gas-powered, carries more on paper (2,000 lbs / 907 kg of payload versus 1,631 lbs / 740 kg), posts a tow rating the PV5 doesn’t, and runs a longer footprint.

So the decision tracks how a business actually runs. Routes and charging access point one way; gas refuelling and a tow rating point the other. Payload or cargo volume may be the binding constraint, and seating or body configuration might settle it before either. With Ram’s Canadian pricing still unannounced, cost stays out of the equation for now. The right answer is whichever set of numbers matters most to your operation.