Kia PV5 Conversion
A purpose-built electric campervan, properly built
The Kia PV5 arrived in the UK in 2025 as one of the most interesting electric vans on the market. It is a purpose-built electric platform, not a diesel chassis with batteries added afterwards, and that makes it a strong base for a fully electric camper. We convert the Cargo Plus Long Range, the one configuration that turns the PV5 into a Sunbox camper, in either of our two designs: the Mandalay or the Chamonix.
A complete campervan
What you actually get to camp with.
- Sleeps two, or four with the pop-top and roof bed
- A proper double bed: rock and roll on the Mandalay, pull-out slat on the Chamonix
- A full kitchen: induction hob, sink, compressor fridge and solid wood worktop
- Cook, charge and light off-grid, powered from the van itself through V2L
- Standing room inside once the pop-top is up
- Fully insulated with natural sheep's wool, with optional heat-pump cabin heating for the colder months
- Two to four belted seats depending on the design, so it drives and parks like an everyday vehicle
Why the Kia PV5
Your van as a power source
The PV5 Plus trim has built-in Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) at up to 3.6 kW. The drive battery powers ordinary 240V appliances through a standard plug socket: an induction hob, a kettle, a fan heater, a laptop. It is effectively a campsite hook-up you carry with you, and it shapes how we build the camper electrics.
Award-winning, and built to last
The PV5 picked up International Van of the Year, What Van? Van of the Year and Parkers Van of the Year, all in 2026. It comes with a seven-year vehicle warranty and an eight-year drive battery warranty.
Handcrafted, not flat-packed
Every PV5 conversion is built by hand in our East Sussex workshop. We strip the van back, insulate and line it properly, and build the furniture from FSC-certified wood and solid joinery. We never use plastic trim to hide a poor finish.
As featured in
Kia PV5 awards
- International Van of the Year 2026
- What Van? Van of the Year 2026
- Parkers Van of the Year 2026
Sunbox in the press
- Channel 5's Million Pound Motorhomes
- The Telegraph
Our Kia PV5 designs
We have two layouts to choose from, each with plenty of room to customise the colour scheme and finish. The price shown is for a complete, ready-to-camp conversion. Options and the base vehicle are added on top.
Mandalay
Our rock and roll bed with up to four belted seats. Our most versatile layout.
Chamonix
Our pull-out double slat bed with a side bench and the most generous open-plan interior.
Both designs share the same core build: kitchen, materials, hand-built furniture, electrical system, insulation, lining and lighting. The only meaningful differences are the bed type, the rear seating, and the layout that flows from those choices.
The trim we recommend
PV5 Cargo Plus Long Range.
- Plus trim, not Essential. The Plus trim includes V2L, which is central to how our conversions work. Essential trim does not have V2L. Plus also adds heated seats and a wireless charger.
- Long Range battery, not Standard Range. The 71.2 kWh battery gives 256 to 258 miles WLTP, against around 181 miles for the Standard Range 51.5 kWh. The Long Range is the sensible choice for camper use, and the heat pump option (which we recommend) is only available with Long Range.
- Cargo, not Passenger. The Cargo version is the panel van we convert. The Passenger PV5 has factory seats and trim, which means we can’t properly insulate it.
Recommended vehicle extras
Two options are worth adding before delivery. Both add capability that would be more expensive or impossible to retrofit later, and both have to be specified on the Kia order at the point you place it.
- Heat Pump, £750 inc VAT Available only on Long Range. More efficient cabin heating in cold weather, using a fraction of the electricity that resistive heating uses. We strongly recommend it for camper use, especially if you will camp outside the summer months.
- Premium paint colour, £750 inc VAT. •The standard colour is white. Other colours are around £750. The pop-top can be colour-coded by us to match (£500), so a premium colour with a colour-coded pop-top gives a beautifully finished van.
Key specifications
Specifications
Battery (drive)
WLTP WLTP range (combined)
Real-world range (estimate)
AC charging
DC rapid charging
V2L (Vehicle-to-Load)
External length
External width (excl. mirrors)
External height
Loadspace length
Loadspace width (max)
Loadspace width (between arches)
Loadspace height
Payload
Seats (Cargo)
Vehicle warranty
Drive battery warranty
Plug-in Van Grant
PV5 cargo plus long range
71.2 kWh
256 to 258 miles
200 to 250 miles
Up to 11 kW three-phase
Up to 150 kW (10 to 80% in around 30 min)
3.6 kW, 220V socket
4,695 mm
1,895 mm
1,899 mm
2,255 mm
1,565 mm
1,310 mm
1,520 mm
Approx. 700 kg
2 (driver and passenger)
7 years / 100,000 miles
8 years
£5,000 (currently eligible)
Sourcing your van
New or used, we can help you find the right PV5. The PV5 is new to the UK, so most vehicles at the moment are bought new through a Kia dealer, after the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant. We don’t charge you a separate fee for sourcing.
How our pricing works
Each design has one base conversion price that buys a complete, ready-to-camp campervan. You then add only the options you want, and the base vehicle is bought separately. So your total is always conversion + any add-ons + vehicle. Two invoices, one van.
The conversion, complete and ready to camp, from:
DESIGN
Mandalay
Chamonix
FROM, INC VAT
£20,399
£20,399
Indicative all-in example
Two invoices, one van.The vehicle is invoiced by Kia; Sunbox invoices the conversion. We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote for your exact specification before anything is committed.
Pricing as at May 2026. All prices include VAT and reflect the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant on the vehicle. As a guide, a standard build with the pop-top, a 4-berth, comes in from around £62,485:
- Vehicle (Cargo Plus Long Range with heat pump and premium paint), around £36,436
- Conversion (design £20,399, Drivelodge pop-top £3,200, roof bed £400, colour code £650, Configuration A windows £1,550), around £26,049
Pop-top
Add-On
Drivelodge
Skyline rear-hinged
Skyline front-hinged
Roof bed
Colour code
Price INC VAT
£3,200
£3,500
£3,500
£400
£650
Extras
Swivel single
Pair
Solar 200w
Solar 400W
Awning
Awning rail
Electric heater
Rear shower
High cupboard
Bed-on-rails
Portaloo
Moveable box
Removable table (Chamonix only)
Painted furniture Chamonix
Painted furniture Mandalay
Fixed window
Flyscreen
Dummy
Interior ply panels bamboo
Birch
Painted
Price INC VAT
£750
£995
£960
£1,440
£1,300
£249
£1,200
£299
£480
£1,250
£95
£418.80
£490
£959
£599
£350
£400
£300
£400
£400
£600
The conversion process
01
Consultation
We talk through your needs, finishes, optional extras and vehicle options. In person at our Newhaven workshop or over video call.
02
Vehicle sourcing
Order your PV5 through a Kia dealer, or we help you find one. No separate fee. Remember the heat pump and premium paint go on the order at this stage.
03
The build
Your van comes into our workshop. Over the build our craftspeople strip it back, insulate and line it, and turn it into a Sunbox camper.
04
Quality check
Every system (electrics, plumbing, joinery) is rigorously tested before handover.
05
Handover
We walk you through every part of the van before you drive off.
Warranty and aftercare
Element
Vehicle
Drive battery
Drivelodge pop-top
Conversion work
Sunbox-built furniture (kitchen, cupboards, bed frame)
Insulation, lining, vinyl flooring
Sunbox-installed electrical wiring and fittings
Appliances (fridge, hob, leisure battery, water pump)
Upholstery and soft furnishings
Cover
7 years / 100,000 miles
8 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
Per manufacturer (typically 24 months)
24 months
Provided By
Kia
Kia
Drivelodge
Sunbox
Sunbox
Sunbox
Sunbox
Manufacturer
Sunbox
The five-year Sunbox warranty covers our conversion workmanship and the parts we build and fit ourselves: the furniture, insulation, lining, flooring and the wiring we install. Bought-in items keep their own manufacturer warranties. Appliances are typically covered for 24 months, and the pop-top by its maker.
Conversion warranty work is carried out at our workshop in Newhaven. If you don’t live close to us and would prefer cover that allows the conversion to be repaired anywhere in the UK, we can supply an Autogard warranty in place of ours for up to 36 months, at an extra charge. Lifetime support comes as standard: we’re a small business and we want you to enjoy your van, so get in touch any time something comes up.
Download the
Kia PV5 brochure
PDF with photos, specs, finishes and the full conversion process
Frequently asked questions
Why the Cargo Plus Long Range and not another trim?
It is the one configuration that gives V2L, the range for camper use, and a panel-van body we can convert cleanly. Any other combination either loses V2L, loses range, or has too much factory trim to remove.
How much does it cost?
Both designs have one base conversion price that buys a complete, ready-to-camp camper, from £20,399. You add only the options you want, then the base vehicle (a Cargo Plus Long Range, from around £34,936 after the grant). As a guide, a Kia PV5 with the pop-top, a 4-berth, comes in from around £62,485 all in.
Do I need the heat pump?
We strongly recommend it if you will camp outside the summer months. It heats the cabin far more efficiently in the cold, and it can’t be retrofitted, so it has to go on the Kia order at the start.
How many can it sleep?
Both designs sleep two adults. Add the pop-top with roof bed and the van becomes a 4-berth.
Can I use it as a daily car?
Yes. The Mandalay has up to four belted seats, so it works as an everyday vehicle as well as a camper. The Chamonix has two front seats only.
Can I choose the wood and fabric?
Yes. You choose your wood finish, fabric, flooring and curtain colour from our curated range as part of the build, at no extra cost. You’ll have access to our online members’ area to make your interior choices.
How does heating work without gas?
The PV5 is fully fossil-fuel-free, so there is no gas anywhere in the build. The cabin heats from the vehicle’s own system, which is far more efficient with the heat pump fitted. For habitation power you can run a 240V appliance such as a fan heater from the van via V2L.
Get Started
Get a quote for a Kia PV5 conversion. Tell us your spec and we’ll send a detailed quote.
