Kia’s EV4 Wins Red Dot Best Of The Best, PV5 Shines
image 1 kia ev4 recognized at 2026 red dot design award
Kia just ruffled a few design critics by walking off with one of Red Dot’s top honours. The EV4 snagged Best Of The Best, the PV5 picked up a Winner nod, and Hyundai Motor Group’s MobED robot also bagged a Winner. Translation: Kia’s styling gambit is working and robot couriers are now officially fashionable.
Why The EV4 Took Top Honour
The EV4 is not a boring sedan in a smart suit. It is a deliberate rethink of what a small electric sedan can be, trading timid angles for a fastback silhouette that insists on being noticed. There is also a hatchback variant for Europe that dials up practicality without spoiling the drama. Judges rewarded the EV4’s mix of bold form and everyday sense with the competition’s highest accolade.
PV5 Shows How PBVs Should Be Done
The PV5 is Kia’s answer to the Platform Beyond Vehicle idea — a clever, modular approach that keeps the front identity consistent while letting the rear do the heavy lifting. Passenger, Cargo, WAV and Crew modules slot onto the same base, which means real-world flexibility for fleets and operators. It is user focused without being dull, which is exactly why it earned a Red Dot Winner award and a recent iF Design Gold.
MobED Proves Robots Can Be Useful
Robots get a reputation for being odd and awkward. MobED, Hyundai Motor Group’s mobile robot platform, is trying to change that by focusing on usable, real-world movement. Its Drive and Lift technology plus an eccentric wheel setup help it cope with curbs, slopes and uneven ground while remaining approachable in human spaces. The result is a design that reads as both purposeful and polite — and the Red Dot judges liked it.
This is not Kia’s first rodeo at Red Dot. Recent wins include the EV6 in 2022, EV9 in 2024 and EV3 in 2025, with the EV4 adding the next trophy to the cabinet. If design awards were fuel, Kia would be figuring out how to tow a motorway by now.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
