Battery size: 42.2 - 61 kWh
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 118 kW
Range: 195 - 275 miles 
Introduction - Kia EV2
It's finally here, and I've finally driven it! It feels like ages ago that I went to see the Kia EV2 in a studio, and I've been desperate to have a go since then as I think this could be the affordable, small electric car to beat. Now I've got behind the wheel, plus Nicola and Batch have driven it in the UK – you can see what they think in the video above.
The Kia EV2 is a compact hatchback that, at 4.06m long, is a similar size to the Renault 5 and VW ID.Polo, and is a bit bigger than the dinky Hyundai Inster.
I really like the subtle SUV touches like the rugged(ish) bumpers and wheel arches – actually very practical for the UK’s potholed roads and trolley-bump prone car parks. There’s also the trademark Kia vertical daytime running lights, and you can definitely see the blocky styling that we’ve come to know and love on the Kia EV3 and EV9 – and on the new Kia EV4.
As with all of its cars, Kia is focusing on making the EV2 as efficient as possible so it gets Kia's active aero flaps that open and close at the relevant speeds to improve aerodynamics, among lots of other clever details.
I think it looks really cute, especially in the blue colour (a £650 option) that I drove out on the launch. I don't even mind the way the back of the car looks, although I know some of the team at Electrifying think it's a bit odd with those small rear lights set very low. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment on the video, and we might even read it out on the podcast.
Anyway, I like the way the EV2 looks, especially the little touches - like the little welcoming messages hidden around the cabin. It doesn't have the wow factor of the Renault 5 and Renault 4, that's for sure, and maybe the interior's a bit boring? But I still think it's a great design.
Oh, by the way, the prices shown on this review do not include that grant deduction – they're the original, non-discounted list prices. You can find out all about the ECG, and see our up-to-date list of all the cars eligible for the grant, right here.
Range, battery and charging
The new Kia EV2 will be offered with a 42.2 kWh LFP called 'Standard Range' or a 61.0 kWh NMC 'Long Range' battery in the UK. The smaller battery manages 195 miles of WLTP range, while the big battery can do up to 275 miles - which makes this one of the longest range small EVs you can buy.
Interestingly, in the UK, Kia is prioritising the Long Range battery models, with the smaller battery only available as a limited-run First Edition model. Even more interestingly, the small battery First Edition car only qualifies for the £1,500 discount on the UK government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). But the bigger battery, sourced from Hungary, gets the full £3,750 ECG discount, making it by far and away the better option value-wise.
The Kia EV2 shares its architecture with the Kia EV3 and supports 10-to-80% DC fast charging in around 30 minutes when you plug into a 150kW DC rapid charger. You also get 11kW AC charging, while faster 22kW AC charging capability is optional on all EV2 models, which can be handy when you’re charging away from home. Most owners will do their charging primarily at a 7kW home charger, which will take around 8- to 11 hours for a full charge in the EV2 depending on which battery you're topping up.
And you get Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), which means that you can charge your electrical devices from the car's high voltage battery, and even power your house using the car - albeit that requires a compatible home charger.
A heat pump, which helps with cold weather efficiency, is available as an option on the top-spec GT-Line S. It costs £700.
Practicality and boot space
The Kia EV2 is impressively practical for a small car. It gets a three-person rear bench, which leaves you with a 362-litre boot. That's roughly on a par with the Renault 5, if a bit behind the VW ID.Polo and Citroen e-C3 Aircross. There's also a shallow, 15-litre frunk, although it's a bit small so will mostly just be good for your de-icer and windscreen washer, if you can even squeeze those in there!
Sadly, we don't get the sliding, reclining rear bench that you can have in some European markets - which I think is such a shame! We need more really versatile small EVs. If Renault can give us sliding seats in the Twingo, Kia should definitely be able to give us sliding seats in the EV2. You'll have to look to the Hyundai Inster if you want more seating versatility than this in a really compact EV.
Up front the EV2 feels pretty roomy for a compact car - definitely a bit more spacious than the Renault 5 when it comes to head room. It's certainly a decent interior that feels pretty hard wearing. I'm a bit gutted that the removable speakers and mushroom-based materials of the EV2 concept haven't made it to production, it's all just the straightforward, pleasant interior that you'd expect from Kia. The Renault 5 and 4, and the Hyundai Inster have got a bit more colour and character, but I still think the EV2 is smart and grown-up for a small car.
Interior, design and technology
Like I said, the dash is all pretty predictable, which isn't a bad thing as Kia's very good at doing user-friendly interiors. The big news is the EV2's infotainment system. Kia is going down its tried and tested route of giving you the big car interior in a smaller package, so the touchscreen system has the same software layout that we're used to from other Kias. As standard it gets sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It's a pretty straightforward and easy to use infotainment system, plus it gets over-the-air software updates.
You also get loads of driver assistance tech, including including 360-degree parking camera, and even remote parking assist that lets you put the EV2 into a tight space by using the key. There's nothing else in this class with that kind of tech, although I suspect that you'll be paying for the top-spec EV2 to get this feature!
And let me mention the puddle lamps which project the logo onto the ground in the dark. It's not that long ago that we first saw this tech in upmarket cars like Range Rovers and now it's in Kia's most affordable EV. It feels pretty special to see them when you unlock your car and I think its a great touch,
Motors, performance and handling
There are two flavours of electric motor, pegged to the battery sizes. So, the 'Standard Range' car gets a 145hp motor with 250Nm of torque, giving a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the 'Long Range' 61 kWh battery is paired with a 134hp motor, strangely, giving a 9.5-second sprint time. Both are front-wheel drive – four-wheel drive won't be offered.
I drove the Standard Range car in Portugal earlier this year and found that there was a real big-car energy to the EV2. Around town it’s easy, light, really effortless to drive and park with a nice right turning circle - but it still feels confident and smooth at speed, and very stable on the motorway. It’s really refined for a small car, too - I'd say it's quieter than the Renault 4 and Renault 5, although the new VW ID.Polo might give the Kia a run for its money when it comes to refinement and grown-up car feel.
The steering on Kia electric cars are set up for ease, not steering feel, and that’s a conscious choice. I think the steering suits the car but if you want more engagement then you might find it a bit disappointing. I guess that's where the more fun Renault 5 might come in for some buyers, but I still really like the slick, easygoing way that the EV2 drives.
My colleagues Nicola Hume and James Batchelor have driven the Long Range in base-spec 'Air' guise in the UK. They found the EV2 to be fantastic around town, with great visibility and light steering making for an easy drive. Motorway refinement was particularly impressive – the EV2 is much quieter at speed than a Renault 4, for example, thanks to noise cancellation measures such as acoustic glass. On faster, more challenging country roads, Batch did note that the EV2 does like to lean in corners, and it can bounce around over bumps and imperfections in the road - a Ford Puma Gen-E or Renault 4 are more fun to drive. But the EV2 gets the basics right and seriously impresses at long distance driving.
I love the brake regen! Kia does this so well. There are different levels, including a one-pedal mode, and they're all controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.
Basically, the EV2 is just peachy to drive. Not exciting, but it'll be great as your daily driver - even if it's your main car. This is more than capable enough of being your only car in the household; it's definitely not just something that you should consider only as a second car. I love it!
Running costs and pricing
Equipment is pretty generous, even on the entry-level Air. You get 16-inch alloys, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, those twin 12.3-inch screens with built-in sat-nav and wireless phone connectivity, four USB-C ports, over-the-air updates and seven years of Kia Connect services thrown in.
GT-Line adds a bit more attitude with sportier styling, 19-inch alloys and tinted glass, plus two-tone artificial leather, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, wireless phone charging and a little frunk under the bonnet. Then GT-Line S piles on the toys with a Harman Kardon sound system, Vehicle-to-Load capability and the option of a £700 heat pump.
The Air comes in at £27,995, the GT-Line is priced at £32,745, and the top-spec GT-Line S is £36,345. All three regular trims come with the Long Range battery, so they qualify for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant; the prices shown on this review do not include that grant deduction – they're the original, non-discounted list prices. You can find out all about the ECG, and see our up-to-date list of all the cars eligible for the grant, right here.
There is also a First Edition with the smaller Standard Range battery at £28,495, but this model only gets the £1,500 grant. Which is a bit odd, really, because it means the shorter-range car actually costs more than the Long Range Air.
And for me, that £27,995 Air is the one that makes the most sense. You still get loads of useful kit, up to 275 miles of range and Kia’s excellent seven-year/100,000-mile warranty. For this sort of money, that’s a very convincing package.
Initial impressions are that the EV2 is efficient. I got close to 200 miles from the Kia EV2 Standard Range that I drove in Portugal, or nearly 5.0 miles per kWh. That's great efficiency, which will keep your running costs down. For instance, if you're paying 9p per kWh for your electricity on an off-peak tariff at home, that'd mean the EV2 would be costing you only 2p per mile. How cheap is that?! Even on a standard home electricity tariff it'll still work out as around 6p per mile. For a bit of context, an efficient petrol car doing 45mpg will cost you around 12- to 16p per mile depending on fuel prices.
We're yet to do a proper efficiency test on the Long Range models. We'll report back as soon as we do.
Verdict
It's clear that Kia is on a roll. The EV2 is such a smart little car to drive, look at and - I suspect - to live with. It's so great to see this much competition in the £25,000-ish electric car market, too. There really are so many brilliant options! Would I have the Kia EV2 over a Renault 5 or VW ID.Polo? Maybe. It really is just the complete package, and I think for those who are after a sensible, well-rounded and grown-up-feeling small EV that's well priced and has a long range, the EV2 is a very compelling choice.
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