Battery size: 42.2 - 61 kWh
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 120 kW (est)
Range: 194 - 281 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.
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 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.
Range, battery and charging
The new Kia EV2 will be offered with a 42.2 kWh LFP or a 61.0 kWh NMC battery in the UK. The smaller battery gets a WLTP figures (which may yet change a bit as it's still to be finalised) of 194 miles, the big battery gets range of up to 281 miles - which makes this one of the longest range small EVs you can buy.
Even more interesting is the fact the long range Kia EV2 should qualify for the full UK government grant of £3,750 – given its being built in Slovakia, and the battery is also coming from Hungary. So it may well meet the government's criteria (which requires cars to be produced as locally as possible).
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 also going to be available as an option on all versions of the EV2. Which is interesting, as Kia's only offered a heat pump as an option on top spec GT-Line S trims of its other models until now, so maybe we'll see a heat pump being offered across all trims on other Kia EVs? Here's hoping.
Practicality and boot space
The Kia EV2 is impressively practical for a small car. You can choose from the standard, three-person rear bench, which leaves you with a 362-litre boot space. 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. But in the EV2 you can choose to save a bit of money and go for a stripped-back version that does without factory-fit sat-nav, and relies solely on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
I love that idea. After all, the EV2 is a budget car and people really want to keep purchase costs down at this end of the market. Not only that, but loads of us prefer phone mirroring apps like Apple CarPlay (which allows you to use many of your phone's apps, maps and media functions on the car's system), so it's no great loss to do without nav. But isn't it great to get the choice.
More importantly though, if you do stick with its own system then you'll find Kia's infotainment pretty straightforward and easy to use, 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
Power in the Kia EV2 comes from a single, 145hp electric motor mounted at the front on the EV2 Standard Range, while the EV2 Long Range may well get a tiny bit less power to improve efficiency. This means a 0-62mph time of around 9.0 seconds, which is more than fast enough. You won't be able to get a four-wheel drive version if that was something you were hoping for.
I found that there was a real big-car energy to the EV2 when I was driving it. 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.
Otherwise, the seats are comfortable, the driving position’s spot on, and the ride is genuinely impressive - it just irons out bumps. Although, to be fair, the roads I drove on in Portugal are much better than the roads in the UK, so we might have to reserve final judgement until we've had the baby Kia in the UK.
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
Kia hasn't confirmed pricing yet, but I reckon prices will start at around £24- to £25,000, while it's likely that the bigger battery car will come in at around £27,000. Specifications and trims haven't been confirmed, either, but expect the usual Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, so expect the top-end, long range Kia EV2 models to cost over £30,000. But, there's always that government grant in the UK, which could mean that the big battery EV2 will have a discount of £3,750, making it really fantastic value.
We'll have to wait and see what Kia confirms in terms of pricing and grant eligibility, but we should no more fairly soon. The Kia EV2 will go on sale in summer 2026 and I'm expecting to drive it in the next few months so watch - this space for a full drive review, and full details on pricing when it's announced.
What I can confirm is that it's 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.
Verdict
Having driven the EV2 out in Portugal, I really do think that Kia is on a roll. It's 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. We'll have to wait for finalised pricing on the Kia EV2, and then get all of these affordable electric cars together for a showdown, won't we?
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