- Smallest Kia EV to date
- Impressive efficiency for a useable real-world range
- Great ride quality and refinement set it apart from rivals
The Kia EV2 combines comfort, efficiency and practicality in a well-rounded package that should appeal strongly to fleet operators and company car drivers.
Overview
The Kia EV2 makes a strong case for itself as one of the most compelling small electric cars on the market. It majors on comfort, interior space and perceived quality –Â areas where it feels notably more accomplished than key rivals such as the Renault 4.
Despite being Kia’s smallest EV, it borrows heavily from the brand’s larger models in terms of engineering and technology, giving it a more mature, sophisticated feel than many cars in this segment.
Its boxy, modern design is not just distinctive but functional, helping maximise cabin space while retaining a compact footprint.
Prices start at £27,995 (OTR) and while Kia is still waiting to receive eligibility for the electric car grant it is offering a discount of up to £3,750 for customers who place an early reservation.
Three trim levels are offered: Air, GT Line and GT Line S. There is also a First Edition variant, which comes exclusively with the smaller battery.
Standard equipment includes LED headlights, electric folding door mirrors, keyless entry, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a reversing camera.Â
GT Line adds 19-inch alloy wheels, GT Line specific bumpers and tinted windows, for a sportier look. It also has two-tone imitation leather upholstery, a wireless phone charger and automatic flush-fit door handles.
The range-topping GT Line S includes electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation, Harman Kardon audio, a sunroof and a power tailgate.
Comfort and Practicality
The EV2’s interior is impressively well-built, particularly when you’re comparing it to the competition. Build quality is on par with Kia’s other E-GMP platform models, like the EV3, EV4, EV5 and EV6. Soft but durable plastics are accented by plenty of hard-wearing fabrics, and Kia is keen to point out that much of it is either 100% recycled or is entirely recyclable. You can spec the interior with some interesting colour accents in places like the centre console and door handle inlays, and you can have upholstery colours other than black.
The EV2’s clever packaging results in good storage, with a high armrest hiding some useful space and big cubbies in the lower centre console area. There’s also a fixed place to put your phone which can be upgraded with a wireless charger.
UK models come with five seats on board, but legroom is only just good enough for an adult over six feet tall to sit in comfortably. The fifth seat in the middle also feels largely useless because it’s so skinny. Either way, headroom is good – even if you spec a sunroof. Boot space is reasonable at 362 litres, although its shape may limit usability. Even so, overall practicality remains competitive for the segment.
Safety and Technology
The EV2 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems, aligning well with fleet safety requirements – although some may find the level of alerts excessive. The car does like to bong a lot, beeping about changes in speed limits or approaching speed cameras and keeping an eye on you via a driver monitoring camera installed into the rear-view mirror.
Key features include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, driver monitoring and, on higher specifications, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring with camera display and remote parking functionality.
Kia’s latest triple-screen infotainment system comes as standard, combining a 12.3-inch driver cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control screen and 12.3-inch central touchscreen display. It mirrors the same display layout and core features as the system in other Kia models, but is available at a lower price point.Â
While many features must be controlled via the screen, Kia has provided physical switches for key functions like cabin temperature. There’s also a row of quick access buttons to reach specific menus within the touchscreen.
Driveability and Range
Two battery options are offered. The Standard Range model uses a 42.2kWh battery with a claimed range of 197 miles, while the Long Range version – expected to be the main fleet choice – features a 61kWh battery offering up to 281 miles.
Performance is modest but sufficient, with smooth, predictable acceleration suited to urban and motorway driving alike. The Long Range uses a 134PS motor and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds. while the smaller battery gets a slightly more powerful 147PS motor.
Efficiency appears strong, with early testing returning more than 4.0mi/kWh, suggesting competitive real-world running costs and a realistic range of almost 250 miles for the larger battery. Both powertrains feature a 400V electrical system and deliver rapid DC fast charging. The standard-range model completes the process in 29 minutes, while the long-range versions take around 30 minutes.
The EV2 is easy to drive, with adjustable regenerative braking and a one-pedal mode enhancing usability, particularly in stop-start traffic. Its best quality, though, is its ride comfort. The EV2 is remarkably pliant and well-balanced. Rough tarmac doesn’t seem to bother the car that much and only the most jagged and deepest drain covers introduce any jolt into the cabin. This is definitely a positive over the Renault 4, for example, with its harder-edged suspension setup.
All that focus on killing noise and vibrations has also worked, with the EV2 feeling remarkably quiet – even by electric car standards. There’s still a little bit of buffeting from the flat front end when wind speeds (and actual speeds) are high, but it’s a refined cruiser and manages to handle the sharpest of potholes and drain covers well. The extensive sound insulation – including optional noise-reducing tyres – results in a notably quiet cabin. During our time with the EV2, engineers that work for the brand told us about the efforts to make the car quieter and more comfortable out on the road.
Company car tax and running costs
The electric compact SUV space is still limited in options. There are budget-friendly models like the Fiat Grande Panda and Vauxhall Frontera, mid-range options such as Renault’s 4 E-Tech and plusher cars like the Ford Puma Gen-E and Mini Aceman. The EV2 brings the longer range capability and improved refinement of its more expensive arrivals at a price point that’s closer to the entry-level.
The £27,995 starting price for the EV2 Air falls to £24,245 with Kia’s discount (aligned to the electric car grant amount). A GT Line car, meanwhile, can be had for £28,995.
Running costs aren’t available yet, but company car drivers will enjoy low tax bills of around £20 per month (20% taxpayer).
