Kia EV2

Kia has dived head-first into the B-segment EV market – can the EV2 take the fight to Renault, Skoda and VW?

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Kia went on the assault last year by launching not one but three new electric cars and is now pivoting towards the burgeoning urban EV market with its smallest yet, the Kia EV2.

Aimed squarely at the incoming Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID Cross siblings, this 4.0m-long crossover is expected to match its European rivals on price, coming in at around £25,000, rising to around £30,000 for the Long Range version, which is tipped to be the volume seller in the UK.

The Kia EV2 has arrived at a time European brands are going big on the b-segment market. Volkswagen Group alone will roll out the Skoda Epiq, Volkswagen ID Cross, as well as the ID Polo and Cupra Raval this year.
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

But can a competitive target price, long range and funky styling be enough to fend off its newfound rivals in the ever-growing, ultra-competitive b-segment EV class? Let’s find out. 

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DESIGN & STYLING

Kia EV2 side dynamic

At 4060mm long, 1800mm wide and 1575mm tall, the EV2 is shorter than the Kia Stonic but slightly wider and lower than its combustion-engined counterpart.

It looks like a shrunken EV5, sporting design hallmarks from its various larger siblings, with a boxy silhouette and a revised version of Kia’s ‘tiger nose’ front end.

There's a proper SUV vibe to the way the EV2 looks, with its chunky bumpers and wheel arches.
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

Two versions of the EV2 will be available. The Long Range comes fitted with a 61kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, which is expected to yield a range of around 281 miles, subject to official homologation. If achieved, this would put the EV2 right to the top of the class, upstaging the Epiq (267 miles) and Renault 4 (249 miles).

The entry-level Standard Range uses a smaller, 42.2kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and can travel 197 miles on a charge.

Like the EV3, the EV2 uses a 400V electrical architecture that allows for a 10-80% charging time of less than 30 minutes and features both vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-load technology.

All versions of the EV2 are fitted with a front-mounted motor and a torsion-beam rear axle, as opposed to the multi-link arrangement used by larger Kia EVs.

INTERIOR

It may be more than 100mm shorter than the Epiq, but the EV2’s compact proportions don’t come at the expense of interior practicality.

As standard you get five seats, but there is a four-seater version with a sliding rear bench, which is helpful. Kia is yet to confirm if we will get this version in the UK, however.

Kia has given the EV2 its own playful easter eggs which are dotted around the car. In the insert for the door handle it says 'Have a nice day'. It's a bit of a gimmick, but at least it's a fun one.
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

In the back, there’s just enough room for adults: head room is fairly generous and I had just enough knee room to find a comfortable position, but those taller than 6ft might struggle. The middle seat of the five-seater is pretty snug but will be fine for short journeys.

There’s 362 litres of boot space, plus some underfloor storage, but that’s some way off the 420 litres you get in the Renault 4.

At least you get loads of storage compartments around the cabin. The dashboard layout is familiar from the rest of Kia’s EV line-up, featuring 12.3in displays for the digital gauge cluster and infotainment either side of a 5.3in climate-control touchscreen.

There’s a handy selection of haptic shortcuts below the main touchscreen for all the functions that matter and physical switches for adjusting the temperature.

The EV2 may go heavy on hard plastics, but they’re smooth, while softer materials cover key touchpoints, like the armrests. The fabric across the dashboard adds a layer of premium feel and overall perceived quality matches Kia’s £25k target price.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

The Standard Range produces 145bhp and 184lb ft of torque for a 0-62mph time of 8.7sec, while the Long Range has a lower output of around 134bhp in order to maximise efficiency. 

Our Standard Range test car never left me wanting for more performance, providing a good balance of linearity and responsiveness. Sure, it's not particularly quick but more than brisk enough for overtaking and exploiting gaps in traffic. 

Even with the regenerative braking system turned off, the pedal feel was good.
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

The regenerative braking system is smooth, controlled and easy to adjust via paddles behind the steering wheel. There are a number of modes to choose from, including i-Pedal which enables you to rely solely on the regenerative brakes to slow the car down to a stop. 

Kia put significant development resources into reducing wind and road roar, as well as noise from the powertrain, hence every EV2 is fitted with an acoustic shield under the frunk and motor, while higher-spec cars gain thicker glass and acoustic tyres.

So even our Standard Range test car remained hushed and refined at a cruise, with minimal road noise and only a hint of wind whistle.

RIDE & HANDLING

Kia EV2 front cornering town

The EV2 felt at home in bustling Lisbon, its compact proportions allowing me to comfortably navigate the narrow streets.

The steering feels a bit remote and lacking in communication, and nor does it weight up as you put more load through the chassis. However, it remains precise and accurate, there’s more than enough grip and the body remains in check: even on twistier mountain roads it didn’t roll excessively.

I really liked how the EV2 performed on the motorway: it was quiet, refined, comfortable and had the big car feel of something dearer
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

Like the EV3, the EV2 employs a fairly soft suspension tune that makes it adept at ironing out expansion joints and potholes. Consistent imperfections are dealt with less convincingly, but it’s generally pliant and comfortable.

Over sharp undulations and more pronounced lumps and bumps, the soft damping can struggle to keep vertical body movements in check, but on smoother roads at higher speeds it’s more settled, with the maturity of a larger SUV.

MPG & RUNNING COSTS

Kia EV2 lead

As stated earlier, the entry-level Standard Range is expected to launch in the UK with a price of around £25,000, while the Long Range will cost from around £30,000, the extra premium a result of its bigger range. 

While UK specifications are yet to be confirmed, we expect the EV2 to follow the same trim line-up employed by the EV3 with Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. 

Like European spec cars, the all-important heat pump is likely to be an optional extra in the UK.
Sam Phillips
Staff Writer

My test route encompassed a mixture of urban, rural and motorway driving, from which the EV2 returned an impressive average efficiency figure of 4.0mpkWh. That’s only marginally short of Kia’s claimed 4.1mpkWh. 

VERDICT

There could hardly be a more competitive battleground for Kia to enter than the electric B-segment, but the Korean brand has developed what appears to be a very well-rounded and complete product that brings a class-leading range, clever packaging, and excellent usability.

Indeed, it is not without fault: the ride and steering could be a little more refined, and more knee room in the back wouldn't go amiss. 

But then this is a car that should, in theory, help to democratise the electric car with an entry-level price that is not too dissimilar to a modern supermini or hatchback.

Sure, it faces stiff competition from the likes of Renault, VW and Skoda, but there’s a lot to like about the EV2. Bring on the group test. 

Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips
Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website. 

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport. 

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.