Kia has built a reputation for producing reliable, stylish and practical electric cars. Now it hopes to repeat the trick with its smallest and cheapest EV yet: the EV2.
However, the compact electric SUV enters one of the most fiercely contested corners of the market, with the small EV segment packed with impressive alternatives.
It faces tough competition from established European rivals including the Renault 4 E-Tech, Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID. Cross. Add a growing wave of Chinese challengers, and Kia has plenty to prove.
Priced from £24,245, including the Government’s £3,750 EV grant, it certainly looks competitive on paper. Although, with 275 miles of range, it’s aimed at those needing a runaround not a long distance car.
The Korean brand has experience on its side, having surpassed 100,000 EV sales in the UK alone with a line-up spanning everything from family SUVs to commercial vans.
In many ways, the EV2 is an EV9 shrunk in the wash. It borrows the design cues and straightforward usability of Kia’s successful seven-seat flagship, packaging them into a much smaller footprint.
The formula is proven. The question is whether Kia has recreated it successfully.
The EV2 is Kia’s cheapest model, sitting below the EV3 in the brand’s electric line-up. Starting from £24,245, is it a small family SUV worth buying? Freda Lewis-Stempel finds out
Where does the EV2 sit in Kia’s electric lineup?
The EV2 is Kia’s smallest electric car.
This compact SUV is aimed primarily at urban drivers, which makes sense given the booming market for small electric runarounds.
Models in this class typically measure around 4m in length, and the EV2 comes in at 4.065m. That makes it slightly shorter than its larger sibling, the EV3, which measures 4.3m long.
While not a large car, the EV2 has been designed with practicality in mind. Features including reclining seats, a flat floor and a multi-level boot help maximise usable space for everyday family life.
Is it a looker?
By now, Kia has established a clear design language for its electric SUVs, and the EV2 follows it closely.
With its upright proportions, blanked-off grille and chunky wheel arches, it features Kia’s signature vertical daytime running lights, known as the ‘Star Map’ design, along with matching vertical tail lights at the rear.
If you’re a fan of the current boxy SUV trend, the EV2 will likely appeal. Others, however, may find the styling a little predictable.
The EV2’s futuristic, boxy SUV stance closely mirrors the EV3 and is effectively a scaled-down version of the EV9 (pictured right)
Join the discussion
Would you trust a compact EV like the Kia EV2 as your main family car, or is bigger always better for families?
Interior: How practical is it?
I found the EV2’s seats among the most uncomfortable I’ve experienced in some time because the headrest pushed my head unusually far forward, causing neck and shoulder aches.
Taller drivers may not experience the same issue, but given the EV2’s compact dimensions, I suspect many people around 5ft 5in or shorter could have a similar complaint, and potentially some taller occupants too.
That’s a shame because the rest of the seat design is comfortable. Higher-spec models also offer multiple adjustment settings, making it easy to find your ideal driving position, while the upright design provides generous headroom.
Rear passenger space is good for a car of this size.
The cabin is wide enough to accommodate three teenagers or adults for reasonable journeys, though knee room can feel a little tight, particularly behind the front passenger seat.
Storage space is less impressive.
The door bins are quite narrow, and only the driver’s seat gets a seatback storage pocket. The fold-down centre seat includes two cupholders, but rear passengers otherwise have limited storage options.
The 362-litre boot includes underfloor storage to help keep luggage organised. Fold the rear seats down and capacity expands to 1,201 litres.
The interior design is extremely minimalist and, in some respects, almost utilitarian. The doors feature various cut-outs and recesses, while elements such as the armrest and switchgear surround protrude from the otherwise pared-back design. There’s even a cut-out behind the interior door handle that wishes occupants to ‘have a nice day’, part of Kia’s so-called ‘picnic box’ design concept.
As with most Kia models, sustainability is a major focus. Depending on trim level, the EV2 uses materials including bio-based plastics, recycled water bottles and ‘leatherette’.
The dashboard is trimmed in fabric, while the doors and centre console feature faux leather and chrome-effect accents. There is still a fair amount of plastic, though the stripped-back design helps disguise it and prevents the cabin from feeling cheap.
Overall, the cabin is light, airy and relaxing, if slightly bland, which is very much in keeping with Kia’s approach.
Tech and comfort features
The EV2 features a three-screen dashboard comprising two 12.3-inch displays and a separate 5.3-inch climate control panel.
Anyone familiar with Kia’s infotainment systems will feel instantly at home. It’s relatively intuitive to use, and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity is quick and seamless.
Importantly, Kia has retained physical controls.
There are steering wheel shortcuts, dedicated climate-control buttons and several haptic controls beneath the screens.
The technology I appreciated most for daily urban driving was the suite of parking aids, including cameras, sensors and assistance systems.
The wing mirror cameras, which display blind-spot views when indicating, were especially useful.
All trims also come with a strong list of comfort features, including heated front seats, a heated artificial leather steering wheel, a heated rear window, rear wiper and rear spoiler.
Higher-spec models add ventilated seats, which are particularly welcome during increasingly hot summers.
The EV2 is the definition of an easy car to drive. It inspires confidence almost immediately, making it a great everyday companion.
What’s the EV2 like to drive?
With an electric line-up that spans passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Kia has plenty of experience building EVs that are easy to live with.
The EV2 is one of those cars that requires very little acclimatisation. It feels approachable from the outset, making it an excellent everyday choice for most motorists.
It isn’t sporty, nor does it attempt to be. Rather than chasing excitement, Kia has prioritised ride comfort and composure. The result is a smooth-driving SUV that feels more suburban family transport than performance machine.
For a relatively small car, it coped admirably with potholes, rough surfaces and speed bumps, while motorway journeys were impressively refined.
The driving position is good, visibility is strong, and the four-stage regenerative braking system is particularly well judged. I spent most of my time using one-pedal driving, which was perfect for the towns and villages I passed through.
Despite modest power outputs of between 133bhp and 144bhp, depending on trim, performance always felt adequate. Power delivery is smooth and responsive, providing enough acceleration whenever needed.
For drivers spending most of their time in urban environments, with only the occasional longer trip, it offers everything required.
My only real criticism concerns the Lane Keep Assist and Lane Following Assist systems. They intervene so aggressively that they can feel intrusive, particularly on narrow country roads.
Worse still, they are frustrating to disable permanently despite the dedicated shortcut button on the steering wheel.
The EV2 Air, the entry-level trim, offers up to 275 miles of range. The GT-Line delivers 261 miles, while the range-topping GT-Line S manages 257 miles
EV2 range, trims and pricing
The EV2 Air, the entry-level trim, offers a claimed range of 275 miles. The GT-Line drops slightly to 261 miles, while the flagship GT-Line S returns 257 miles.
Even so, those figures should comfortably cover the weekly driving needs of most owners, while still allowing longer weekend journeys with a single charging stop in either direction.
Using a 150kW rapid charger, the battery can be replenished from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes. The same charge on a 50kW unit takes approximately 70 minutes.
At home, an 11kW wallbox can recharge the battery from 10 to 100 per cent in five hours and 35 minutes.
Buyers can choose from Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, all of which come generously equipped.
Standard equipment includes a comprehensive safety package, the full infotainment suite and a strong selection of comfort features.
Higher trims add styling enhancements, including GT-Line-specific exterior details and gloss-black trim, as well as extras such as a panoramic roof and a 15-litre front storage compartment.
Pricing starts at £24,245 for the Air. The First Edition costs £26,995, while the GT-Line is priced at £28,995 and the GT-Line S at £32,595.
The mid-range GT-Line is expected to be the most popular version, which is understandable given its strong specification and sub-£30,000 price tag.
Like all Kia models, the EV2 comes with the company’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty. The high-voltage battery is covered for an additional year.
The Kia EV2 is the kind of EV that makes switching from petrol effortless. It’s practical, easy to live with and offers enough range for most families
Cars & Motoring verdict
Kia has put together a very compelling package with the EV2.
It’s the sort of electric car that makes the transition away from petrol feel straightforward.
It’s pleasant to drive, thoughtfully designed, practical for family life despite its compact dimensions, and offers enough range for most driving habits.
These days, buying a South Korean car is considered just as sensible a choice as opting for a Volvo. Kia’s strong reliability record should also give buyers plenty of confidence.
I wouldn’t describe the EV2 as exciting, either in terms of its design or the way it drives. But most buyers simply want a car that does its job well rather than one that sets pulses racing.
And in that respect, the EV2 succeeds. It ticks all the boxes that matter.