Kia EV2 Review & Prices

The Kia EV2 is a small, electric SUV that feels like a big car on the inside. And despite feeling quite nice inside, its starting price is lower than even the most budget-friendly Chinese EVs. Even better, because of discounting shenanigans, the long range version is actually the cheapest.

It’s a bit like shopping at Uniqlo – it might be easy on the bank balance but you don’t feel like you’re sacrificing quality as a result.

Those affordable Chinese alternatives include the likes of the Jaecoo E5, Leapmotor B10 and MG4, as well as better-known European options such as the Skoda Elroq and Renault 4. You could also consider the smaller Citroen e-C3, which has similar range to the base-model Kia but costs less.

The EV2 retains the blocky, futuristic styling seen on the rest of Kia’s EV range, and it wears it well. Its softer lines give it a cuter vibe than the angry-robot-from-the-future looks of the massive EV9, which suits its city-friendly ethos. Things are less coherent at the rear, with the low-set rear lights looking like they’ve melted and slipped from the more typical bootlid position.

Kia EV2: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 197-281 miles
Battery size: 42.2kWh /
Max charge speed: 127kW
Charge time AC: 4h 5m, 0-100% @ 11kW / 5h 35m, 0-100% @ 11kW
Charge time DC: 29m, 10-80% @ 127kW / 31m, 10-80% @ 127kW
Charge port location: Right front
Power outputs: 144hp / 133hp

Inside it’s the perfect mix of plain functionality with just enough quirkiness to avoid it being boring. There’s fabric upholstery on the dashboard, comfy seats and the usual bank of displays ahead of you.

It’s all very calm and cool, but you’re also greeted by a ‘Have a Nice Day’ message behind the door handle as you get out, and a ‘Hello’ greeting inside the window as you get in. It’s like when your sensible co-worker does something to hint that they’d actually be a good laugh down the pub.

It’s the sensible side that runs deep, though. This is quite a small car, but when you’re sitting in the front seats it doesn’t feel like one, and you sit quite high so you get a great view of the road ahead. Rear seat space is decent too – at 6ft tall I could fit comfortably behind my own driving position.

Practicality doesn’t quite extend to the boot, which at 362 litres is on the low side among alternatives. The Renault 4 and Leapmotor B10 boast bigger boots, for example.

You won’t find any hint of an extroverted side in the way the Kia drives, either. But that’s just fine, because it’s perfectly comfortable and easy to pilot around town thanks to the good visibility and light steering.

It’s also relatively quiet and stable at motorway speeds, so it’s a bit of a shame the smaller battery has a sub-200-mile range. Or at least it would be, if discounts didn’t mean the bigger, longer range battery is the cheapest in the line-up. As a result, you get up to 281 miles between charges for less than £25,000, which is incredible value.

That’s more than similarly priced alternatives; only long-range versions of the MG4 break the 300-mile barrier, and you’re paying over £30k for the privilege.

Verdict

The Kia EV2 is a fantastic addition to the burgeoning selection of small, affordable electric cars. It doesn’t feel too small on the inside and it’s a comfortable, refined thing to cruise around in. If you need more range consider the MG4 and if you need more boot space then the Renault 4 is a great option, but for pure value the Kia is tough to beat. As a result the EV2 is best for small families with a bigger second car for long weekends away, or anyone who regularly does shorter journeys and doesn’t need buckets of boot space.

The Kia EV2 is incredible value for money. Kia expects the EV2 to get the full £3,750 EV Grant on the larger battery, while the smaller battery should get the £1,500 discount. Until that’s confirmed it is offering a ‘reservation saving’ equal to those amounts.

The upshot is that the longer range model is actually the most affordable, meaning you get up to 281 miles per charge for just over £24,000. That’s a tempting entry price, making it a bit less expensive than even the most budget-friendly EVs such as the Jaecoo E5, MG4 and Renault 4. All of those cars have bigger boots, but the Kia goes further on a charge.

Standard kit on the base Air trim includes LED headlights, heated front seats and steering wheel, and the triple-screen setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. All models get adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous features to keep you in your lane, front and rear parking sensors and loads of other safety kit you wouldn’t expect at the price.

GT-Line models get the big battery, wireless phone charging, 19-inch alloy wheels and GT-Line styling insane and out. Top-spec GT-Line S models add a Harman Kardon sound system, ventilated front seats and a sunroof.

First Edition models will go on sale ahead of the rest and only come with the smaller battery, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, and a Harman Kardon sound system.

As quiet, comfortable and refined as you’d want a small family car to be, but the EV2 will leave keen drivers underwhelmed

In town

The Kia EV2 is at its best when being driven around town. Because the body is tall and you sit quite high, you have a great view of the road ahead. The steering is very light, so tight inner-city manoeuvres are a breeze, and the car is easy to place so even the narrow streets of Lisbon where we tested the car proved no stress.

It’s also comfortable over bumps, settling quickly on poorly surfaced roads, though admittedly our Portuguese test route didn’t quite have the same pothole problems we face in the UK.

On the motorway

Small cars can suffer at higher speeds, but the Kia EV2 has no such issues. Even on the motorway it’s quiet and refined, with enough performance to get up to speed with minimal fuss. We were in Portugal on a particularly wet, blustery day, yet the tall sides of the EV2 were unfussed by cross winds.

The Kia’s lane-keeping system isn’t too intrusive, but the car does have a habit of beeping at you constantly, which will motivate you to switch everything off when you get in. Adaptive cruise control is available, and it’s fitted as standard to the larger EV3, so hopefully it’ll be the same story in the EV2.

On a twisty road

It might be nice if the Kia EV2 could put a smile on your face on a twisty road, but this is a subdued sort of car that prefers a leisurely approach to driving. As such it doesn’t encourage a sporty driving style, but at least it soaks up bumps nicely as you cruise the countryside. If you want a small EV that will make you want to take the scenic route home, consider the MG4.

The Kia EV2 has a spacious cabin but the boot capacity is less than alternatives

Step inside the Kia EV2 and you’re greeted by surprisingly spacious front seats. The high roof means even taller drivers have plenty of headroom, and the cabin feels wide enough that you’re not bashing elbows with your passenger.

You get one cup holder, as well as a divider that gives you a second cup holder or, once removed, a huge storage area between the seats. There’s more storage under the armrest, a wireless phone charging tray (on GT-Line trim and above) and door bins that are on the small side, but have been shaped to still take a large bottle. You also get three USB-C slots.

Space in the back seats

It’s no limousine in the back of the Kia EV2, but compared with properly small electric cars like the Renault 5 it’s impressively roomy. It passes the classic ‘six-foot passenger behind six-foot driver’ test, though you won’t exactly be able to stretch your legs out.

In the UK we only get the five-seat version, which is a bit of a shame, because elsewhere there’s a neat four-seat version that gives you sliding seats that can be used to maximise leg room or boot space. It would be a great option to have, because the EV2 isn’t really wide enough to squeeze three in the back anyway.

The door bins are quite small, but rear seat passengers do get access to two USB-C slots, which are placed in the sides of the seats in front, which is a nifty solution.

Boot space

Boot space is a bit of a weak point for the EV2. With 362 litres its capacity is down on most alternatives. If maximum boot space appeals, consider the Jaecoo E5 (480 litres), Leapmotor B10 (420 litres) or the Skoda Elroq (470 litres), though the latter is on the pricier end of the EV2’s scale.

With all that being said, the space isn’t too bad if all you regularly load up is a small weekly shop. We managed to fit two backpacks and one cabin luggage-sized suitcase inside, and didn’t have to remove the parcel shelf to do so.

The interior of the Kia EV2 is light and airy, but the climate controls are blocked by the steering wheel, which is annoying

You won’t feel like you’re sitting in a cheap car when you jump inside the Kia EV2. There’s a cool mix of materials, with cloth seat upholstery and fabric dashboard trim that makes it look fresh. The plastics aren’t particularly luxurious but they don’t feel rough and cheap, either.

Even on the rainiest of Lisbon days, the all black and grey cabin of our test car didn’t feel dark and dull inside. There’s an air of sophistication about the EV2’s cabin you don’t always expect at this price.

You get the now-typical bank of screens atop the dashboard, but where Kia differs slightly from the normal is that a slim climate settings screen is nestled between the usual driver display and infotainment system. It’s a bit pointless, because your view of it is blocked by the steering wheel, so it’s useful that you get some toggle switches beneath the main display to change temperature easily on the go.

The other displays are excellent. Both are 12.3 inches across with crisp graphics, and the menus are relatively logical to navigate, though we did find the built-in sat nav quite difficult to follow. Naturally you get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can use your own maps, music and other apps if you prefer.

There’s a choice of two batteries. The smaller battery has a 42.2kWh capacity, which provides a range of up to 197 miles. That’s a little underwhelming, with short-range versions of most alternatives hitting circa-250 miles. Even the smaller Citroen e-C3 has a long range version that (just) beats the Kia.

The big battery is much more impressive. With a 61kWh capacity it’ll go up to 281 miles between charges, which is actually a bit better than most alternatives, unless you’re willing to start bumping up the price for 300 miles-plus from the MG4 and Skoda Elroq.

Fast charging speeds are reasonable, with 10-80% coming up in about half an hour. With 11kW capability on AC charging, you can fully charge in about five hours (small battery) or seven hours (big battery).

Being an electric car means that the Kia EV2 has the lowest road tax rates and benefit-in-kind charges, too.

The Kia EV2 has not been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but the larger EV3 gets a four-out-of-five rating as standard, which might be some indication. This does get bumped up to five stars with extra safety kit fitted, though.

You get the usual suite of collision avoidance and lane-keeping driver aids, and Kia has fitted a driver monitoring system for the first time in one of its cars. There’s also a system that can slow and stop the car safely if the driver is unresponsive, but we’ll need to wait for the pricing and specifications to be confirmed before we know which trims get what kit.

Time will tell if the Kia EV2 turns out to be reliable, but we’ve heard no concerns about the other cars in its EV range. The mid-table finish in the 2025 Driver Power survey wasn’t hugely impressive, but the long warranty goes some way to help ease any concerns. You get a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is one of the best in the business, though one that is closely matched by some key alternatives.