Kia EV2 (2026) Review - Select Car Leasing

Introduction

There’s no denying Kia is riding high on the crest of a wave with its range of EV models scooping a wealth of awards, and with sales figures simply booming.

And now the Korean manufacturer is launching into one of Europe’s highest-volume sectors – the B-segment SUV. The EV2 is Kia’s smallest electric car to date (don’t rule out an EV1 though) and, although costs have not been confirmed yet, expect a starting price around the £25k mark.

Customers will be able to select from two batteries, the Standard Range 42.2kWh unit can deliver 197 miles on a single charge, while the Extended Range 61.0kWh battery can cover up to 281 miles.

The car is designed, engineered and built in Europe for the European market, so it is perfectly tuned for our roads. And although the exact trim line-up is yet to be confirmed for the UK, it’s likely to feature the Air entry-level car, as well as GT-Line and GT-Line S models.

The EV2 is sold in Europe with a choice of four or five seats, but only the latter configuration is available to UK customers.

We headed to Lisbon in Portugal for the European launch of the EV2 where the only model currently available is a Baseline version, which is the European entry-level car. However, it boasts plenty of features that would normally only appear on GT-Line or GT-Line S cars in the UK. It had the smaller 42.2kWh battery, although Kia believes most UK buyers will opt for the extended Range 61.0kWh version.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros:

• Style
• Handling
• Technology
• Range
• Practicality
• Pricing

Cons:

• There is only a single front cup holder
• Rear headrests block visibility a little
• Would like a few more physical controls

First impressions of the Kia EV2?

The Kia EV2 is a five-door compact crossover that embodies the company’s Opposites United design philosophy with an upright stance that takes its inspiration from its larger EV siblings. Think EV9 on Mounjaro and you get the EV2.

Vertical daytime running lights, the latest Star-map Signature Lighting and the upright front profile make the vehicle instantly recognisable as a Kia, while other design cues include robust wheel arches, a pronounced shoulder line, flush door handles, privacy glass, roof rails, a hidden rear wiper and 18-inch alloy wheels.

At the rear, the taillamps are positioned at the edges to emphasise the car’s width and again there are Kia signature lights to help the vehicle stand out from the crowd.

What are the Kia EV2’s key features?

We are still awaiting confirmation of the exact UK trim line-up and the features included in each specification, but our European Baseline model came impressively well equipped. It had upmarket cloth upholstery, a powered driver’s seat, heated front seats and a heated two-spoke steering wheel. A trio of screens covering entertainment, climate settings, and the driver display sits neatly behind a single glass panel.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity is standard, as are sat nav, a Harman Kardon sound system, a wireless smartphone charger. Our test car also featured a heat pump, but this will definitely be an optional extra in the UK, as will the high-end audio set-up.

The Baseline was riding on striking 18-inch alloy wheels and had a front sunroof.

In Europe, the step up to GT-Line sees the introduction of model-specific bumpers, 19-inch alloys, a three-spoke steering wheel, ventilated front seats with a memory setting for the driver’s side, metal pedals, dark grey headliner, artificial leather upholstery and laminated glass.

How far is the Kia EV2’s range and what are the battery options?

The Kia EV2 B-segment SUV is sold with two battery options. The Standard Range 42.2kWh unit can deliver up to 197 miles on a single charge, while the Extended Range 61.0kWh battery sees the distance between charges increase to a combined 281 miles.

We don’t know at this stage whether both batteries will be sold across the UK line-up, but on the EV4 for example, the smaller capacity battery is only available on the entry-level Air trim. But we will have to wait and see what Kia decides for the EV2.

How does the Kia EV2 perform and handle when put to the test?

We took the EV2 Baseline with the Standard Range 42.2kWh battery on an extensive road route in and around Lisbon in Portugal with plenty of stop-and-go city driving, along with more testing coastal roads, complete with steep cliff-top climbs. And it coped with everything we threw at it.

With 147hp and 250Nm of torque, the EV2 can tick off the 0-62mph dash in 8.7 seconds and maxes out at 100mph, while delivering a combined 197 miles of range, increasing to 265 miles of city-based driving.

In busy city traffic, the excellent all-round driver visibility is a real bonus and the i-Pedal will bring the car to a quick standstill without the need for braking. The vehicle is exceptionally agile, so making a wrong turn is never an issue thanks to its impressive turning circle and nimble handling.

It’s a car that will reach maximum highway speeds in the blink of an eye and cruises effortlessly with barely a sound filtering into that cabin. If I’m being really picky you will notice a little wind noise at higher speeds, but generally the cabin is well-insulated and very refined. And then when you escape the motorways and congested city traffic, the EV2 is more than happy to deliver the goods when unleashed on twisting roads with hairpin bends and steep inclines.

It’s beautifully grounded and confident through long sweeping bends with no sign of body sway at all. Mountain climbs were achieved without any sign of a stutter and the winding descents were fast, but controlled. The acceleration through the single-speed transmission is smooth and responsive and there are drive modes and paddles for added driver fun.

The drive modes are called Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow – no prizes for guessing which is the most rewarding. And the steering wheel paddles can be used to alter the strength of the regenerative braking with the i-Pedal setting being the strongest.

Is charging the Kia EV2 an easy process?

With its 400V high-speed charging, the Kia EV2 Standard Range with the 42.2kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in just 29 minutes. The Long Range 61.0kWh unit can take the same 10-80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.

Obviously most owners will be looking to keep charging costs to a minimum by plugging into a home or work-based wallbox, but at this time we don’t have any figures.

Additionally, owners can use the Kia App to track vehicle usage, schedule maintenance and manage charging. It can assist with locating charging points along a planned route and can monitor battery levels.

What are the day-to-day running costs with a Kia EV2?

While we wait for confirmation and the finer details regarding the Kia EV2 line-up, we can assume the model will feature the same trim set-up as its other EV siblings. That means there will be an entry-level Air model with step-ups to GT-Line and GT-Line S.

We saw the vehicle unveiled for the first time at the Brussels Motor show and there were strong suggestions that the line-up would start from around £25,000, but this is yet to be confirmed. Additionally, with the car designed, developed, engineered and built in Europe, it will likely qualify for the maximum £3,750 government Electric Car Grant.

While we are making quite a lot of assumptions here, there are some figures we are completely certain about. For example, the first-year road tax bill will be £10 and this will increase to the 2026/27 fee of £200 after 12 months. And the car will have an attractive four per cent Benefit in Kind rating for any potential business owners.

There will be no Expensive Car Supplement to worry about as the vehicle will be priced well below the new £50k government Expensive Car Supplement threshold, and the EV2 will be sold with Kia’s excellent warranty package offering cover for seven years or 100,000 miles, increasing to eight years battery protection. On other Kia EVs, it also includes complimentary roadside assistance for 12 months across the UK and Europe.

What’s good about the Kia EV2’s interior?

If our Kia EV2 Baseline model is an example of the interior quality, then owners can expect a wealth of riches, no matter what trim level they choose.

The European-based Baseline model is certainly anything but an entry-level car to be honest and features a powered driver’s seat upholstered in a very high-end cloth material. The front seats, along with the steering wheel, can be heated against those winter blues.

The main focal point is the triple-screen infotainment layout behind a single glass panel. There is a 12.3-inch supervision cluster where the driver can see all the vital numbers such as speed, speed limits, battery charge levels and existing range. Another 12.3-inch screen is where all the on-board tech is accessed and separating these two screens is the smaller 5.3-inch climate control panel.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include sat nav, Bluetooth, full wireless smartphone connection via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a DAB radio, and our test car also featured an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system – don’t expect that on the entry-level UK car though.

There is a nice mix of physical switches and haptic controls, with short-cuts to all the main functions such including the navigation, map, home screen and media.

It’s a vehicle that comes fully loaded with technology, but remains user-friendly in the process. That means would-be buyers get plenty of really useful, practical technology rather than lots of gimmicks that simply never get used.

Is the Kia EV2 practical, and how big is the boot?

Despite being Kia’s smallest EV to date the EV2 is deceptively spacious with class-leading cabin space. The car stretches 4,060mm in length, is 1,800mm wide, 1,575mm tall and has a 2,565mm wheelbase.

Thanks to short front and rear overhangs, the extra-long wheelbase and a flat floor design, the interior space is similar to that on a larger vehicle. Up front, a couple of six-foot-plus adults can sit comfortably with ample space for two more in the back. The slightly elevated seating offers easy access to child seats and there are Isofix anchors to the outer rear seats.

The boot on our test car was accessed via a manual tailgate and it could swallow 362 litres of luggage, a capacity that can be extended to 1,201 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats lowered. There is an additional compartment under the boot floor along with space to store charging cables in the frunk beneath the bonnet. The EV2 with four seats, which is not being sold in the UK, has extra boot space at 403 litres as the individual rear seats slide back and forth, although the overall capacity remains the same at 1,201 litres.

Throughout the cabin are numerous handy storage options, including a large area beneath the centre console, a glovebox, door bins with space for bottles, a compact cubby beneath the centre armrest, a wireless charging pad, some trays and a single front cup holder that is quite an odd shape so a take-away coffee may wobble a little. There are three USB-C ports up front and two more for rear occupants in the sides of the front seats.

The EV2 offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, meaning it can be used to power up external devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters, BBQs, air pumps and other electrical appliances directly from the car. It also has bi-directional charging so could connect to a home in the event of a power cut.

Is the Kia EV2 a safe car?

The Kia EV2 has not yet been tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, but the EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6 and EV9 all secured a maximum five stars, so there is clearly a pattern there and we can only assume the EV2 will follow in a similar vein.

Our European Baseline model featured a comprehensive list of safety systems and driver assistance aids, including forward collision avoidance, highway driving assist, safe exit warning, rear-cross traffic collision-avoidance assist, navigation-based smart cruise control, parking collision avoidance, blind spot collision avoidance, a 360-degree view monitor, lane keep assist, lane following assist, remote smart parking assist, parking sensors and seven airbags.

Can I choose optional extras with a Kia EV2?

Kia has a reputation for producing cars that are generously-equipped as standard, meaning there is little need or scope for optional extras.

And, as we are still awaiting confirmation of the exact trim specifications, it’s not possible to explore what options may be available.

That said; most of the Kia EV line-up can be further customised via upgraded paint, along with some tech-based add-ons for streaming entertainment packages such as Netflix, TikTok, Disney+ and YouTube. A heat pump will also be available on the UK model.

What are the rival cars to the Kia EV2?

The Kia EV2 is vying for sales in the second most popular sector where there is strong competition from the likes of the Skoda Epiq, Renault 4, Jeep Avenger and the upcoming CUPRA Raval, VW ID.Cross and ID.Polo.

What’s the final verdict on the Kia EV2?

While there are still plenty of the finer details yet to be confirmed, we can say with the utmost certainty that the Kia EV2 is going to be absolutely huge for the Korean carmaker. It will offer the perfect entry-point to its EV line-up and customers will get a great deal of car for the rumoured price-tag.

It is a really easy car to quickly feel at home with, drives beautifully with an edge when needed, and is packed with modern technology.

Despite boasting a wealth of on-board features, we applaud the clever, user-friendly simplicity of the vehicle. It does everything you could want from an electric car, but without any unnecessary fuss or fanfares.

Our advice would be, if you’re in the market for a B-segment SUV that’s fully electrified, then ensure you test drive the Kia EV2 before signing any other contracts.

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**Correct as of 30/03/2026. Based on TBC months initial payment, TBC miles annually, over a TBC month lease. Initial payment equivalent to TBC monthly payments, or £TBC (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status. 

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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