UK Drive: Is the Kia EV2 the affordable EV we’ve been waiting for?

What is it?

Now, the brand is focusing on one of the fastest-growing sectors of the lot – the small EV market. Is Kia onto another winner?

What’s new?

Under the boxy, futuristic styling, the EV2 uses the same platform as those other Kia ‘EV’ models. But here it’s the 400-volt variant to keep the costs down and to help Kia better compete against those aforementioned rivals.

What’s under the bonnet?

The former is a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, which does 195 miles on a charge and is mated to a 144bhp motor, while the latter is a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery. This larger pack can manage up to 275 miles WLTP range, as long as the trim and wheel size are right, and is paired with a 133bhp electric motor. Both get 118kW max DC charging, but the larger battery maintains a higher average charge speed, meaning that a 10-80 per cent top-up is similar for both at about 30 minutes.

Kia UK says its focus is on the Long Range models, which are eligible for the £3,750 Government Electric Car Grant (ECG). The smaller battery model is in ‘limited supply’, and only gets the £1,500 ECG discount.

What’s it like to drive?

Things unravel a little on a country road, however; the tall EV2 leans in corners, and it likes to hop around when hitting bumps in the road. And while the 133bhp electric motor is fine around town, on faster stretches of road it feels a little bereft when having to lug around a car that weighs over 1,600kg. More enthusiastic driving isn’t the EV2’s calling card, which will be fine for most EV2 buyers, but just remember a Puma Gen-E and Renault 4 are almost as refined but noticeably more enjoyable to drive.

How does it look?

The rear light clusters with their diddy little indicators do look odd though – it’s almost like they’ve melted down the bodywork.

What’s it like inside?

There’s a pair of 12.3-inch screens and a 5.3-inch central climate control display (the latter is obscured by the steering wheel, rather annoyingly), proper buttons for the climate control, and even little ‘have a nice day’ messages in the door handle surrounds. But even this cute little good-vibes message can’t disguise the fact that my entry-level ‘Air’ test car’s interior was pretty miserable-looking. The base-spec model has just a sea of grey plastic everywhere – solid, hard-wearing and nicely textured grey plastic, but grey plastic nevertheless. Higher trim levels introduce more colours and textures.

Interior space is pretty good – rear passengers have decent levels of room, and the 362-litre boot is pretty adaptable thanks to a double-height floor; mid- and top-spec cars even get a 15-litre frunk under the bonnet. But a Renault 4 is even more practical with a taller tailgate opening and a larger 420-litre boot capacity.

What’s the spec like?

All of these trims only come with the Long Range battery, and consequently get the full £3,750 Electric Grant; prices are £24,245, £28,995 and £32,595, respectively. The ‘First Edition’, with its Standard Range battery, only qualifies for the £1,500 discount, so looks a little incongruous at £26,995.

The £24,245 Air is arguably the sweet spot of the range as it offers a longer range than most rivals (at 275 miles), decent equipment levels, plus Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Verdict

While some small EVs are more enjoyable to drive on a country road and others might be a tad more practical inside, the EV2 has a very attractive combination of affordable pricing and long electric range – arguably more important qualities for most buyers.

Throw in cool, futuristic styling, and refined driving manners in the city and on the motorway, and the EV2 is a very compelling proposition.