Kia EV2 review: One of the best affordable compact electric cars on the market

We get to grips with the smallest electric vehicle to join Kia’s fast-growing line-up – the cute EV2

Up until now, one of the biggest obstacles in the way of a more rapid switch from ICE cars to EVs has been the higher upfront cost of zero emission vehicles, compared to petrols and diesels.

Affordability is now top of the agenda, and Kia is just one of many manufacturers launching small EVs in the important £20,000-25,000 price bracket.

Though prices start for the Kia EV2 at £27,995, it qualifies for the maximum Government Electric Car Grant, which means you pay from £24,245 instead.

However, it’s up against some stiff opposition in the shape of the Geely EX2, Renault 5, Honda Super N, Hyundai Inster, MG4 EV Urban, and the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Polo.

First impressions are good. It’s very much a Kia, thanks to the South Korean brand’s “Russian doll” SUV design strategy from the giant EV9 downwards.

Its boxy looks are distinctive and functional, helping to maximise cabin space while retaining a compact footprint.

It’s available with two battery options – a 42.2kWh with a claimed range of 195 miles, or a 61.0kWh (275 miles).

Standard equipment includes LED headlights, electric folding door mirrors, keyless entry, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a reversing camera.

GT-Line adds 19-inch alloy wheels, GT-Line specific bumpers and tinted windows, for a sportier look. It also has two-tone faux leather upholstery, a wireless phone charger and automatic flush-fit door handles.

The range-topping GT-Line S includes electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation, Harman Kardon audio, a sunroof and a power tailgate, while First Edition spec is roughly between Air and GT-Line

Inside, it’s thoughtfully designed and uses decent materials, with the accent on durability and sustainability.

There are some hard surfaces, but overall, the cabin is a nice place to be. There’s plenty of space up front, though the rear seats are a little cosy and there no sliding rear bench like many cars these days, allowing owners to juggle rear legroom and boot space.

That said, there’s more than enough headroom, while the boot capacity is a useful 362 litres (rising to 1,201 litres with the back seats flipped), plus there’s a 15-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet (sadly not available on the entry level ‘Air’ spec), which is ideal for storing charging cables.

Up front there’s the latest version of Kia’s infotainment set-up featuring 12.3-inch displays either side of a 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen, which unfortunately is partly obscured by the steering wheel at times.

As ever with Kia, the main central touchscreen is response and intuitive. There are also welcome physical shortcut buttons below.

All variants of the EV2 are powered by a single front-mounted electric motor. That means 144bhp through the front wheels (42.2kWh battery), allowing the EV2 to accelerate from 0-to-62mph in 8.7 seconds.

The larger long-range 61.0kWh battery pack is paired with a slightly detuned front motor to maximise driving efficiency. Pushing out 133bhp, it allows a 0-to-62mph time of 9.5 seconds.

Incidentally, all EV2 variants produce 250Nm torque and have a maximum speed of 100mph.

The EV2 integrates 400V charging technology, which means a 10-80% boost takes about half an hour using a 150kW DC fast charger, while a 10-100% charge at home via an 11kW AC charger takes 5 hours 20 minutes (7 hours 15 minutes on long-range).

On the road, the EV2 continues to impress, and while I would prefer the option to sit a little lower, I soon got used to the driving position.

Visibility is excellent all round, refinement is superb, and it feels like you’re driving a bigger car.

Overall ride comfort is good, and the EV2 is composed for the most part, only getting caught out on really poor surfaces.

It’s worth experimenting with the Eco, Normal, Sport drive modes, but as usual, Normal is just fine. And if you do push on in Sport, it manages to stay surprisingly flat in more challenging corners. There’s also a Snow mode, which presumably offers a little more traction.

The steering is light, if a little numb, while the brakes are responsive (not a given with EVs).

Thankfully, Kia has also stuck with steering wheel-mounted paddles to control brake regen, so no prodding and swiping on the touchscreen.

Ultimately, the EV2 may not be the most exciting electric car on the road, but it’s comfortable, capable and especially easy to drive in town.

Naturally, the EV2 comes with a full suite a safety and driver assistance technology, then there’s Kia’s generous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

I achieved an impressive average efficiency of 4.4 miles per kWh on a variety of roads, so I’d expect a real-world range of closer to 240 miles in the Long Range version (higher in city driving), which is more than enough for most drivers’ needs.

Verdict: Put simply, the little EV2 is another winning package from Kia. Compact, comfortable, practical, safe, efficient and easy to drive, it’s one of the best small EVs on the market.

Review in association with AutomotiveBlog