Less than a year after the concept was revealed, Kia is releasing the production EV2, and there are several surprises.
The crossover, which will be the smallest and most affordable electric vehicle in the Korean manufacturer’s lineup, does give up the rear-hinged “suicide doors” from the concept in favor of conventional doors, as well as a more restrained driver environment. However, it is preferable from an ergonomics standpoint: As with the EV3, Kia does not follow the Chinese-Tesla screen trend and equips the EV2 with physical switches for operating the climate control and audio system. There is a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, a largely identical digital instrument cluster, and an additional smaller screen for climate control operation alongside the physical buttons, measuring 5.3 inches.
With a length of 4.01 meters, this is a physically small crossover, but one that is efficiently designed. A wheelbase of 2.56 meters should allow it to compete with new small electric crossovers such as the Renault 4 and the Skoda Epiq. The trunk offers a maximum capacity of 362 liters in the five-seat version that will be imported to Israel (there is also a version with four seats and 403 liters for countries with lower birth rates). The rear seat slides on rails, allowing a trade-off between cargo volume and rear-seat legroom, and there is also a relatively small front trunk with a capacity of 15 liters.
There is a choice between two battery sizes: 44 kWh with a combined range of 317 km, and 61 kWh with a range of 448 km. As with the EV3, the latter figure is exceptional for a vehicle of this size. Car manufacturers tend to give small electric cars relatively short ranges, but Kia is not following the crowd.
The safety systems include the standard active safety suite, and there is also the option to maneuver the car into tight parking spaces via remote control while the driver stands beside it. This is technology we have seen before, but not in a car of this size.
In Europe, versions with the smaller battery will start at under €25,000, while the larger battery versions will start at €30,000. Production at Kia’s European plant in Slovakia will significantly reduce shipping costs to Israel, which are taxed like the rest of the vehicle. This means an estimated price of around NIS 125,000 for the small-battery version, if it arrives, and about NIS 145,000 for the larger battery after this year’s tax increase on electric vehicles. We will know more closer to its arrival in Israel in June.