Currently reading: First pictures of £25,000 Kia EV2 city car

Korean firm expands EV line-up to include a European-built Vauxhall Corsa rival with a hot GT version

The Kia EV2, a new electric hatchback earmarked for launch in 2026 priced at around £25,000, has been spotted testing on public roads for the first time.

A small, high-riding hatchback to rival the Renault 5, it will sit on the same E-GMP platform as Kia’s flagship electric cars, the EV3, EV6 and EV9.

This means it is technically possible for it to have single- and twin-motor powertrains, but given the packing challenges of a smaller car and the more urban focus of likely buyers, a twin-motor set-up is uncertain.  

Although it is heavily camouflaged, the car clearly has a boxy silhouette similar to that of the existing Kia Soul, with column-like front lights echoing those of the larger EV9. 

It will doubtless get a different version of Kia’s ‘Tiger grille’ digital face and a mix of sharp lines and smooth surfaces in keeping with the firm’s ‘Opposites united’ design strategy. 

Kia has yet to give any further details of the model beyond its name, but has said it will be a compact car designed with a focus on the European market and manufactured at Kia’s plant in Slovakia.

Speaking to Autocar, Kia CEO Ho-Sung Song said producing affordable EVs is “very important” for the brand, “especially for the European market that is in need of smaller [electric] vehicles too”.

Kia EV2 – Autocar render

The firm is working to a target starting price of $30,000 (£25,000), which would put it up against the likes of the Renault 5, Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Mini Cooper Electric.

Song said the EV2 is a “very unique and important model for the European market” and “this is a smaller size of EV, a very European-style dedicated model.” He added that Kia has a “very concrete plan” for the model.

Notably, the EV2 will get a hot GT version: the firm has previously said it will offer a performance-led GT variant of every model in its EV line-up, and an official told Autocar that was still the intention, noting the popularity of performance cars with European buyers. 

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Production of the new model is due to start in Kia’s Slovakia factory – currently home to the Ceed and Sportage – in 2025, ahead of deliveries beginning the following year. The EV2 will be produced at the plant alongside another model in Kia’s EV range, although which has yet to be finalised. Given that Kia has said it will focus on building small- and medium-sized EVs in Europe, it is most likely to be the EV3 or EV4.

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial assistant, Autocar

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

Charlie is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, which he swears to be the best car in the world. Until it breaks.

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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ricequackers 4 November 2024

Why is it "high-riding"? Why does a supermini need the additional ground clearance and higher ride height?

gavsmit 4 November 2024

I'm assuming from the 2026 launch date that this EV2 isn't just a rebadged Hyundai Inster. And why are car magazines starting to call cars from the supermini class as cars from the class below (city cars)? Is it to prepare consumers for cost-cutting and tiny ranges only suitable for small distances despite having a big price tag?  

Shame we have to wait so long to see it, especially when there's been other small EV disappointments lately. There's definitely not going to be a Tesla 2 now, the Nissan Micra seems to have been forgotten about and so many of these new "cheap" EVs have a tiny range in the headline-grabbing base model (modern small cars aren't terrible to drive long distances so shouldn't be exclusively confined to having short "only driven in the city" ranges).

I really wanted to like the Inster and consider it as my first EV, but those ridiculous "cutesy" looks completely rule it out for me; I don't usually care what people say about my cars, but I'd be giving myself a hard time driving one of those silly looking things. Love the interior though. So fingers crossed this Kia effort is a bit more "grown up" to justify paying what is still a hefty premium for electricity over ICE.

 

Arthur Sleep 4 November 2024

2026???

New cars are like public inquiries - longggggggg drawn out.  By 2026, the Cupra Raval would have been around for a year, and so many others due in 2025.  Kia, what are you thinking?