Kia’s Most Inexpensive EV Debuts Subsequent Month

• Kia confirms it is going to unveil its smallest EV on January 9 in Belgium.
• The EV2 will slot beneath the EV3 in Kia’s lineup, coming into a phase that can quickly see many extra fashions.
• Manufacturing of the EV2 will start in Slovakia and ramp up by 2026.

There’s a plethora of recent small B-segment EVs coming to Europe. Some are already right here, like the good Renault 5 (or the marginally bigger 4) and the Hyundai Inster, however extra are on the way in which and some of the hotly anticipated is the Kia EV2, which we now know will probably be revealed on January 9 in the course of the 2026 Brussels Motor Present.

As its identify implies, it is going to slot underneath the EV3 in Kia’s lineup and it’ll have the same mini-SUV physique model. The thinly-veiled manufacturing automotive within the teaser photographs hints that the general design will keep fairly near the EV2 idea that previewed it, a minimum of on the surface, as a result of the inside will look nothing just like the research’s and will probably be nearer in model and really feel to the EV3’s.

Photograph by: Kia

Below its petite SUV physique, the EV2 will trip on the identical front-wheel drive model of the E-GMP platform, which is utilized in all of Kia’s bespoke electrical fashions as much as the EV5. It’s going to include two battery choices: a smaller LFP pack within the base mannequin and extra capability and NMC cells within the long-range variant.

The battery choices will probably be smaller than what Kia affords within the EV3 (58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh), however bigger than within the Hyundai Inster, whose huge battery has a 49 kWh capability. The EV2 will probably be a direct rival to its Korean stablemate, however because it’s not an tailored gasoline automotive, it ought to provide superior specs. That being stated, I actually preferred the Instereven regardless of its platform sharing with a gasoline variant.

Photograph by: Kia

The EV2 will probably be in-built Slovakia and has been designed particularly for Europe (though it is going to probably additionally go on sale in South Korea and different markets). This is able to have made for a advantageous rival to the upcoming 2026 Chevrolet Bolt EVhowever there’s no likelihood of seeing the EV2 attain the U.S., primarily attributable to tariffs.

The producer not too long ago commented on the upcoming mannequin saying “This compact SUV delivers the innovation and the spirit of our bigger EVs whereas becoming seamlessly into on a regular basis life in Europe. Designed, developed, and shortly to be produced in Europe, we’re assured that the EV2 will play a pivotal function in shaping the way forward for accountable mobility throughout the area.”

It gained’t be alone on the Kia stand in Brussels. Kia is utilizing the venue to unveil sizzling GT variants of the EV3, EV4 and EV5, which ought to make these competent however considerably dull-to-drive vehicles a bit extra thrilling. No phrase on a possible EV2 GT, however it could be the one mannequin within the lineup and not using a sizzling model, so Kia could reveal that sooner or later.

Pricing in Europe is anticipated to begin at round €30,000 ($34,800), which appears fairly steep for such a small automotive. The marginally bigger Renault 4 begins at slightly below €30,000, though the Kia will most likely have a roomier again seat, in addition to higher vary and charging energy. If the opposite front-wheel-drive E-GMP vehicles are something to go by, although, it gained’t be anyplace close to as pleasing to drive as its retro-inspired French rival, whose driving dynamics are surprisingly good.