Kia EV2: UK pricing and specs revealed
Kia has just dropped full UK pricing and specs for the EV2, its smallest and most affordable electric car to date. It's a five-seat compact SUV, it does up to 281 miles on a charge, and it starts at £27,995 OTR, with the potential to come down further if the Government's Electric Car Grant is confirmed. Here's everything you need to know.
The Kia EV2 is a compact electric SUV, a B-segment five-seater, sitting below the EV3 in Kia's growing electric family. It was officially unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show earlier this year, and it's been designed, engineered and built exclusively for Europe, rolling off the production line in Žilina, Slovakia.
Think of it as Kia doing what Kia does well: packing a genuinely impressive amount of car into an accessible price point, without cutting corners on the bits you actually use every day.
Two batteries, two different approaches
Standard range (42.2kWh)
Only available on the First Edition. This is the quicker of the two motors, pushing 144bhp and hitting 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds. It charges from 10-80% in just 29 minutes on a 150kW DC charger. Great if most of your driving is local and you want a bit more punch.
Long range (61.0kWh)
Available on Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. Slightly less powerful at 133bhp, and a touch slower off the line at 9.5 seconds, but you get that headline 281-mile range. It charges from 10-80% in 30 minutes on DC, and a full top-up on an 11kW home charger takes around 7 hours 15 minutes, so it's basically an overnight job. All variants top out at 100mph and produce 250Nm of torque.
The trim levels
Air (£27,995) is the entry point, and it's genuinely well-equipped. You get 16-inch alloys, heated front seats and steering wheel, a three-screen dashboard including dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Kia's full suite of safety tech including Highway Driving Assist 2.0. The only real decision you make is paint. Fusion White is standard, or there are five premium colours available for £620.
One thing worth noting: the Air doesn't have a frunk (that's a front boot), so your charging cable lives in the main boot. Minor, but worth knowing.
First Edition (£28,495) is the one arriving first, with production already underway. You get 18-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless charging, a 15-litre frunk, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. It's a meaningful step up, and the three premium paint options (Frost Blue, Phantom Black and Wolf Grey) are included at no extra cost.
GT-Line (£32,745) tends to be the one most people end up in across Kia's range, and it's easy to see why. You get 19-inch wheels, sportier exterior styling with gloss black details, two-tone artificial leather upholstery and adaptive LEDs. It also swaps back to the long-range battery, so you get the bigger range alongside the sharper looks.
GT-Line S (£36,345) is the flagship, and it earns the title. You're looking at ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree surround view camera, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging capability, a power tailgate and Digital Key 2.0. There's also an optional heat pump available for £700, which is well worth considering if you want to maximise winter range.
What about the tech?
Even the base Air trim gets Kia's connected car Navigation Cockpit with its triple-screen setup, plus the AI Personal Assistant. It's activated by saying "Hey Kia" and is built on generative AI, so it can handle travel planning, POI suggestions, owner's manual queries and yes, jokes (quality not guaranteed). It's free for the first year before moving to a paid subscription.
You also get Kia CarPay for in-car parking payments, and Plug and Charge, which means you just plug in at compatible chargers and it authorises automatically. No card, no app faffing.
Ongoing over-the-air updates will keep the system improving over time, which is reassuring given how quickly EV software tends to evolve.
When can you get one?
Reservations are open now. The First Edition is the first to arrive, with production already underway. The Air starts production in June 2026, with other trims following later in the year.
If you want to see one in the flesh first, Kia is running First Drive Weekend events at nearly all of their 190 UK dealers between 16 April and 26 June 2026. It's a proper experience too, with a one-to-one walkaround from a product expert and a 30-minute accompanied test drive.
Is it worth it?
A five-seat electric SUV with 281 miles of range, proper tech and Kia's seven-year warranty, at a price point that could still come down once the Electric Car Grant picture is clearer? It's a genuinely competitive package, and it lands in a segment that's been crying out for one.
It's not perfect. The Air trim lacks a frunk, the First Edition only comes in standard range, and the GT-Line S nudges past £36k before options. But for the money, the value on offer is hard to argue with.
If you're thinking about the EV2 on a personal or business lease, get in touch with us and we'll find you the best deal available once deliveries begin.
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