Update (November 7, 2024): ‘Specifications’ and ‘Release Date & Rivals’ section updated.
Following the EV3 in 2024, Kia plans to release a smaller electric SUV that, as we earlier speculated, will be called EV2. The Kia EV2 will roughly be the size of the Hyundai Venue that’s available in the U.S., as well as a few emerging markets, as per a report ET News published on September 13, 2023.
Design
Kia has confirmed that the EV2 will feature a European design, and even though it will be a budget model, it should look quite bold and high-tech. The EV2, which will be smaller than the EV3, will be “very important” for the company’s European operations, Kia’s President and CEO Ho-sung Song said on October 12, 2023.
Spy shots captured in South Korea and Europe have revealed the Kia EV2 will have a squarish body, reminiscent of the Soul EV. We think Kia’s European customers will see the EV2 as the successor to the Soul EV and also an electric alternative to the Stonic, neither of which is available in the U.S. market.
The upcoming model gets upright front and rear fascias and vertical headlamps and rear combination lamps. It features squarish side windows, five-spoke two-tone alloy wheels, and flush roof rails. The beltline remains straight for the most part to give an authentic SUV look, swinging up towards the end for a touch of modern styling.
Interior
Inside, Kia may equip the EV2 with features like a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen, a wireless smartphone charger, multiple USB-C charging ports, and customizable ambient lighting. We expect the base grade itself to be pretty loaded.
Specifications
Dimensions
The Kia EV2 (codename: Kia QV) will measure 4,000 mm in length, as ET News stated in a different version of that article on Naver on September 15, 2023. This makes it 40 mm shorter than the first-gen Hyundai Venue available in the U.S. Despite the shorter length, its wheelbase will be 35 mm longer and measure 2,555 mm, as per the report.
Platform & Battery
The Kia EV2, riding on a front-wheel drive platform, should be available with a 400-volt battery pack, possibly in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) versions aimed at cost- and range-focused customers, respectively.
Kia EV2 GT
There’s no word on the power and torque output of this single-motor EV, but a performance-focused, sportier-looking GT variant is a given since Kia has said it will offer all its EV-series models with that option. However, the EV2 GT will likely arrive at least a year after the regular EV2 goes on sale.
Grades & Price
Kia is expected to price the electric small SUV in Europe from below EUR 30,000, so we understand why it needs the low-cost LFP cells in the basic configuration. The prices of the Kia EV2 will start below USD 35,000, Song said, although he was referring to the global pricing and not to the car’s U.S. launch.
Production
Production of the Kia EV2 electric SUV will take place at the company’s factory in Žilina, Slovakia. The Slovakian facility, which has an annual production capacity of 350,000 units, is currently home to the Ceed family (Ceed, Ceed Sportwagon, ProCeed, XCeed) and the Euro-spec Sportage. Kia plans to manufacture 80,000 units of the EV2 electric small SUV at the plant, as per the report.
Release Date & Rivals
On October 12, 2023, at Kia’s 2023 CEO Day, Song revealed that the EV2 will be priced at under $35,000. However, although he mentioned the price in USD, it is unlikely that he was talking about a U.S. launch. We think that the EV2’s proposed size and specifications may not meet the expectations of American EV buyers. In Europe, Kia plans to launch the EV2 in the fourth quarter of 2025 (October-December 2025), as per ET News’ report on Naver.
Beginning with the launch of EV3 this year, additional models such as EV2, EV4, and EV5 will be introduced in major markets, for a total of 6 mass-market models.
Ho-sung Song, President & CEO of Kia, at the 2024 CEO Investor Day, on April 24, 2024
Small crossover/SUV models are less popular in the United States. For instance, Hyundai sold just 28,009 units of the Venue in 2023, just 13% of Tucson’s sales (209,624 units) in the same year. However, prospects for Kia’s small SUV are much brighter in the old continent where B- and C-Segment cars dominate the sales chart. The Kia EV2 will compete with the likes of Peugeot e-2008 and the upcoming VW ID.2 SUV.
There’s no plan to release the EV2 in Australia either. On January 25, 2024, citing Kia’s local product chief Roland Rivero, Drive reported that sourcing the EV2 from Slovakia would not be feasible. Rivero mentioned the lack of an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with Slovakia and logistical challenges as barriers, suggesting that Australia might receive an alternative budget Kia EV at a later stage.
TopElectricSUV says
At the 2024 CEO Investor Day, it was revealed that Kia plans to expand its EV line-up to 15 models and sell 1.15 million EVs annually by 2027. For 2030, it has set a goal of increasing its annual EV sales to 1.6 million units.
The Kia EV2 promises to offer one of the roomiest and most functional interiors in its class, coupled with a commendable range suitable for city driving. All of these features are expected to come at a price point that delivers excellent value for money.
Kia EV2 FAQs
What is the Kia EV2’s release date?
The Kia EV2 is expected to be launched in Europe in Q4 2025 (October-December 2025).
Which models will be the Kia EV2’s rivals?
What will be the Kia EV2’s price?
The EV2 is expected to be priced from just under EUR 30,000.
Featured Image Source: Generic crossover SUV render, generated with AI, unrelated to the EV2.
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
