Kia EV2 makes its international debut at the Brussels Motor Show

We have been hearing about the Kia EV2 since 2024, billed as the South Korean brand’s smallest and most affordable electric car for Europe. Now it has finally arrived: the new EV2 has just made its international debut at the Brussels Motor Show, which opened to the public today, 9 January.

Scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of the year, the EV2 enters the B-SUV segment and lines up as an alternative to models such as the Renault 4 E-Tech and the BYD Atto 2.

Kia had said that the prototype shown almost a year ago already represented 99% of the final version. That promise has been kept: the rugged-looking design is virtually unchanged from concept to production, including the low-mounted rear lights - a detail that is likely to spark plenty of discussion.

The exterior measurements have also barely shifted, give or take a centimetre: 4.06 m long, 1.8 m wide, 1.575 m tall, with a 2.565 m wheelbase - putting it right in the heart of the B-SUV class.

Kia EV2 seating: four or five seats

The biggest change is inside, where the cabin stands out by offering two distinct layouts - either four seats or five - aimed at making the most of the available space.

The spotlight is on the four-seat arrangement. In this version, the rear seats not only recline but also slide along a rail. When pushed fully rearwards, they deliver the largest rear legroom in the segment (958 mm).

Slide those rear seats fully forwards and the focus shifts to luggage space: boot capacity increases from 362 litres to 403 litres, plus an additional 15 litres under the bonnet (frunk). In the five-seat configuration, the Kia EV2 loses the sliding rear bench and the boot is limited to 362 litres.

Even so, Kia is backing the EV2’s interior with solutions that are unusual for this segment, bringing its smallest electric SUV closer to larger-category rivals in terms of space and day-to-day usability.

The same argument applies on the technology front, even though this is a segment where cost-cutting is typically expected.

A clear example is the adoption of the same three-screen layout seen in other EV family “siblings”, such as the EV4 and the large EV9. There are two 12.3-inch displays - one for the instruments and one for infotainment - with a smaller 5.3-inch screen between them dedicated to climate controls.

Up to 448 km of range

Under the bodywork, the new Kia EV2 uses the same E-GMP underpinnings as the rest of the brand’s electric line-up. While the platform can accommodate batteries as large as 100 kWh in bigger models, the EV2 is offered with two more modest packs - 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh - built around a 400 V architecture. The 800 V set-up is reserved for higher market segments.

With the smaller battery, the EV2 claims a combined WLTP range of up to 317 km. The Long Range version, fitted with the larger battery, raises that figure to as much as 448 km. Whichever battery you choose, the electric motor output remains unchanged: 108 kW (147 hp).

Charging brings a first for the model: the EV2 is Kia’s first electric vehicle to support 11 kW and 22 kW AC charging. On DC charging, the brand has not disclosed the maximum rate, but it states that going from 10% to 80% takes 29–30 minutes regardless of battery size - which points to two different peak charging powers.

Like other Kia EV models, the EV2 will also include V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid), enabling users to power external devices or feed energy back into the grid.

How much will it cost?

The Kia EV2 will be built in Europe in Žilina, Slovakia, where the South Korean manufacturer already produces the EV4, and it is expected to reach the market during this first quarter. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, but the entry version is anticipated to come in at below €30,000, broadly in line with its key competitors.