Kia has revealed their smallest EV yet, the all-new Kia EV2 electric crossover, at the Brussels Motor Show. The EV2 is Kia’s smallest model yet in their now-six model line-up of born-electric vehicles, built on the E-GMP platform. The EV2 rivals the Renault 4 and the upcoming Volkswagen ID Polo Cross in international markets.
On the outside, the EV2 takes clear inspiration from Kia’s larger e-SUVs, and features a revised version of the ‘tiger face’ front end and a boxy shape designed to maximise interior room.
The vertically stacked split headlights give it a unique look, along with heavy cladding all around the vehicle. The taillights follow a similar pattern, merging with the cladding around the rear wheel arches. This gives it a more Syros-like look.
Overall, the design is clean and futuristic, with almost no sharp lines and edgy surfaces. The GT Line trim has a sportier look at the front and rear bumpers. The wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches for the model, while the GT Line variants features 19-inch rims.
As for the size, the EV2 is 4060 mm long, 1800mm wide and has a 2565 mm wheelbase. Think of it as a slightly bigger Wagon R, with its boxy shape and almost mini-MPV vibes. The size is similar to the Syros, available in India.
On the inside, the EV2 is actually very similar to the Syros. It gets Kia’s digital dashboard centered around three screens, namely a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control display, and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen.
The EV2 features Kia’s cheapest version of the infotainment system, a new ccNC Lite version, which helps Kia lower the cost. Don’t worry, it is still capable of OTA (over-the-air) updates. There might be an option to switch to the normal version with an extra paid premium.
To my utter delight, the Kia EV2 has plenty of physical controls on the steering wheel and the centre console for ease of operation. Lord knows that the entire automotive industry is fed up of the lack of physical buttons but Kia does not disappoint at all.
The EV2 also, interestingly, gets a 4-seater configuration along with the 5-seater standard configuration. The former features two independent reclining and sliding seats, allowing for a boot space of 403 liters. The latter offers a 362 liter boot space capacity. Both have a 15-liter frunk.
The EV2 also offers a digital key 2.0, Harman Kardon sound system, V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) capability along with a Level 2 ADAS suite. So the reduced costs definitely don’t compromise on your safety.
Now, coming to the battery and performance, the Kia EV2 will be offered with two battery pack options, 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh. The former is an LFP battery with a range of 317 km, while the latter is an NMC battery with a range of 448 km. The standard variants (with the 42.2 kWh battery pack) will feature a 147 hp front-mounted motor, while the Long Range variants (with the 61 kWh battery) will use a smaller 136hp motor.
For the charging capacity, the EV2 uses the 400V system instead of the 800V one. You can expect 10-80 percent charging with a AC Fast Charger to take up to 2.5-3 hours for both the batteries. DC charging, on the other hand, allows for a full top-up in just 30 minutes.
As for the chargers offered by the company, you can choose between 11 kW and 22 kW AC chargers. Why a 22 kW charger? Well, in Europe, most people already have home chargers that deliver 22 kW, so the EV2 has been fitted with the necessary equipment from the get-go.
This B-segment electric crossover is expected to start from around $35,000 in Europe. If it comes to India, there are two possible outcomes. If it is imported as a completely-built unit (CBU), it will face a 110% import tax, taking the price up to ₹30 Lakh, and if it is built in India, then it will actually be around ₹9 Lakh to ₹12 Lakh, especially if Kia keeps the pricing competitive.
The Kia EV2 will be built at Kia’s Zilina factory in Slovakia, alongside the EV4. The Standard variants will start production from February, while the Long Range and GT Line versions will come in June.
