Smaller EVs present both a problem and an opportunity. The opportunity is one both of cost - smaller almost always equals cheaper in the car world - and of turning electric cars’ vicious circle of weight gain into a virtuous loop of smaller batteries equalling less weight – equalling ever-greater efficiency.
The problem has been that small EVs are just that – small. Even the space-efficient and much-admired Hyundai Inster has to trade off rear passenger space against boot volume, while the Renault 5 and Renault 4 have definite rear seat space issues.
Does the Kia EV2 manage to dodge those issues while finding the beginning of that virtuous circle? Almost, yes…
First off, this is Kia’s smallest and most affordable electric car for now. We know that by the end of this year we’ll have seen the first sight of an even smaller and cheaper model, likely to be called the EV1, assuming Kia just sticks with the logic.
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But right now, the EV2’s entry-level €28,660 price tag makes it the best-value Kia model powered solely by battery packs.
It’s a relatively small battery pack. The Kia EV2 arrives in Ireland with a 42kWh battery pack, giving it a claimed range of 317km on a full charge. Which is problematic, as although the car is being built in Kia’s plant in Slovakia, dramatically cutting order-to-delivery times to weeks, rather than the months for cars coming from South Korea, a bigger-battery version, which gets a 61kWh battery and a possible range of 453km, is delayed until later in the summer.
Kia Ireland reckons this longer-range model will be the bestseller in Ireland. Why? Because in this country, Kia reckons private buyers want range.
According to data from Germany, EV drivers there are now starting to match their petrol-powered counterparts for time spent on motorways, and are also becoming as keen as combustion drivers on bringing their cars on a long annual holiday drive. So range has become a key battleground, arguably one slightly more important than price – or at least, buyers are prepared to pay a little extra to get the range they think they need.
Do they need it, though? I’m actually thinking that the 317km of the Kia EV2 Standard Range might just be enough. It is defined as a city car, at least by Kia, and while Irish buyers have always needed a car that can be both small and frugal and capable of longer journeys, the fact is that, based on a shortish test drive where we easily average 16kWh/100km, the EV2 should be capable of returning a genuine 300km in real-world conditions.
That puts it ahead of many rivals, which will often struggle to get next or near their on-paper range numbers, and it boosts the usability of this Standard Range model. True, more range is always nice to have, but it costs you. In the case of the EV2, this is slightly more than €3,000 to upgrade to the Long Range. How often are you really going to stretch it, though?
The Standard Range model is also fractionally faster to charge on a DC rapid charger, accepting 128kW and going from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes for the Long Range.
We can juggle these numbers all day – ultimately, you will have to do your homework and figure out whether your needs are better met by the smaller, cheaper battery or not.
Either way, what the Kia EV2 has is charm.
That’s in stark contrast to the larger EV3 crossover, which has all the character of a tumble dryer. This smaller EV2, though, seems to be positively bubbling over with character.
While the rival Renault 4 has its retro styling to lean on for anachronistic charm, the EV2 instead looks mildly futuristic, blending Kia’s existing EV styling quirks – such as those distinctive upright LED lights – into a shape that has very clean, smooth styling (especially at the rear, where there are faint hints of the Nissan Cube) which is just really appealing.
The interior is, if anything, even nicer. Our test car was in one-up-from-base Earth spec, and you don’t need to go any higher than this.
There is an abundance of welcoming light-coloured fabrics and materials, and no sense that Kia has cut corners to keep the EV2’s price down. True, the big touchscreen has fewer features than an EV3 or an EV4, but you can add to it with optional extras, and if you’re missing the built-in navigation, well, do what everyone does now and connect your phone to use Google Maps.
As ever with Kia, there are helpful physical buttons to reduce your reliance on the screen, and loads of handy storage space. The front seats are comfy for big ‘uns like me, too.
It’s a little less brilliant in the back, suffering – as does that rival Renault 4 – with a slight lack of space for knees and feet. Teenagers will complain, but smaller kids will probably be happy enough, and both will appreciate the handy USB-C sockets set conveniently into the backs of the front seats.
The boot, at 362 litres, is pretty big, although not class-leading. It’s probably enough for most, though.
Pleasingly, the EV2 is super-sweet to drive. Both the rival Renaults feel much sharper to steer, but the Kia’s easy ride over bumps is very pleasing, and it feels handily small and wieldy in tight spaces (although the turning circle is surprisingly large). It also feels confidence-inspiring because you can see the edges of the bonnet (under which is a handy 15-litre “frunk” in all but the basic Air model) from the driver’s seat.
A charming car, then. And an efficient one. And it’s pretty affordable, starting at €28,660. When it comes to EV2s, maybe this is the one to go for, rather than waiting for the later, pricier, long-range version.
