By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER
Kia's new, small electric SUV promises to be the South Korean car maker's most affordable electric car yet.
The EV2 - which is the sister model to the Hyundai Inster - will be the brand's 'most accessible entry into its EV line-up' and although we don't know definitive pricing yet, Kia has says it will ring in below the £25,000 mark.
This would make it cheaper than rivals including the Volvo EX30 and the Mini Aceman, but more than the Renault 4 e-Tech which starts from £23,445 - although the French EV's price is inclusive of the Government's Electric Car Grant.
'Class-leading range' will provide customers either 197 miles (42kWh battery) or 278 miles (61kWh battery), which is more suited to daily family errand running than long journeys. However, a Long Range version will allow for weekend trips when needed.
Buyers of the EV2 are promised advanced technology including three screens and clever practicality features including reclining seats and generous cargo space.
The Standard Range version will go into production in February, while the GT-Line variants will be produced from June.
Kia has revealed its supermini electric SUV in Brussels and the EV2 will be priced from under £25,000 and might qualify for the government's Electric Car Grant
The EV2 will sit below the EV3 C-segment SUV, and places Kia in Europe's second -largest automotive segment.
It follows Kia's 'Opposites United' design philosophy, taking its exterior looks from Kia's larger electric SUVs with the brand's 'tiger face' front and the angular, boxy shape Kia uses for its SUVs to make them more spacious inside. It also has Kia's latest 'Star Map Light Signature'.
The inside though is where drivers who want the most practical electric supermini on a well-controlled budget should take note.
Kia has created a practical space with 885mm of rear legroom which can extend to a segment-leading 958mm thanks to the sliding and reclining back seats - a smart, solution we approve of.
The EV2 comes with 973mm of standard headroom whether you buy the four - or five -seats configuration, but this changes if you recline the seats.
It also has 403 litres of boot space, slightly less than the Renault 4 e-Tech's 420 litres, but the EV2 comes with a 15-litre frunk which the R4 does not.
The Ev2 takes its exterior looks from Kia's larger electric SUVs with the brand's 'tiger face' front and the angular, boxy shape Kia uses for its SUVs to make them more spacious inside
It has 403 litres of boot space, slightly less than the Renault 4 e-Tech's 420 litres
The fact that you can configure the EV2 with the number of seats you want makes it one of the most functional supermini options on the electric market.
And because Kia is well known for its high-quality and sustainable interiors, the EV2 also has a cabin filled with rich fabrics, a wraparound dash and this aforementioned incredibly high-tech three-screen setup.
Made up of a 12.3-inch driver cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control sreen and a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen, the combined system also brings in Kia's new ccNC Lite software which supports over-the-air updates and Kia upgrades.
The wraparound dash features a three-screen system of a 12.3-inch driver cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control sreen and a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen
The back seats slide and recline and throughout the cabin there are sustainable materials including recycled PET from fishing nets and bio-PU upholstery
Expect to find bio-PU seat upholstery, and recycled PET (from fishing nets) carpets and felts inside, and even bio-and BTX-free exterior paint on the outside.
Alongside the EV2's very useable range is 400V architecture that can deliver rapid charging in 30 minutes and under.
AC charging is supported up to 22kW, meaning slower public charging or at-home charging can be quicker.
Because the EV2 will be produced at Kia's Žilina facility, as is the EV4, it is likely it will qualify for the government's Electric Car Grant.