Kia has officially unveiled pricing and specifications for its smallest electric vehicle yet, the all-new EV2, positioning it as an affordable entry point into the brand’s growing EV lineup. Designed and built in Europe, the compact electric SUV targets urban buyers with a combination of efficiency, practicality, and relatively low pricing.
However, despite its appeal both in terms of feature package and price, Canadian and U.S. buyers are unlikely to see the EV2.
Compact SUV with up to 450 km of range
The Kia EV2 sits at the base of the company’s dedicated electric lineup and plays a key role in its global electrification strategy. Measuring just over four metres in length, it’s designed primarily for dense city environments while still offering a surprisingly spacious interior.
The EV2 will launch with two battery options. The standard range version features a 42.2 kWh LFP battery paired with a 146-horsepower motor, delivering up to 317 km (197 miles) of range. A long-range variant, expected to follow later, uses a 61 kWh NMC battery and offers up to 453 km (281 miles) of range.
Both configurations are built on a 400V version of Kia’s E-GMP platform and support DC fast charging up to 118 kW, allowing a 10–80% charge in roughly 30 minutes.
Pricing and trims
Kia is offering the EV2 in four trim levels: Light, Air, Earth, and GT-Line, with pricing that undercuts many competitors in Europe.
Here’s how pricing breaks down with approximate Canadian dollar conversions:
- Light (Standard Range): €26,600 (C$42,300/US$30,900)
- Air (Standard Range): €30,000 (C$47,700/US$34,800)
- Earth (Standard Range): €34,000 (C$54,000/US$39,500)
- Earth (Long Range): €38,000 (C$60,400/US$44,100)
- GT-Line (Long Range): €41,000 (C$65,200/US$47,600)
At launch, the base model may drop to around €24,000 (C$38,100/US$27,800), making it one of the more affordable EVs in its segment.
Even the entry-level Light trim includes LED headlights, a digital display setup, smartphone connectivity, and a full suite of driver assistance features. Higher trims add features like a heat pump, premium audio, ventilated seats, larger wheels, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability.
Designed for Europe, not North America
Despite its competitive pricing and practical design, the EV2 is not expected to launch in Canada or the United States. The model is being produced at Kia’s plant in Žilina, Slovakia, with a focus on European and Asian markets.
Kia is instead prioritizing slightly larger models like the EV3 and EV4 for North America, which are better suited to local consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
That means Canadian buyers looking for an affordable compact EV from Kia will likely need to wait for those alternatives, which will still be priced higher than the EV2.
Alternatively, there is the Kia EV5, which is exclusive to the Canadian market. Its nameplate indicates it is larger than the EV2, but still described as a compact SUV. Despite this, it still comes with a reasonable price tag, starting as low as C$43,495, topping out at C$61,495. Canadian deliveries of the EV5 are expected later this year.
