Kia EV2 Earth 42.2 kWh – an electric car so city-oriented that it struggles on long trips [test]

The Kia EV2 is currently the smallest and cheapest electric car from this Korean manufacturer available in our country. After nearly a week of testing it for about 1000 km in urban conditions as well as on the road, I’m ready to share my thoughts on it! Is this a car suitable for more than just commuting around town? Keep reading to find out!

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Specifications of the tested Kia EV2 unit

Version: Standard Range, Earth

Battery capacity: 42.2 kWh

Battery type: LFP

Horsepower: 146 HP

WLTP range: 317 km

Top speed: 161 km/h

Trunk space: 362 l, front trunk: 15 l

Dimensions: 4060 x 1800 x 1575 mm

Additional feature: heat pump

The appearance of the Kia EV2

External aspects of the car

This car strongly reminded my son of Minecraft. And it’s a somewhat apt comparison. Kia clearly aimed to create an urban car that is also taller than smaller vehicles — the kind we might eventually get as the EV1. For me, this is a really good approach, assuming the Kia EV2 is an urban car (at least in the version I tested).

The shapes are quite angular, immediately evoking associations with the company’s larger SUVs like the EV5 or EV9. At the front, we have vertical headlights that remind us of other new models from this Korean giant, and the entire front end is nicely designed. It looks really good and solid.

The sides consist of 2 pairs of doors that can be opened at almost a 90-degree angle – this is convenient if you want to put something larger (but not too large due to the car’s size) in the back. On the right fender, there’s a nice manually operated loading hatch.

The back features a practically vertical hatch (also opened manually – I’ve gotten used to that by now) with neatly folded LED lights and a wiper cleverly hidden in the spoiler.

EV2 Interior

Although the entire car isn’t one of the largest, its interior is spacious enough. For an urban electric vehicle, the Kia EV2 allows comfortable riding for 4 people, including 4 adults. The seat adjustments are manual but sufficient, and a big plus is the headrest, which is far enough forward to allow one to rest their head on it without lying down. The seat material and finish turned out to be very pleasant—a significant advantage—as well as the heating function for the front seats and steering wheel.

The cockpit of the Kii EV2 features three displays known from other Korean models. The front one serves as a gauge for current driving conditions, the tiny one on the right shows a preview of climate control settings, and the one farthest to the right is the infotainment system, which has been a truly positive surprise for me. Aside from having wireless CarPlay, the manufacturer’s built-in software also works very responsively and conveniently. The only issue is the voice alerts for practically every topic—speed, attention, etc.—which need to be turned off after each car start.

The rear seat is finished in a similar style to the front seats, and there’s enough legroom even when the driver’s seat is adjusted for a person 185 cm tall. Children also don’t complain about the space when sitting in child seats—it’s comfortable.

Kia EV2 in Everyday Driving

If we assume the Kia EV2 is an urban electric car, we’ll be thrilled with it. It’s really comfortable to drive (though I wouldn’t expect anything less for over 100,000 zł on a car). The base price of this model with that battery is 99,990 zł in the basic version. The base price of the model tested is 122,400 zł, and with additional equipment (PC) it’s 126,400 zł. Driving to work, shopping, or even visiting parents living dozens of kilometers away isn’t a hassle at all.

The Kia EV2 in the tested version had a dead zone assistant, even automatic lane changing on highways (I don’t have this in my Tesla without purchasing autopilot, so it’s amazing), as well as a lane keeping assistant.

In daily urban use during summer, the consumption remained at around 10–12 kWh, which, with such a small battery, allows for driving over 350 km in city conditions. Charging is also efficient— an 11 kW AC charger (a 22 kW option is available) and a DC charger up to 120 kW enable the battery to charge very quickly (although at 30% capacity I had around 85 kW, and above 50–60% the charging power drops below 50 kW)—it takes only 25–30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% using a fast charger.

The trunk was a big surprise for me. It has microfiber lining, into which a Type 2 cable might just fit, so I’m ignoring that aspect. The trunk itself is quite useful thanks to its ability to have two floors. If we want it flat against the rear bumper, we won’t be able to fit much in it—just everyday groceries, children’s backpacks, etc. But in the EV2, the trunk floor can be removed, making it practically twice as large and allowing us to even place cabin suitcases vertically inside (which lets us fit 4 of them side by side). So load capacity is also a major advantage here.

We can’t forget the great additional feature that I didn’t have in this model but is available—V2L (2500 zł), which can turn your car into a large energy bank.

Kia EV2 on the road, or travel for the determined

The Kia EV2 variant I tested with a 42.2 kWh battery may be the ideal choice in urban areas, but longer trips pose a slight challenge. Returning from Nadarzyn to Wrocław (starting with 90% battery), I had to charge twice, while driving in the opposite direction (starting with 60% battery) required three charges.

Of course, this won’t be a problem from time to time, but buying this car for longer trips (300 km+) on expressways or highways might turn out to be a mistake. Unless you opt for the version with a larger battery (61 kWh), in which case the situation—and price—changes significantly.

The energy consumption while driving on the highway with the cruise control set at 123 km/h (or 120 km/h according to GPS) was 18 kWh/100 km. This is high for such a small battery, but low considering it’s a vehicle with a bulky design. Additionally, the S8 doesn’t have many charging options available, so I couldn’t afford to drive it completely empty and had to keep some energy reserve in case the charger failed or another issue arose.

Who is this car for – summary

The Kia EV2 is an excellent car for city driving. Its compact size makes parking in the city a breeze (and even enjoyable thanks to free parking at SPP). Commuting to work, dropping off children at school, going to church, or visiting friends are all great uses for this car. Even occasional road trips are feasible (though better with a larger battery).

So, if someone is looking for a small electric car that allows them to forget about gas stations in daily use, this vehicle could be the perfect choice.