The Kia EV2 Will Be Released in January 2026
Kia recently announced plans to unveil a fourth electric vehicle. The all-new EV2, slated for release next January, will be smaller and more affordable than the EV3, EV4, and EV5.
In October 2023, Kia announced three new EV models for mass production. The EV3, EV4, and EV5 are part of what the automaker calls its “EVs for all” campaign.
The Importance of Affordable EVs
The EV4 will be released this year and is expected to start at between $30,000 and $40,000. The EV2 will be even more affordable, making the technology available to a broader consumer base. In Europe, prices will start at around $30,000. Kia may sell the EV2 in Korea for as little as $15,000.
Most people can see why cheaper electric vehicles will benefit society at large. Kia’s CEO, Ho-Sung Song, insisted in an interview with Autocar that manufacturing more affordable EVs is essential to the automotive brand and its future.
Kia and other automakers are also finding ways to drop their prices to compete with cheaply manufactured Chinese EVs. The key to success is for them to find ways to manufacture new, smaller, more affordable electric vehicles without cutting corners when it comes to quality. That’s just what Kia intends to do.
Meet the Kia EV2
Kia was caught testing the EV2 in public several times before the debut. What that testing reveals is a small EV SUV with a Soul-like design. All models in Kia’s new lineup feature what the automaker calls its Opposites United design philosophy.
Kia collaborated with artists in diverse fields to create the Opposites United philosophy, pushing boundaries and expanding ideas. The results were displayed in the Design Cultural Communication Project at 2024 Milan Design Week.
Like the EV3 and EV5, the EV2 should feature Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) OS, which includes dual 12.3-inch driver display and infotainment screens. Beneath the hood, it will feature Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, which offers over 300 miles of range.
The EV2 will be built at Kia’s Zilina, Slovakia plant. The plant is the automaker’s first manufacturing facility in Europe, and the EV2 will be the first crossover EV specifically designed for European markets.
When Can We Expect the EV2 In America?
Unfortunately for American drivers, none of Kia’s recent EV releases have hit the United States. The EV3 is rolling out in Europe for around $38,000, while the EV5 launched in China last year at around $20,000.
Kia recently announced that it will launch the EV5 in Canada in the coming year. However, that’s the closest any EVs in the new lineup will come to being released in the United States.
The issue is that Kia does not see an adequate demand for smaller EVs in the US. If you’re interested in affordable Kia vehicles in America, you’re better off looking for a used Kia Carnival. For EV enthusiasts, the larger EV6 and EV9 are appropriate, if more expensive, options.
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