SPY PICS: Baby electric 2026 Kia EV2 caught testing
Budget-friendly EV2 in pole position to replace the aging Stonic if given green light Down UnderThe 2026 Kia EV2 baby electric hatch has been caught testing in Europe ahead of its European production start in the second half of next year.
Set to be the Korean brand’s smallest and most affordable EV yet, it’s hard not to notice the EV2 sports light SUV proportions rather than just aping a light hatch, resembling a shrunken EV3 underneath all that heavy camouflage.
The same is expected of the interior design which in turn is derived from the flagship EV9.
Still to be confirmed for the Australian market, the EV2 will be built in Slovakia, meaning it will attract the extra five per cent import tariff, hampering its legitimate business case Down Under, despite being touted as a potential Kia Stonic replacement.
The Stonic will be the best part of a decade old when the EV2 is released in 2026, making it ripe for replacement, and we’re yet to hear of any internal combustion succession plans.
Word is the EV2 will be priced below €30,000 ($A49,000) in Europe which sounds expensive compared to Chinese offerings like the MG4 hatch (from $30,990 drive-away), but the little Kia will be based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s advanced e-GMP architecture – the same one under the EV3, EV4, EV6 and EV9, not to mention the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6.
Capable of being offered in either single- or dual-motor forms, the e-GMP underpinnings mean the small Kia could lead the class for fast-charging capabilities.
There’s been conflicting reports as to whether the EV2 will ever land locally, however the odds are stacked against it at the moment going by previous comments made by Kia Australia executives.
“As much as a product like EV2 would be great, it’s going to be too difficult for us and we won’t be taking that product,” product planning manager Roland Rivero said, referring to the lack of a free-trade agreement with Slovakia.
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