Kia on Thursday unveiled the Idea EV2, which previews an electrical subcompact crossover anticipated to enter manufacturing in 2026.
Proven on the automaker’s EV Day presentation in Tarragona, Spain, alongside a handful of different electrical autos, the boxy EV2 virtually appears to be like like an inheritor to the Kia Soul EV, which was bought within the U.S. in restricted numbers from mannequin years 2015 to 2019. A second-generation Soul EV was supplied in different markets but it surely by no means made it to the U.S., regardless that it had an official 243-mile EPA vary ranking.
Kia Idea EV2
At 169.3 inches lengthy, the EV2 is 4.1 inches longer than the present gasoline Kia Soul, and about the identical size because the Kia EV3 electrical crossover unveiled final Might. That footprint places each Kia autos between the Hyundai Kona Electrical and Volvo EX30, two of the smaller EVs to succeed in the U.S., excepting the Fiat 500e that is greater than two toes shorter than the EV2.
Fanciful options like suicide doorways (which Kia absolutely dedicated to by deleting the central roof pillar) doubtless will not make it to manufacturing, however the flat ground, wide-opening tailgate, and pop-up cargo divider system would possibly. The inside additionally options detachable triangular audio system, a dashboard-spanning show, and the power to undertaking messages onto home windows to speak with different highway customers. Kia additionally claims to be growing an AI voice assistant for future EVs.
Kia Idea EV2
Kia has offered few technical particulars, however the EV2 is predicted to make use of the identical lower-cost model of the E-GMP devoted EV structure because the EV3. Value-cutting is predicted to incorporate 400-volt charging instead of the 800-volt charging in different E-GMP fashions, though Kia mentioned the EV2 will retain the bidirectional charging functionality constructed into that platform.
The Idea EV2 was revealed alongside the production-ready EV4, a compact mannequin to be supplied in sedan and hatchback physique types, and the PV5 electrical van. Kia has indicated that it is mulling bringing the EV3 and EV4, in addition to the PV5 van to the U.S., but it surely’s unclear if the EV2 is likely to be bought right here as properly.
