At last, we are seeing a raft of smaller, more affordable EVs hitting the market. As I have said previously, not everyone either wants or can afford a large, expensive EV. So, electric cars for the masses it is then, and what a good thing that is.

Kia’s foray into this market is the new EV2, one of the most hotly anticipated new cars of this year. It is on sale now, with dealer demonstrators there for the driving. Keen as ever to get behind the wheel, I travelled south to the UK media launch.

The EV2’s front end styling is familiar, and has been seen already on EV3, EV5 and EV9. It’s bold, striking and unmistakable for anything else. The rear is somewhat unusual, with small lights situated quite low down. It makes the car look wider than it is. From the side, think who shrunk the EV3!

Inside is very familiar too, with thoughtful design elements and generally high-quality materials. The dual displays, one for the driver’s instrument cluster and another for the infotainment, dominate the dashboard. The main heating controls are also incorporated, though they hide slightly behind the steering wheel. No matter, as there are some proper switches for adjusting temperature etc, so the screen controls are not vital.

Storage space is generous up front, with good-sized door bins and plenty of cubbies and cupholders in the central console. Seats up front are very comfortable and are heated in all models. In addition, there will be no cold hands either, all thanks to a simple press of the door-mounted switch.

Rear seat space is a tad disappointing. There’s headroom aplenty and three will fit across at a pinch but sit a six-footer behind someone of similar stature and they will likely grumble. I suspect would-be buyers will not mind.

Trim levels follow the usual Kia fashion, with Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S models. Equipment is generous, with customers only needing to choose their favourite colour and accessories. Additionally, the top model can be specified with a heat pump costing £700. It’s a shame this isn’t offered across the range.

Air trim lacks for very little, with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, LED headlights, rain sensing wipers, Apple, Android and Bluetooth connectivity amongst the highlights. Move up to GT-Line and the alloy wheels grow by three inches, there is some sporty exterior styling and you will find artificial leather adorning the seats. The front seats are electrically adjustable.

The top GT-Line S gains a sunroof, ventilation to the front seats with a memory function for the driver. There is also V2L capability, a digital key and a premium 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. You pays your money….

At present there a two battery sizes available, the 42.2kWh unit being available solely in ‘First Edition’ guise. This can be had for £26,995 after the ECG of £1,500 has been deducted. The smaller grant is due to its battery being sourced from China.

The UK will focus on the larger 61kWh battery available in Air trim from £24,245 after knocking off the full £3,750 grant. Add £2,000 for the GT-Line and a further £3,600 on top of that for the GT-Line S. All most competitive with their many rivals. In 2027, its first full year of sales, Kia expects to sell 12,500 EV2 cars in the UK, with appeal to both fleet and private buyers. The mid spec GT-Line is expected to be the big seller.

The smaller battery has a WLTP range of up to 195, whilst the 61kWh unit varies from 257 to 275 miles. The smaller wheels on the ‘Air’ clearly give it some advantage here. The long-range battery is mated to a front-mounted motor producing 133bhp and 250Nm of torque. This drives the front wheels and propels all three versions to 62mph in just under 10 seconds. It feels faster than that in everyday driving.

Charging is paramount for busy drivers, so if you find a fast 150kW charger, expect to wait around half an hour for a 10-80% top-up. Most buyers will likely charge at home. A 10-100% charge will take a little over five and a half hours on an 11kW unit.

Reading the press pack, I’m told the EV2 has been geared for European roads, and it shows. Ride comfort is really rather good, the car riding well on both the 16 and 19-inch wheels. My driving companion and I agreed the difference was subtle. We drove both ‘Air’ and GT-Line S’ models on an extended drive.

We thought the ‘Air’ was slightly noisier and it was confirmed that GT-Line models do have a little more sound deadening. You would only notice if driving the cars back-to-back as we did.

Our test route was not the most challenging, but on some of the faster stretches the EV2 handled safely with little body roll. Brakes are powerful and easy to modulate, and steering wheel paddles control the amount of brake regeneration, from none, all the way up to full one-pedal driving. This is a big selling point as many other EV manufacturers bury such systems in touchscreen menus. You find yourself ‘paddling’ up and down depending on road conditions.

Behind the wheel, the Kia EV2 feels like driving a bigger car. A long stretch of the A1 motorway brought no surprises, the car cruising easily with the fast-moving traffic. Wind and road noise are well contained, and I am sure I would be perfectly comfortable spending a full day behind the wheel.

How to conclude this review is something I pondered as I drifted off to sleep last night. Let’s start with the cons, which won’t take long. A tad more rear legroom might be nice, and let’s at least have the option of a heat pump on all models. Oh, and the ‘Air’ misses out on a small frunk.

The pros are many. The EV2 is very well priced, rides and handles the UK roads with aplomb and comes well equipped in all versions. The range is most competitive, refinement is good, and the car is simplicity itself to drive and own. And of course, owning a Kia brings with it the excellent comprehensive 7-year warranty.

I would buy the ‘Air’. It has all the kit most buyers need and the extra few miles of range will always be appreciated. All for just £24,245. Good job Kia, another hit on your hands and those sales targets will most likely be beaten.