Kia Niro EV soon to disappear, Kia EV2 is coming

Kia has already delisted the Niro EV from its German-language website. This is likely due to the new Kia EV3, which is hitting the market with remarkably similar specifications but stands better in every category, from charging to pricing.

Meanwhile, Kia is testing rigorously its even smaller EV, the Kia EV2. There are even talks of an EV2, a small electric car that would fit in the A-segment as a sort of electric Picanto.

After the Soul EV, Kia is apparently also taking the Niro EV off the market. As our colleagues from Inside EVs first noticed, the Niro is now only listed as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid on the German Kia website. The purely electric version can no longer be found there, although it is still available in other markets such as the UK and the USA, as well as in the Belux.

It will likely be a matter of time before the Niro EV is also removed from the range in other countries. This is because Kia is launching attractive new BEV models on the market: first, the EV3 and later, the EV4 and EV2.

EV2 in 2026, and maybe an EV1

Meanwhile, think again if you assume Kia’s EV3 will be its smallest foray into the electric SUV segment. Carscoops spotted a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming Kia EV2 SUV testing in Europe. These spy shots reveal the Korean automaker is cooking up an even smaller EV, the Kia EV2, set for a 2026 release.

The Kia EV2 is expected to measure around 4 m in length. That makes it longer than its Hyundai sibling, the Inster, which measures 3,825 mm and competes in the A-SUV category. However, it’s still slightly smaller than competitors like the Mini Aceman (4,079 mm) and the Jeep Avenger (4,084 mm). For reference, the Kia EV3 is significantly larger at 4,300 mm, putting it at the upper end of the B-segment.

Underpinning the EV2 could be a shorter version of Kia’s E-GMP platform. The model will likely be available with a single electric motor and a smaller battery pack, as it is aimed squarely at budget-conscious buyers who want electric driving without breaking the bank.

Kia’s CEO, Song Hu-sung, has indicated that the EV2 will aim for a price between €25,000 and €30,000. Production will start in Slovakia, with the car expected in showrooms by 2026.

Finally, the EV2 might not be the last of Kia’s mini EVs. The Korean brand is already contemplating an even tinier and cheaper EV1, which could eventually replace or complement the Picanto as Kia’s smallest European EV offering.