The Kia EV2 has been officially shortlisted as one of seven models for the final round of the 2027 Car of the Year award. The B-segment electric SUV was selected by an independent jury of leading automotive journalists from across Europe.
The EV2’s nomination marks Kia’s sixth consecutive appearance in the Car of the Year final, making it the first Asian manufacturer to do so. The sequence began with the EV6, winner in 2022 and the first South Korean vehicle to claim the title. With this nomination, the EV2 becomes the brand’s ninth model to be shortlisted for one of the automotive industry’s most prestigious awards. This exceptional level of sustained recognition reflects the strength and consistency of Kia’s product transformation, particularly across its expanding line-up of dedicated electric vehicles.
The latest nomination also continues the recognition of Kia models developed on the Electric-Global Modular Platform, highlighting its advanced technology and flexibility, as well as Kia’s ability to apply its EV expertise across different segments and to satisfy customer needs.
“We are delighted that the EV2 has been shortlisted for Car of the Year, marking Kia’s sixth consecutive appearance in the final,” said Soohang Chang, President and CEO of Kia Europe. “With the EV2, we are bringing the technology and experience of our dedicated EV range to a compact SUV developed around European customers’ everyday needs. This nomination is a significant recognition of the progress we have made in electric mobility.”
The winner of the 2027 Car of the Year award will be decided after further jury evaluation and a final vote, before being announced on 8 January 2027 at the Brussels Motor Show.
Building on Kia’s Car of the Year history
Kia’s relationship with Car of the Year dates back to 2008, when the Kia Cee’d became the brand’s first model to reach the final. Since then, Kia has steadily strengthened its position in the competition, culminating in the EV6 becoming the first Korean vehicle to win the European Car of the Year award in 2022.
That breakthrough was followed by four further consecutive finalist appearances. The Niro reached the final in 2023, followed by the EV9 in 2024 and the EV3 in 2025. The EV3 finished second with the highest points total achieved by a Kia model at that time, while the European-built EV4 continued the sequence as a finalist for 2026.
The EV2 now carries that momentum into the 2027 competition, extending Kia’s presence in the final to six consecutive editions and underlining the depth of the brand’s electric product portfolio.
About the Kia EV2
Unveiled at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, the EV2 is Kia’s most compact dedicated electric SUV and the entry point to the brand’s EV range. Developed in Europe with European customers in mind, it combines a spacious and flexible interior with advanced connectivity and EV technologies previously associated with larger vehicle segments. In doing so, the EV2 brings together the best of Kia’s design, technology and electric-vehicle expertise in its most accessible dedicated EV yet.
The EV2 is Kia’s second fully electric model produced at the company’s European manufacturing facility in Žilina, Slovakia, following the EV4 Hatchback. Produced exclusively for the European market, it demonstrates Kia’s continued investment in regional development and manufacturing while making the brand’s established electric-vehicle experience accessible to a broader customer base.
Comfort and refinement were also central to the EV2’s European development. Its Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) package was tailored to European roads and driving conditions, using features including acoustic tyres, laminated acoustic glass and targeted insulation to reduce road, wind and high-frequency powertrain noise. These measures bring a calm and well-controlled cabin experience to Kia’s entry-level EV.
Real-world range independently tested
The EV2’s dependable real-world performance has been demonstrated in the NAF El Prix, the world’s largest independent real-world EV range test, conducted by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) twice a year, with summer and winter editions.
In the Summer edition, the Standard Range EV2 covered 325 kilometres, more than five per cent above its official WLTP figure, while a Long-Range ‘GT-Line’ prototype achieved 428 kilometres, exceeding its 418-kilometre target range. In the Winter edition, a Long-Range ‘GT-Line’ prototype covered 310.6 kilometres in temperatures as low as minus 21 degrees Celsius. Together, the results demonstrate consistent and reliable performance across contrasting European conditions.
