News UK Motor Awards 2026: The Sun shines on the Kia EV2

• EV2 wins ‘The Sun Small SUV/Crossover of the Year’
• Kia’s smallest and most affordable EV offers up to 275 miles of electric range and starts from £24,245

The Kia EV2 continues its award-winning streak by now being crowned The Sun’s ‘Small SUV/Crossover of the Year’ at the News UK Motor Awards 2026.

Praised for delivering up to 275 miles of electric range, a figure more commonly associated with larger vehicles, the EV2 impressed judges with its compact and practical exterior dimensions cleverly packaged to deliver generous interior space for both passengers and luggage. Its comfortable ride, quiet cabin and effortless drivability further gained the winner kudos.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe for European customers, The EV2 is the latest entry offering in Kia’s established electric line-up, making EV ownership even more accessible to more consumers. Having launched the EV2 in ‘First Edition’ trim earlier in 2026, Kia has now added the Long Range 61.0kWh battery pack to the line-up. The EV2 is now offered in three familiar trim levels – ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ - and starts from £24,245 on-the-road, with Long Range variants qualifying for the UK Government’s maximum £3,750 Electric Car Grant.

Rob Gill, Motors Editor of The Sun, commented: “To save you the research, you won’t find another EV with this kind of range for that kind of money. It’s super easy to drive, super easy to park, quiet and super comfy. To sum up, then, the EV2 is efficient, fun and really, really well built”.

Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, commented on the win: “This award is a significant achievement for the EV2 and Kia UK. Receiving this recognition from such an influential publication is testament to how customer centric the EV2 is and highlights its competitive edge in the fast-growing electric vehicle market. With a strong start to the EV2’s journey, we’re confident it will soon become another key player in our comprehensive EV offering.” 

The EV2 is not the first of Kia’s models to be recognised at the annual News UK Motor Awards, with the EV4 and PV5 being named ‘Electric Car of the Year’ and ‘The Sun Van of the Year’ respectively in 2025.

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