Kia EV2 takes inaugural RAC New Car Awards 'Car of the Year' and 'Best Small Electric Car'
Kia's EV2 has become the first-ever overall winner of the RAC New Car Awards while also taking the Best Small Electric Car title at the UK awards' 2026 debut.
- up to 275 miles
- 362 liters
- about 30 minutes
- at least 15
What Happened
Kia announced that the EV2 has become the first-ever winner of the overall 'Car of the Year' title at the inaugural RAC New Car Awards, and was also named 'Best Small Electric Car' at the 2026 awards in the United Kingdom. The EV2 made history as the awards' first overall winner, gaining significant recognition as Kia's latest electric vehicle enters the European market. The RAC, or Royal Automobile Club, is one of the UK's most respected automotive organizations, founded in 1897 and recognized for independent and credible vehicle reviews.
“The benchmark by which all small electric cars are now judged”
- The RAC's independent editorial team rigorously tested the EV2 against competing vehicles using a comprehensive 10-point scoring system
- Seven key categories were assessed: value, running costs, safety, practicality, ride and handling, interior and technology, and driving performance
- RAC experts made the final decision at their Bristol headquarters
275miles
Maximum combined range for the Kia EV2 under the WLTP cycle
The EV2 is Kia's newest dedicated electric vehicle, designed, engineered and built in Europe for European customers. Kia calls it a compact SUV that combines practical proportions with long-range capability, everyday usability and advanced technology, offering 362 liters of cargo space and DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. As the newest entry in Kia's dedicated EV lineup, the EV2 plays a key role in the company's broader electrification strategy, under which Kia plans to offer at least 15 EV models globally by 2030, including both traditional passenger vehicles and next-generation Platform Beyond Vehicle models.
The RAC (Royal Automobile Club) is founded in the UK; it says it has since served more than 15 million British motorists.
The inaugural RAC New Car Awards are held in the United Kingdom.
Kia announces the EV2 as the first-ever overall 'Car of the Year' winner and 'Best Small Electric Car'.
Previously from Kia
Kia's Platform Beyond Vehicle family was the subject of our earlier coverage, which described the PV5 as the company's first PBV — an electric van engineered to clip together like puzzle pieces and serve as a passenger hauler, cargo van, camper or food truck.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Kia's official releases.
Why this matters
The win comes from the RAC, a UK motoring organization founded in 1897 that says it serves more than 15 million British motorists, giving Kia an independent endorsement as the EV2 enters the European market. For buyers shopping for a small electric SUV, it signals the EV2 was rated against rival vehicles on value, running costs, safety, practicality and driving performance.
Terms in This Story
- WLTP
- The Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, a standardized test cycle used to measure things like electric driving range and energy use.
- DC fast charging
- Charging an electric vehicle with direct current at high power, which refills the battery much faster than a standard AC charger.
- Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV)
- A Kia vehicle family built on a modular platform that can be configured for different uses instead of a single fixed body style.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.