Crossover of the Year: A first-time win for the EV2 at The CAR Genius Awards 2026

The Kia EV2 has been named ‘Crossover of the Year’ in The Genius Awards 2026, run by CAR Magazine, marking one of the first major accolades for Kia’s newest electric vehicle.

For the first time in over 60 years, CAR magazine has introduced the Genius Awards, a celebration of the year’s best cars, smartest people and boldest ideas in the automotive industry. The 14 awards categories and winners were carefully considered by a jury panel, made up of highly respected experts from across the publication’s editorial team.

Having launched the Standard Range (42.2kWh) EV2 in ‘First Edition’ trim level earlier in 2026, Kia will welcome the Long Range 61.0kWh battery pack to the line-up throughout the remainder of this year. Offered in three familiar trim levels, ‘Air’, GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’, the EV2 offers a range of up to 275 miles on a single charge, from just £24,245 on-the-road, thanks to Long Range variants qualifying the maximum £3,750 Electric Car Grant from the UK Government.

Kia’s smallest and most affordable EV offered in Europe, the EV2 has been designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, for Europe, joining the EV4 in the brand’s Slovakian manufacturing plant in Žilina. Combining compact dimensions with a boxy and practical shape, the EV2 offers ample space for five as well as competitive cargo space, whilst the brand’s E-GMP EV architecture allows for a completely flat cabin floor further boosting driver and passenger comfort.

Ben Miller, Editor, CAR Magazine, called the EV2: “A compact package, with big-car comfort and range. Its bold design gives it an out-sized presence, while its superb comfort and soothing powertrain ease the stress of city driving.”

Paul Philpott, President and CEO, Kia UK, commented: "We’re proud to see the EV2 recognised so early in its journey, particularly by a title as influential and respected as CAR Magazine. The EV2 has been designed to bring all the benefits of electric driving to even more customers, combining bold design, everyday practicality and impressive technology in a compact package. As the EV2 Long Range arrives in the showrooms of our nationwide dealer partners, we’re confident it will help make the switch to electric even more accessible for a wider range of drivers."

The EV2 strengthens Kia’s award-winning array of EVs, supporting Kia’s goal of offering one of the largest and most diverse line-ups of any brand, and offering an EV to suit all customer purposes.