Kia has announced that its upcoming EV2 has completed 310.6km on a single charge during the Norwegian Automotive Federation's (NAF) El Prix Winter Test Drive, one of Europe's best-known real-world EV range and charging trials. The run took place in Norway's Jotunheimen region in very cold conditions; this winter's El Prix was the coldest to date, with event temperatures as low as −31°C. Kia reports local temperatures on the EV2 drive down to around −21°C.
Anything special about this Kia EV2?
The car tested was an EV2 'GT-line' prototype fitted with a 61kWh battery and 19-inch wheels. According to Kia, the route was driven for more than five hours at legal speeds until the vehicle came to a complete stop. As a prototype, the EV2 was not entered in NAF's official classification but completed the same route alongside series-production models.
How close to the official range figures was the achievement?
WLTP figures for the EV2 are not yet available. Kia's targets for the long-range version are 448km, or 413km for a GT-line on 19-inch wheels as tested.
Against those numbers, the winter result represents a 25 per cent reduction versus the 413km target, which is in line with the range loss many EVs experience in severe cold.
NAF typically compares cars by percentage drop versus WLTP; the smallest drop ranks highest. Kia says the EV2 prototype would have placed first on that metric, but it wasn't counted in the official results because it's a prototype and its WLTP figure is still provisional.
Formal WLTP figures, determined by an independent technical service at standard test temperature (about 23°C), are expected in Q3 2026.
Where does the EV2 fit into Kia's lineup?
The Kia EV2 slots into the compact B-SUV segment and has been designed specifically for the European market; it will be built in Žilina, Slovakia, alongside the Kia EV4.
The EV2 uses Kia's 400-volt 'E-GMP' electrical architecture and supports 11kW and 22kW AC charging, as well as DC rapid charging.
How did charging go in the severe cold?
Kia says the prototype charged from 10-80 per cent in 36 minutes during the event, just six minutes longer than the brand's stated target time, despite sub-zero conditions.
Charging performance in cold weather is affected by battery temperature, charger output and state of charge.
Any other interesting results?
NAF's El Prix is held twice a year - in summer and winter - to compare EVs on identical public-road routes and at identical charging stations. In the 2025 winter programme, Kia's larger EV4 (81.4kWh battery, 19-inch wheels) recorded 390km in comparable conditions; its WLTP rating is 594km.
For more information, read our Kia EV2 news story.