The Kia EV2 is adding another major accolade to its name after being crowned RAC Car of the Year 2026 in the first-ever RAC New Car Awards! And it wasn't just the overall prize. The EV2 also picked up Best Small Electric Car, making it a double award winner in the inaugural awards.
The RAC's judging panel highlighted exactly the qualities that make the EV2 such an interesting addition to the Kia line-up: its accessible price, comfortable drive, technology and impressive range.
RAC Drive Editor Dan Powell described the EV2 as the best small electric car the organisation has driven to date, praising how easy it is to live with and its combination of comfort, refinement and range.
It's recognition that makes particular sense for a car designed around making electric driving more accessible. The EV2 brings together the practicality and technology you'd expect from a modern Kia, but in a compact package that's well suited to everyday driving.
The RAC New Car Awards aren't simply based on specifications or what's new on the market.
To be considered, vehicles had to be on sale and available in UK showrooms by the awards' shortlisting date of 30 June. The RAC also required vehicles to have been tested in right-hand-drive form on UK roads, ensuring the cars being judged were relevant to British drivers and their everyday driving conditions.
The EV2 clearly made an impression.
Taking home both RAC Car of the Year 2026 and Best Small Electric Car is a fantastic achievement for the EV2, particularly so early in its time on the market.
It's also another sign of how Kia is continuing to expand its electric range with models designed for different drivers and different ways of life.
If you've been curious about the EV2, there's no need to simply read about the award. You can experience it for yourself at Acorn Kia!
Come and take a closer look, speak to our team and book a test drive to see why the RAC has named the Kia EV2 its Car of the Year 2026.