Kia’s new affordable EV for Europe: compact electric car launching in 2027

Kia confirms a new compact EV launching in Europe in 2027, priced around €23,000 with up to 480 km range. Competing with Renault 5 and Peugeot e-208.
Kia has officially confirmed the development of a new compact electric vehicle set to launch in Europe in 2027. This model will be part of the brand’s strategy to increase its share of electric cars and could become the most affordable vehicle in Kia’s lineup for 2026–2027. Described as a city hatchback in the B-segment, it will be similar in size to the EV2 crossover but feature a lower body and a classic layout.Key competitors will include the Renault 5, Peugeot e-208, and Opel Corsa Electric. The new model might be named EV1, positioning it as an electric alternative to the compact Kia Picanto. Kia is focusing not just on price but also on technology, with the vehicle potentially becoming the first “software-defined car” in its segment, where core functions will be managed by a unified digital architecture.The electric car is expected to be built on the E-GMP platform with a 400-volt architecture. Battery options are likely to include 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh capacities, offering a range of approximately 320 to 480 km depending on the version. A key advantage will be its price—around or even below €23,000. This move will allow Kia to enter the mass market and intensify competition in the affordable electric vehicle segment in Europe.If Kia manages to keep the price under €23,000, it could mark a turning point for the market. A mass-market electric car priced like a gasoline hatchback is exactly what the European market currently lacks.