Kia’s compact EV2 SUV delivered the strongest real-world performance in its class during Norway’s latest independent range testing, according to results from the Norwegian Automobile Federation.
The EV2 achieved 105% of its official WLTP range during the El Prix summer range test – outperforming every rival in the compact and mid-sized categories.
Standard range models covered 325km (202 miles) on a single charge from their 42.2kWh battery pack.
While that total distance ranks lower than larger vehicles, no competing model exceeded its manufacturer’s range claims by such a wide margin.
The Norwegian Automobile Federation runs these evaluations twice annually to measure real-world EV performance across European markets. Summer testing involves mixed driving conditions on dry roads with temperatures between 12°C and 18°C. Winter sessions push temperatures down to -31°C.
Prototype Performance
Kia also entered a prototype long-range EV2 in the testing program.
The development vehicle achieved 428km (267 miles) – reaching 102% of its stated WLTP range. Those results aren’t officially recognized due to the car’s prototype status.
“Achieving the best real world performance among compact and mid-size in the NAF Summer El Prix EV Test is a strong validation of EV2’s customer focused engineering,” said Pablo Martinez Masip, vice president of product at Kia Europe.
“These independent results confirm that EV2 is designed around real customer needs – delivering dependable everyday usability while giving drivers the confidence to travel further, whether on daily commutes or longer holiday journeys.”
Overall Test Results
The BMW iX3 claimed the overall victory across all vehicle categories.
BMW’s Neue Klasse SUV covered 485 miles – exceeding its 478-mile WLTP range by seven miles. That performance put it nearly 40 miles ahead of the second-place Lucid Gravity, which fell 17 miles short of its manufacturer’s claims.
Xpeng’s X9 showed the largest percentage improvement over official figures – beating its WLTP range by 11.4%.
The Chinese model’s final distance of 401 miles placed it fifth in the overall standings despite that efficiency advantage.
