In pictures: 10 years of Kia EVs

As the Korean brand marks a milestone selling electric cars in the UK, we take a look at some of the most significant models in its decade of EV growth

November marks the 10th anniversary of Kia beginning sales of electric cars in the UK.

The Korean brand has established itself as one of the leading players in the mainstream EV market, with more than 70,000 EVs sold since 2014 and an expanding range of electric options on sale.

2024 marks the end of sales for its first electric model – the Soul EV – but also paves the way for three more EVs to arrive in 2025. So to mark Kia UK’s decade of EVs, we’re looking at 10 of its most significant electric models.

2014 Kia Soul EV

The original Soul EV was among the first truly ‘mainstream’ electric cars in the UK. With just 109bhp and a 27kWh battery, its specs are almost laughable now but its 132-mile range was class-leading at the time. Kia’s ambitions for it were modest – 100 to 200 sales per year – and it sold just 1,000 examples in four years through a network of just 19 specialist dealers, but the Soul EV helped pave the way for the wave of EVs that would follow.

Kia e-Niro

If the Soul EV was a niche product aimed at very early adopters, the e-Niro was a full-on assault on the mainstream. Launched in 2019, it was a spacious and practical family SUV that brought major improvements over the Soul, with a 64kWh battery capable of up to 282 miles, and a 201bhp motor. Pricing of around £36,000 meant it was still expensive compared to a petrol version but it was more affordable than many EVs and that value, plus rave reviews, led to strong demand and long waiting lists.

2020 Kia Soul EV

While the first-gen Soul soldiered on after the arrival of the e-Niro, it was showing its age and limitations, so in 2020 Kia launched a new model with far more modern capabilities. Using the same battery and motor as the e-Niro, the new Soul EV took the stormtrooper-helmet-on-wheels look even further to create a quirky alternative for those trying to stand out. To widen its appeal further, after launch Kia added a 32kWh ‘Urban’ version that dropped the price and the range, but the singular Soul remained a less popular choice than the E-Niro.

Kia EV6

In 2020 Kia dropped the first details of its large-scale electrification strategy – Plan S – and the following year revealed the first of its new EV models. The EV6 was a huge departure from the Soul and Niro. Not only was it far bigger and sleeker but it was built on an entirely new EV-only platform. This allowed for a sea-change in technology, with a 77kWh battery capable of up to 328 miles, the option of powerful all-wheel-drive variants and 230kW charging that can add 70% charge in just 18 minutes. A facelift for 2025 brings new looks and even more range – up to 361 miles, courtesy of a new 86kWh battery.

Kia EV6 GT

The Kia Stinger GT-S turned perceptions of the brand upside down when it arrived in a cloud of tyre smoke. It was a 300bbhp+ rear-wheel-drive saloon that proved this sensible family car maker could do silly things. But in the age of electrification, a 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol engine isn’t a great image, so Kia developed the EV6 GT as the spiritual successor to the Stinger. With 577bhp from two motors and enough torque to rip up Tarmac, it can crush the 0-62mph run in just 3.5 seconds, while still being a refined grand tourer. Just one that has a hidden drift mode…

Kia EV9

The EV9 was another big step for Kia – the first Kia to start at more than £60,000. The brand justifies that price tag with one of the most competent and complete EVs on the market. This flagship seven-seater offers some of the most generous passenger space and equipment in the segment, along with a choice of powertrains that offer up to 349 miles of range, and some of the fastest charging on offer. The gamble to go big has paid off, too, with the EV9 gathering awards from across the globe, including being named World Car of the Year 2024.

Kia Pride EV

While we have to wait until 2026 for Kia’s first official electric supermini – the EV2 – Kia UK had some fun earlier this year with its own interpretation of the idea. Replacing the 1.3-litre engine in a 1996 Kia Pride with 20kWh of batteries and a first-gen Soul motor, the UK team created the Pride EV. The one-off ‘socket rocket’ boosted power from 60bph to 107bhp and doubled the torque, while retaining the original five-speed manual gearbox. It also kept the comically small 12-inch steel wheels but, in homage to its GT cars, was finished in the EV6’s White Pearl paint with neon green interior trim.

Kia EV3

The EV3 is a brilliant demonstration of how far EVs in general, and Kia in particular, have come in the last decade. It’s a replacement for the Soul EV in the B-SUV segment and brings huge advances in every area. A massive 85kWh battery offers a range of up to 375 miles, a 10-80% charge takes just half an hour, and safety and convenience systems have been borrowed from the more expensive EV6 and EV9. The boxy SUV shape brings class-leading space and, more importantly, starting at less than £33,000 it’s the same price as the Soul EV was back in 2020.

Kia EV9 GT

Whether or not the EV9 needs a performance variant is debatable but it’s a sign of Kia’s confidence that it has decided to build one. The EV9 GT uses a two-motor setup to pack an impressive 501bhp, which gets this 2.6-tonne SUV from 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds. There are bespoke brakes, an e-LSD and active adjustable damping to help control all that power and the EV9 GT also gets the synthesised gear shifts and engine sounds found in the outrageous Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Necessary? No. Intriguing? Definitely.

Kia PV5

The PV5 represents an interesting new direction for Kia. Unveiled earlier this year and due to go on sale in 2025, it is the brand’s first entry into the competitive light commercial vehicle segment. Rather than mess about with diesel, Kia has gone all-electric from the outset with its first van, which will compete with the likes of the Ford E-Transit Custom and VW ID Buzz in the growing eLCV sector, and will come in cargo and people carrier formats. Technical details are scarce but we know it will feature 150kW charging for rapid top-ups and is expected to have a battery capacity of around 64kWh.