The ‘boring’ little Kia Pride is back as an electric car!

Bringing back the Kia Pride as an EV is a surprise few saw coming. First of all, you wouldn’t normally expect the term “restomod” from Kia, but here we are. To celebrate its 80th year, Kia has revived the old-school Pride hatchback into a fully electric car. It’s a fun, nostalgic revival of the past with some modern upgrades—making us wonder if Kia might explore more of these retro-electric projects in the future.

Kia’s UK team collaborated with Electrogenic, an EV conversion company, to bring the Pride into the electric era. Using a 1996 Pride as the base, this new version swaps out the gas engine for a 108 hp electric motor with 235 Nm of torque. The classic hatchback now runs entirely on electric power, offering zero emissions and a range of about 193 kilometers on a full charge, thanks to two 10 kWh battery packs.

The Pride EV stays true to its roots with its familiar look, featuring a new White Pearl paint that matches Kia’s current EV lineup, like the EV6 and EV9. It also keeps its original 5-speed manual gearbox, modified with a new clutch to handle the motor’s added power. The Pride EV can switch between three driving modes: “Eco” mode limits power to match the original engine, “Auto” mode raises the power slightly, and “Sport” mode allows a faster 0-100 km/h in about 8 seconds. Charging is also uncomplicated, with a Type 2 connector, the EV recharges in about six hours using a standard 3.3 kW charger.

Inside, the Pride EV also keeps its classic design, including the original tape player, manual windows, and air-conditioning. New accents like lime-green stitching add a bit of a fresh look while keeping the 90s vibe intact. Although just a one-time build for now, it’s a great way for Kia to celebrate its roots while showing what’s possible in EV retrofitting. 

Hopefully, the EV Kia Pride goes into production and makes it to our market! Until then, you can explore Kia's lineup on AutoDeal. Easily browse models, specs, and prices from home, no dealership visit needed! See what’s available at AutoDeal.com.ph.