Savaria K2 Stairlift: UK Review, Specifications and Costs
The Savaria K2 is a newly released compact straight stairlift for the UK market. An independent look at its specifications, standout features, who it suits, and how to get quotes.
The K2 at a glance
The K2 is a straight-rail stairlift using a rack and pinion drive — the long-established mechanism most major stairlift brands rely on, chosen for reliability over novelty. The headline numbers for UK homes:
Weight capacity: 160kg or 25 stone as standard — higher than many rivals' standard capacity (140kg or 22 stone with the manual folding hinge fitted, on stairs up to 48°)
Staircase angle: 27° to 55°, which covers the steep staircases common in terraced and older UK housing
Folded width: from 320mm to the footrest, keeping the staircase usable for everyone else
Swivel radius: 645mm as standard, or 625mm with the optional short armrest for particularly narrow stairs
Power: two 12V batteries with charge points at both landings, so it keeps running through a power cut
Travel speed: 0.08 m/s
Compliance: designed in accordance with EN 81-40, with CE and UKCA marking
What stands out
It's built for awkward British staircases. The combination of a 55° maximum inclination, a 320mm folded footprint, a 200mm minimum track intrusion, and a reduced-swivel short armrest option is clearly aimed at steep, narrow stairs — the situation where many stairlifts simply can't be specified. If a surveyor has previously told you your staircase is too steep or too tight, the K2 widens the field.
The charging design is cleverer than it sounds. Stairlift batteries normally charge only when the lift is parked precisely at a landing charge point — and a lift left mid-rail is the classic cause of a flat-battery callout. The K2 uses extended charge contacts so it still charges if the user stops short of the end of the rail. It's an unglamorous detail that directly targets one of the most common stairlift faults we see repair enquiries about.
One Touch Alert. A button on the lift dials pre-programmed emergency contacts with two-way communication — effectively a personal alarm built into the stairlift. For users living alone, this overlaps with what families often pay a separate monitoring subscription for.
A folding hinge for tight hallways. Where the rail would otherwise end at a doorway or hall, a manual folding hinge lets the bottom section of track fold away. Note the trade-off: with the hinge fitted, capacity drops to 140kg or 22stone and the maximum stair angle to 48°.
Everyday usability
The seat swivels and locks at the top landing for a safe dismount, with a retractable seatbelt, slip-resistant footrest, and obstacle sensors as standard, plus an LED diagnostic display that identifies faults rather than leaving you guessing. Wall-mounted hand-held remotes at both landings let a second user call the lift — useful in two-user households. Powered seat swivel and a powered folding footrest are available as options, along with a velcro seatbelt for users who find retractable belts difficult. The seat comes in a vanilla beige leather-look upholstery designed to be cleaned and replaced easily, on a white powder-coated rail.
Key dimensions for your survey
Seat depth 390mm; open width to the footrest edge 530mm; external armrest width 575mm (450mm internal); seat back height 400mm; footrest-to-seat height adjustable across 430/460/490/520mm. These matter most on narrow staircases — an installer's survey confirms fit, and the short-armrest option exists precisely for marginal cases.
What it costs
Savaria hasn't published UK retail pricing for the K2, and like all stairlifts it is priced installed, per staircase. As context, straight stairlifts in the UK typically cost £2,000–£4,500 installed depending on rail length, options, and aftercare package — and the K2's powered options and One Touch Alert will move a specification up within that kind of range. VAT relief usually applies when the lift is supplied for a disabled person's domestic use, and the Disabled Facilities Grant can contribute for qualifying applicants. Treat all figures as indicative until you have a written survey-based quotation.
Is the K2 right for you — or is a stairlift the wrong product?
The K2 is a straight stairlift, so it suits a single straight flight and a user who can transfer in and out of a seat. If your staircase curves, you need a curved-rail lift priced per staircase. And if the user is a full-time wheelchair user who cannot transfer, no stairlift is the right answer — you need a platform lift or homelift instead; our guide to stairlifts vs platform lifts covers that decision honestly.
Get independent advice on the K2
Tell us about your staircase — straight or curved, the angle if it's steep, and who will use the lift — and we'll give you a straight answer on whether the K2 fits your situation or whether something else suits better, then connect you for free, no-obligation survey-based quotes.
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