Highlights
- Good performance
- Plenty of features
- Safe and reliable
- Comfortable interior
Introduction
The Niro EV is a smart-looking car, based on the successful Niro SUV, that offers emissions-free driving and great performance.
This family-friendly electric SUV is a great contender in today’s market, offering everything you could need from an all-electric family car.
We drove the Kia Niro EV in mid-range 3 trim, which offers a wide range of features and equipment.
Powertrain and Performance
The EV range, an impressive 285 miles (if prevailing conditions are good), is bolstered by the option of a new heat pump system, which maximises range in cold weather.
It processes waste heat from the car’s functions to warm the cabin and thus make the battery/motor system more efficient, thereby reducing the dreaded range anxiety.
On the road, performance is good. The combination of a 64.8kWh battery and 150kW electric motor delivers 201bhp and powers the car from 0 to 62mph in just under 8.0 seconds.
It can be charged to 80 percent in just 43 minutes when using a 350kW DC rapid charger, or 45 minutes when connected to a 100kW rapid charger.
On the road, the car is comfortable if not remarkable, and offers decent handling, aided by the battery being situated under the car's floor. This provides better stability.
Bill McCarthy
Design and Practicality
Longer, wider, and taller than before, the latest version is available in 2, 3 and range-topping 4 versions, with even the entry level 2 offering plenty of standard kit and, of course, all of them offering the industry-leading 7-year warranty.
Another huge practical addition is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which, when the car is fully charged, allows 3kW of power to charge other devices inside or outside your car via a 3-pin plug.
In practical terms, 475 litres of storage space are available, which increases to 1,392 litres with the rear seats down, while the ‘frunk’ at the front, where the engine would have been, offers a further 20 litres of space.
Equipment and Technology
All grades feature a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, alloy wheels, an 11kW on-board charger, steering wheel paddle shifters to set the regenerative braking level. The goodies mount up as you move up to the 3 grade, which we drove.
The interior is well-appointed with neat upmarket touches. The touchscreen controls major functions including navigation, infotainment, and smartphone connectivity via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In addition, the Kia Connect smartphone app allows users to check the location of the car when parked, and the doors are locked.
In addition to standard kit, this model adds heated outer rear seats and ventilated front seats, power-operated tailgate, electric sunroof, aluminium pedals, and front passenger lumbar support.
All models are safe, but this trim features Highway Driver Assist 2 (HDA 2.0) and Forward Collision-Avoidance 2 (FCA 2.0) with additional functionality that aids crossing other traffic.
Summary
Showing that style and environmentally friendly performance can be combined, the Niro EV provides everything you could possibly need.
The 3 trim is a great option in the Niro EV line-up, giving just enough of the state-of-the-art features to make a great car, without the higher price tag of the top-of-the-range 4 trim.
