The Kia e-Niro has been a stalwart of the EV world since its release in 2018. In that time, the South Korean manufacturer has made strides with the award winning EV6, so it was only a matter of time before we saw them instil some of that technology and updated design language into the ageing Niro.
First thing to say about the new Niro EV is the design refresh. It has gotten a real makeover and now looks a lot sharper and angular than its predecessor. The Kia badge features at the lower end of the bonnet, just above the charge port. The big talking point about the new looks are the aero C pillar towards the back. It really stands out when in gloss black or steel colour, but you can get it in body colour also. A power tailgate at the back opens up great access into a 475 litre boot. There is also a 20 litre froot, which is a great place to store your charging cables.
Inside, fans of the Kia EV6 will be happy as there are a lot of design elements shared. The dual-screen curved display sits nicely on the dash. Wireless charging for your phone, ambient lighting and a heads up display are welcome touches. Thinner seats and a longer wheelbase on this third generation ‘K’ platform all lead to a bit more interior space, especially for rear passengers. There is also a plug socket underneath the bench thanks to Kia including V2l functionality in the car.
The range has gotten a nice bump up to a WLTP rating of 463km. You will get that figure around town in summer, and maybe even beat it sometimes. However, a real-world estimated range of about 370km to 400km is quite realistic. The motor is 150kW which will give you just over 250Nm torque and a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds before you continue on to a top speed of 167km/h.
Charging speeds on the new Niro EV have not been updated. It will peak just over 70kW on DC. That is enough to max out the predominant 50kW chargers we have in Ireland. But critics would have liked to see them increase the speeds in an effort to future-proof. AC charging goes up to 11kW, which is adequate and in line with the majority of the competition. On a positive note, Kia have altered the battery chemistry which will allow for more consistent charging, especially in winter conditions. They have also introduced battery preconditioning when navigating to a charger to maximise those speeds.
We are told that there will be a choice of 9 colours on launch and that the Niro EV will sit on 17” wheels. At the moment, we do not have exact pricing, so it will be interesting to see by how much they undercut the EV6, and whether or not that will influence people to either car.
Kia Niro EV Video Review
This review is in partnership with EV Review Ireland and you can learn more about what I thought of the all-new Kia Niro EV in the video below.
