Reviewing the Kia Niro EV

The Kia Niro EV review

Is the Niro a fully-electric EV?

Kia were one of the “early adopter” electric car manufacturers, along with their sister company Hyundai. The Niro, which is a small / compact SUV, was launched in 2016 on combustion format but by 2018, the Korean automotive group had implemented self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and pure electric models. Indeed, two battery options were made available to UK customers in the form of a 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh lithium-ion battery configuration.

Like the Kona electric, this quickly became one of the UK’s best value and most popular SUV EVs. And to make customer experience even better, Kia revised their Niro in 2022, amending the description from an “e-Niro” to the “Niro EV”, as this option was given a refresh in line with the recently updated and bigger Sportage.

For the UK, it does seem that SUV and crossover type cars are the backbone of our fleet, both for personal and business leasing customers. Over the last 10 years, the UK has become a nation obsessed with this segment of vehicle with many families looking to move from people carrying solutions, or MPVs, towards more aesthetically pleasing and spacious options.

Kia NIRO EV Estate 150kW 2 64kWh 5dr Auto Electric Car Lease

More manufacturers moved towards 4x4 cars and invested much of their time and engineering into them, the result being better prices (due to economies of scale and competition) and better quality products with high level specification and aesthetic design. The SUV is considered to be more agile and practical than the MPV options and for many customers the higher driving position is more comfortable. It was therefore unsurprising when demand for pure electric SUVs became apparent as the electrification transition kick-started in the UK and brands, like Kia, have had to make sure that they have a product which is suitable for this demographic.

And the Niro EV has been offering great value for PCH, BCH and Salary Sacrifice schemes across the UK. Because of their experience and production, Kia have already front-loaded their investment and this means better quality batteries at a more affordable price. Indeed, the Kia is not much more than the MG ZS, Vauxhall Mokka-e and Citroen e-C4; in some cases it is actually cheaper even though it is considered by some as a much better product.

As at September 2022, the Kia Niro is the 9th best-selling car in the UK, with just over 20,000 registered already. And with a 5% market share, you can see that the UK public is very much putting their faith and confidence into this brand. Where electric car lease customers do need to balance their understanding of “cost” is with the Whole of Life analysis savings of an EV vs a petrol or diesel option.

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The cost of a car is not just about the finance you pay on your contract hire / hire purchase / personal contract purchase arrangement. There are other key costs which you need to take into account such as servicing, maintenance, tyres, fuel and insurance. In particular, if you are running a fleet of company cars, or a salary sacrifice scheme, this is something you do want to spend considerable time in reviewing as this will help you to select the most relevant vehicle for your circumstances.

The e-car lease website, via the “living with your …” tools will help you make a decisive financial decision. This is why we set out service schedules, full charging costs and cost per mile, as this will help point our electric customers into the right solution for their needs and requirements.

So is the new Kia Niro EV a good car?

The UK’s automotive and online press have been overwhelmingly positive with What Car? at 4/5, Auto Express at 4.5/5 and CarWow at 8/10. Most of the review websites enjoy the practicality, improved interior and exterior aesthetics. Plus it is identified as being safe and reliable (which is music to the ears of many families).

On the negative side, the Kia have been critiqued for the interior quality and “fun” factor on the drive. Where budgets allow, they do suggest that the level 3 or 4 (see below) are far more enjoyable and offer the key specification you are likely to need day to day. And in terms of battery performance, the new Niro EV will only operate from a 64.8 kWh lithium battery (the smaller option has now been removed).

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This EV will produce 150 kW (or 201 hp) for 0 - 62 times of 7.8 seconds and top speeds of 104 mph. In terms of range, expect a combined 200 miles in colder temperatures and 270 miles in warmer weather on a full charge. And on charging, the 11 kW AC will allow for 7-hour 0 - 100% times with the 80 kW DC fast charge allowing for 41 minutes 10 - 80%. The Niro EV has a fuel equivalent of 147 mpg plus a measured towing capacity of 750 kg (braked).

What else can a customer choose instead of the electric Kia Niro? There are a wide range of alternatives including the Citroen e-C4 , the VW Id.4 , the Peugeot e-2008 and the equally robust Hyundai Kona .

And what specifications of Niro are available?

In terms of specification, you or the company can choose from the following key three options:

2 - from £36,745 the entry model (which is shown in this review) will provide key features like 17” alloy wheels, 10.25” cluster, Apple CarPlay, forward-collision assistance, rear parking sensors, smart cruise control, towing pack, LED headlights, electrically heated door mirrors, solar windscreen, 60/40 split folding rear seats, reversing camera, lane keep assist and an alarm system with immobiliser;
3 - from £39,495 this adds a cloth and vegan upholstery, driver lumbar support, 7 year Kia connect services, heated front seats and steering wheel, front parking sensors, an integrate 10.25” touchscreen with navigation, rear privacy glass and vehicle-to-device technology; and
4 - from £42,245 the top of the line model adds head up display (HUD), power opening tailgate, passenger relaxation seat, remote smart parking assist, sunroof and vegan leather upholstery

In adding to the specification above, there is an endless choice of colours - orange flame, mineral blue, interstellar grey, steel grey, midnight black, white pearl and runaway red - to utilise in addition to the colour contrast C Pillar. For £900 a customer can include the heat pump for great battery efficiency (this does not come standard with any models).

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