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For an entire day this week, I had the opportunity to test the Niro EV, Kia's new generation electric vehicle after Soul EV. I came out of this day thinking it was one of the most important electric vehicles on the market.
Here's why, during my first review of the Kia Niro EV:
Kia Niro EV Design
The best way to describe the Niro EV is "a well packaged crossover". Nothing in this segment really attracts me in terms of design and the Niro EV is no exception.
That being said, I understand that this is a segment that is more about a balance of size and utility than a style and, on that basis, I think Kia was able to design the Niro EV.
Several manufacturers call "crossover" vehicles, whereas I would call them compact cars. I'm watching you with the Bolt EV.
In the case of the Niro EV, it's just big enough for this strange name to make sense.
The form factor is also interesting with proportions that, I would say, almost give the appearance of an SUV from certain angles.
I think slightly larger wheels would greatly improve the appearance of the vehicle, but you would then reduce one of the vehicle's greatest benefits, its efficiency – more on it later.
One of my biggest problems with the design of Niro EV is the charging port. It is located in the false grille of the electric vehicle.
A front-fascia is always symmetrical and this is not the case. I'm sure it's not going to be a big deal for most people, but it bothers me a lot for whatever reason. This is particularly strange when you consider that the PHEV version, which requires both a charging port and a fuel tank, does not have its port at the front.
It also forces people to park in front of the loading stations first. Some people like that and others prefer to go back.
As for the interior, I like the all black we had, but it was the premium version to be honest.
The front seats and the cabin are large enough to accommodate a driver and a large pbadenger and the rear seat is correct for most adults.
The UI is not great, but we mostly used Apple CarPlay.
As for freight, it's not crazy, but it's big enough for everyday needs, even in the back:
Overall, all my problems with the design of the Niro EV are not contract breakers and I think the result will be attractive.
Driving experience Kia Niro EV
The Niro EV is powered by a 150 kW front-wheel drive engine.
Normally, it's not something that fascinates me a lot, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Kia tightly controls the torque from the stop and you will not be able to get as spectacular an experience as you throw, but it looks pretty powerful from 10 mph.
In my opinion, the Niro EV behaves very well, especially for what it is supposed to be. I did not think that most owners would have to put the car in too difficult situations, but I decided to push it since I tested the vehicle.
I drove the vehicle on winding mountain roads outside Santa Cruz and I was surprised at how much I could push it with confidence despite the form factor and the small ones. wheels.
But there are a few things I did not like about the driving experience, like the regenerative braking system.
It works with 2 paddles on the steering wheel to switch between different levels. You can also press the left palette for even more regeneration.
I think it's too complicated and I felt that even at the highest level, the regeneration could have been a little stronger.
The driver badistance functions are also not comparable to those of the market. The automatic steering system would ping between the lines instead of keeping the car centered.
Kia Niro EV range, efficiency and load
In terms of reach and efficiency, Kia pushes the vehicle even higher for an electric vehicle the size and price range of the Niro.
Here is a comparison chart with some interesting specifications:
| Specifications | Niro EV | EV bolt | Kona EV | Leaf e-Plus |
| Range (miles) | 239 | 238 | 258 | 226 |
| Battery (kWh) | 64 | 60 | 64 | 62 |
| Engine torque (ft-lbs) | 291 | 266 | 291 | 250 |
| Length | 172.2 | 164 | 164.6 | 176.4 |
| Width | 71.1 | 69.5 | 70.9 | 70.5 |
| size | 61.8 | 62.8 | 61.8 | 61.6 |
| wheelbase | 106.3 | 102.4 | 102.4 | 106.3 |
| Pbadenger volume (ft3) | 96.6 | 94.4 | 94.1 | 92.4 |
Let me say that the Kia Niro EV has a legitimate reach and efficiency. The estimated range of the EPA is 239 miles.
Yesterday, when we started our vehicle, our Niro EV had a range of 247 miles. After a 130-kilometer driving day, we achieved an efficiency of 3.7 miles per kWh:
This would give a projected range of 237 miles, which is impressive considering that it is based on about 100 miles of a healthy mix of highway driving and city driving, plus about 30 miles of challenging mountain driving.
I am deeply impressed by the effectiveness of Niro EV because I think I could have a much greater autonomy than that estimated by the EPA with a more reasonable driving in good conditions.
As for charging, Kia says the Niro EV can charge up to 100kW, but as is often the case with press control events, they do not include a lot of loading.
Once we have the chance to drive the Niro EV for a longer period of time, we will complete a full charge session with the vehicle.
Kia Niro EV Availability, Price and Conclusion
This is where things get a little complicated. Kia has not yet confirmed prices in the US, but it should be competitive compared to the Kona EV, which starts at $ 36,450.
I would expect that it is about 10% more expensive.
The good news is that Kia does not make the car EV compliant, like Hyundai with Kona.
When it goes on sale next month, Kia says that it will be available in 12 states. Not surprisingly, this includes all CARB states, but also Georgia, Texas and Hawaii.
That's why I do not think we can call it a compliance car, but it still has a lot of limits.
Unfortunately, Kia could not confirm its intention to make it available in the 50 states and admitted that US allowances would be limited.
When I asked, they could not confirm the production capacity of the 100% electric version of Niro.
In addition, they currently plan to benefit from the federal tax credit until "2023-2024", which means that annual shipments to the United States will be relatively low, as 200,000 units will be split between PHEV versions. and BEV of several vehicles over 4-5 years old.
I think the Niro EV is a very complete EV with a lot of benefits. All the things I do not like about it are non-dealbreakers and it's a dumb beast of efficiency.
If Kia could increase production, I think they would sell 200,000 units in the United States by the end of 2021. I really hope they will, because if they did, it could become one of the most important electric vehicles on the market in the decade.
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