2023 Kia Niro EV Evaluate: Edging Towards Greatness

Design | Consolation | Tech | Efficiency | Security | Gasoline Financial system | Pricing | FAQs

Though the trendy Kia EV6 tends to seize headlines (particularly its hotted-up GT variant), the automaker presents one other all-electric crossover. The 2023 Kia Niro EV, now in its second era, advantages from daring new styling inside and outside, and whereas the electrical powertrain is all however carried over from the earlier era, it’s nonetheless fairly aggressive with immediately’s crop of entry-level EVs.

The redesigned Niro EV suffers from an above-average price of entry and is restricted to front-wheel drive, but it surely boasts a protracted checklist of normal options, first rate charging time relative to its class, and a spread that even rivals the EV6 with which it shares a showroom. Including to its attraction is a torquey front-axle motor that provides spunk to the otherwise-familiar Niro driving expertise – a surefire solution to convert potential EV buyers from hydrocarbons to electrons.

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38 Photographs

• Exterior Colour: Snow White Pearl
• Inside Colour: Mild Grey
• Wheel Dimension: 17 Inches

Whether or not or not you dig the Niro EV’s new design will rely closely on what you consider the “aero blades” on the C-pillars. The Kia’s most polarizing design characteristic is harking back to a first-generation Audi R8, trying each bit as eye-catching right here as there. The aero blades additionally serve a operate, with air coming into below the forefront and flowing out the again to enhance straight-line stability and general wind resistance. However additionally they simply look plain cool to my eyes, particularly when mixed with the headlights’ kinky new DRL signature and vertical taillights. For those who don’t look after the distinction, the blades might be ordered in physique shade.

The Niro EV is as beveled and edgy inside as it’s outdoors. The entrance door panel armrests plunge down from the angular dashboard, and supplies are higher than anticipated given the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf aggressive set. Kia even gave the Niro EV some flash through some luminous ambient mild that shines via the sprint fascia. The one critical flaw inside is an overabundance of shiny black plastic that’s unattainable to maintain clear and fingerprint-free.

• Seating Capability: 5
• Seating Configuration: 2 / 3
• Cargo Capability: 22.8 / 63.7 Cubic Toes

Just like the Hyundai Kona Electrical, the Kia Niro’s hushed cabin and spectacular journey consolation make it an incredible place to whereas away a commute. All Niro EVs come customary with heated entrance seats, and my tester’s Protect bundle included a warmth pump and heated rear seats to assist enhance effectivity in chilly climate. As on most automobiles within the class, the entrance seats are a bit brief on thigh assist, however there’s quantity of room entrance and rear. The broader cabin additionally feels much less claustrophobic than the tall-and-skinny Chevy Bolt household.

The Niro’s cargo house with the seats down can be spectacular, with a virtually flat-folding seat that opens up room for lengthy, boxy cargo – the Bolt and Bolt EUV ramp up a bit within the center. The cargo flooring may also be repositioned decrease for optimum house.

• Middle Show: 10.3-Inch Touchscreen
• Instrument Cluster Show: 10.3 Inches
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay / Android Auto: No/No

Each the bottom Wind trim and my top-spec Wave tester come customary with a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster and matching infotainment touchscreen, however going for increased of the Niro’s two trims provides a helpful V2L energy generator with a 120-volt outlet within the rear seat and an adapter for the cost port, plus distant Sensible Park help and a head-up show. The entire suite works fairly properly, with two exceptions. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t obtainable, for one – a perplexing omission given the quantity of fancy tech on supply in any other case.

And secondly, the radio and local weather controls each use the identical set of exhausting buttons, with one other button switching the performance. The issue is, it’s not straightforward to discern which operate is energetic with out taking your eyes off the street, so you possibly can’t simply reflexively flip down the quantity when Nickelback comes on, lest the auto local weather begin blasting you with freezing air.

• Motor: Single Everlasting-Magnet Synchronous
• Output: 201 Horsepower / 188 Pound-Toes
• Battery: 64.0-Kilowatt-Hour Lithium-Ion

The Kia Niro EV shares its 64.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery with the Hyundai Kona Electrical, and its single entrance electrical motor makes an equivalent 201 horsepower. However curiously, the Kia is restricted to 188 pound-feet of torque, down a wholesome 102 over the Hyundai. There’s no denying the Niro feels a bit much less fleet on its toes than the Kona, but it surely nonetheless presents nice off-the-line response and affordable freeway passing energy.

Nobody goes to jot down love poetry about the way in which the Niro EV handles, however neither does it embarrass itself on a curvy street. What EV apologists and newcomers alike will admire is the adjustable regenerative braking system, which has 4 settings starting from freewheel coasting to complete one-pedal driving.

• Driver Help Degree: SAE Degree 2 (Arms-On)
• NHTSA Score: Not Rated
• IIHS Score: Not Rated

The Niro EV will get a protracted checklist of normal security options, together with automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane centering know-how, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. Go for the Wave mannequin and also you’ll additionally get rear automated emergency braking, energetic blind spot and left-turn collision prevention, and enhanced Freeway Driving Help 2. That final characteristic improves on the bottom mannequin’s common HDA by compensating for the conduct of surrounding site visitors to position the Niro in its lane, reasonably than merely taking a look at street markings. Every part works collectively so properly that you simply actually shouldn’t wish to disable the options.

• Effectivity: 126 Metropolis / 101 Freeway / 113 Mixed MPGe
• EV Vary: 253 Miles
• Peak DC Cost Price: 85 Kilowatts

With an EV vary of 253 miles, the Kia Niro comes up brief – albeit barely – on the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electrical. Nonetheless, its 85-kilowatt DC cost fee improves on its platform-mate barely, whereas completely creaming the remainder of the aggressive set.

Plugged right into a typical at-home Degree 2 charger, the Niro EV will go from 0 to 100% in six hours and 5 minutes. Utilizing a DC quick charger, the Kia hits 80 % in 45 minutes.

• Base Worth: $39,550 + $1,295 Vacation spot
• Trim Base Worth: $45,745
• As-Examined Worth: $47,790

With a beginning value of greater than $40,000 with vacation spot included, it is likely to be exhausting to justify the Niro EV, particularly when the mechanically comparable – although much less fashionable – Kona Electrical might be had for about 5 grand much less. And all of the know-how and performance of the Wave trim doesn’t come low cost, beginning at $45,745. The comfort- and efficiency-improving Protect pack is $1,300, with $395 going to the Snow White Pearl paint and one other $195 to the metallic grey aero blades. Add in a set of flooring mats and also you’ve received a heady complete of $47,790.

Whereas that’s nonetheless lower than the single-motor EV6, it’s an entire lot greater than even a loaded Kona Electrical or a Tremendous Cruise–geared up Bolt EUV. Of us involved primarily with value would possibly discover it exhausting to abdomen the Kia, however a protracted checklist of facilities, first rate public charging speeds, and a decent general vary assist soften the blow.