The Kia Niro is about to get critically upstaged.
The brand new Kia EV5 is about to romp into the Niro’s turf with a bolder design and far stronger provide out of China.
The truth is, Kia expects to have the ability to usher in as much as 850 EV5s every month, which may see it promote 10,200 examples yearly. The corporate offered simply 1000 Niro EVs in 2023.
We haven’t pushed the EV5 but, so we are able to’t say for certain if it’s the higher automotive. We additionally don’t but understand how a lot it’s going to value.
However, the Niro is at risk of turning into much more ignored than it already is.
Ought to this electrical wallflower be in your shortlist?
How does the Kia Niro evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Niro in opposition to equally sized autos.
Kia
Niro
How a lot does the Kia Niro value?
We’ve put the Niro EV GT-Line to the take a look at, which is the priciest member of the Niro vary at nearly $10,000 greater than the bigger Tesla Mannequin Y RWD and round $4000 greater than the associated Hyundai Kona Electrical Premium Prolonged Vary.
Primarily based on a Sydney postcode, you’re taking a look at a drive-away price ticket of $78,282. Add one other $520 for premium paint.
The Niro EV GT-Line’s price ticket makes it ineligible for Queensland EV incentives.
2024 Kia Niro pricing
- 2024 Kia Niro EV S: $66,590
- 2024 Kia Niro EV GT-Line: $72,360
All costs exclude on-road prices.
To see how the Kia Niro strains up in opposition to its rivals, try our comparability software.
What’s the Kia Niro like on the within?
The angular strains of the Niro’s exterior proceed contained in the cabin, most notably on the door panels.
There’s additionally a neat alcove within the dashboard with ambient gentle components.
Kia has sacrificed performance considerably for the sake of fashion. The dramatically angled entrance door trims have large slabs of gloss black trim, whereas their ledges are too slender to comfortably relaxation your arm.
The abundance of gloss black trim carries by to the centre console, which is sort of solely completed within the smudge-, dust- and scratch-prone materials.
Different materials decisions are higher. The sprint high is completed in a comparatively soft-touch materials with a textured end, for instance.
The ten.25-inch infotainment touchscreen has the trendy graphics and logical interface anticipated of a Kia display screen in 2024, however the display screen itself is vast but quick in stature.
Oddly, Android Auto doesn’t take up the complete display screen. It, together with Apple CarPlay, additionally nonetheless requires a twine to attach. It’s a USB-A outlet too, although there’s a separate USB-C outlet for charging gadgets up entrance.
There’s a helpful EV menu, which additionally features a graphical illustration of your remaining vary – each with and with out air-conditioning on – plus your nearest cost cease.
The digital instrument cluster has engaging graphics too, although there’s no map view obtainable as you’ll discover in some rival manufacturers.
The Harman Kardon sound system is great, however there are some uncommon function omissions for a top-spec Kia at this value level. You get the model’s helpful Distant Good Park Help, however there’s no surround-view digital camera like you’ll find on autos costing 1000’s much less.
The Distant Good Park Help, in the event you’re unfamiliar with the function, means that you can transfer the automobile ahead and again from outdoors – helpful if some impolite particular person has parked too intently to your door, or when you’ve got a decent storage. It seems like a gimmick, but it surely got here in helpful for me on no less than a few events. It’s additionally a enjoyable social gathering trick.
The rotary dial for gear choice is tactile, and the touch-capacitive local weather/media management panel – as seen in different Kias just like the Sportage – is easy to make use of and incorporates a pair of knobs.
A wi-fi charging pad sits on the base on the centre stack, whereas on the centre console there’s an open storage space with retractable cupholders. The enclosed centre console bin, nevertheless, is on the small aspect.
When it comes to different storage, there’s a decently sized glove compartment plus bottle holders within the doorways.
The whole lot feels screwed collectively nicely, although the doorways don’t shut with as stable a thunk as I’d count on.
Step into the again and there’s a cushty rear bench and loads of headroom and legroom. At 180cm tall, I may sit within the barely greater, firmer centre seat and my head nonetheless didn’t contact the roof.
We’ve beforehand match three grownup males abreast in a Niro Hybrid for a visit to the airport with minimal grumbling, so the cabin is decently vast, too. Toe room, nevertheless, is a bit tight within the Niro EV, although the ground is flat which is uncommon for an EV on a combustion-engine platform.
There’s a USB-C outlet in every entrance seatback, plus a vehicle-to-load (V2L) outlet on the rear of the centre console.
The latter means that you can energy exterior home equipment with a standard three-prong plug at as much as 3.6kW; there’s additionally an exterior V2L outlet which you’ll plug home equipment into with an adaptor. There are additionally three top-tether and two ISOFIX anchor factors for baby seats.
Visibility out the again is common because of a chunky C/D-pillar and a slim rear window. The Niro additionally has fairly a excessive belt line, so the cabin isn’t as ethereal because it may very well be.
Open the powered tailgate and there’s a good 475L of cargo house, increasing to 1392L with the rear seats folded. There’s additionally a small cavity underneath the bonnet for further storage.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
There’s only one powertrain obtainable within the Niro EV vary. In the event you don’t need pure electrical energy, Kia additionally presents the Niro with a hybrid powertrain in Australia.
| Mannequin | Niro EV GT-Line |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical drive |
| System energy | 150kW |
| System torque | 255Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Battery | 64.8kWh lithium-ion (358V) |
| 0-100km/h | 7.8 seconds |
| Claimed vary | 460km (WLTP) |
| Power consumption (claimed) | 16.2kWh/100km |
| Power consumption (as examined) | 16kWh/100km (300km blended driving) |
| Charging capability (DC) | 85kW |
| DC cost time (10-80 per cent) | 43 minutes |
| Weight | 1727kg (tare) |
To see how the Niro strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software.
How does the Kia Niro drive?
The Niro is broadly competent with out being exceptionally memorable to drive.
Let’s get the not-so-nice stuff out of the best way. The steering is oddly heavy, with out being notably communicative.
It doesn’t loosen up a lot at low speeds, with an uncommon quantity of resistance, which makes the Niro much less manageable in a parking zone than, say, the bigger EV6. We additionally noticed an annoying delay with the reversing digital camera.
The experience can get just a little bit unsettled on notably patchy highway surfaces, with the load of the 443kg battery noticeable. For probably the most half nevertheless, the Niro rides comfortably, absorbing impacts adeptly.
The Niro is fast off the road with out feeling overwhelming, with little in the best way of torque steer. Sport mode makes it really feel a bit extra sprightly, however you’re by no means actually left wanting with regards to efficiency.
The heavy battery positioned underneath the cabin leads to a low centre of gravity, and the Niro feels stable and planted. Dealing with is secure and predictable.
The cabin is quiet, even on coarse-chip roads or at freeway speeds. Little in the best way of wind and tyre noise will get into the cabin.
There’s a one-pedal drive mode, however you’ll must activate this every time you begin the automobile by pulling one of many paddles. The automotive will, nevertheless, bear in mind your auto-hold setting.
In the event you’re new to the world of EVs, chances are you’ll discover the one-pedal drive mode daunting at first however you shortly get used to it. In any other case, you possibly can toggle it to have as little regenerative braking as attainable, making this really feel extra like a really quiet Seltos.
When it comes to charging, there’s battery pre-conditioning. As anticipated, it’s also possible to set AC and DC cost limits.
With 460km of WLTP vary, it’s primarily lineball with the bottom Tesla Mannequin Y RWD which has 455km… however prices round $10,000 much less.
The Niro’s suite of lively security and driver help options work with out drama. We notably like how the blind-spot function will actively intervene as a substitute of merely sounding a chime when it detects hazard; it’s going to additionally vibrate the steering wheel.
The purple gentle/velocity digital camera alert function proved annoying, nevertheless.
What do you get?
The GT-Line sits above the bottom S within the two-model Niro EV vary.
Niro EV S highlights:
- Automated headlights
- Automated high-beam
- Halogen headlights
- LED entrance fog lights
- Keyless entry and begin
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 6-speaker sound system
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- DAB digital radio
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Fabric/synthetic leather-based upholstery
- Eight-way energy driver’s seat
- Rear centre armrest
- Kia Join linked providers
- incl. emergency name perform, distant automobile monitoring
Niro EV GT-Line provides:
- LED headlights
- Rear privateness glass
- Distant Good Park Help
- Single-pane sunroof
- Arms-free energy tailgate
- 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
- 10-inch head-up show
- Heated steering wheel
- Leatherette upholstery
- 8-way energy passenger seat
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Alloy pedals
- LED inside lighting
- 64-colour ambient lighting
- Wi-fi telephone charger
Is the Kia Niro secure?
The Kia Niro EV has a five-star security ranking from ANCAP, based mostly on testing carried out in 2022.
It acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 88 per cent, a toddler occupant safety ranking of 84 per cent, a susceptible highway consumer safety ranking of 76 per cent, and a security help ranking of 87 per cent.
Normal security gear on the Niro EV S contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Car, pedestrian, bike owner detection
- Junction help
- Blind-spot help
- Driver consideration alert with main automobile departure alert
- Lane-keep help
- Lane Following Help (lane centring)
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Protected exit warning
- Rear occupant alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
- Entrance, front-side, centre-side, driver’s knee and curtain airbags
Niro GT-Line provides:
- Parking Collision Avoidance Help – Reverse
- Protected Exit Help
- Entrance parking sensors
How a lot does the Kia Niro value to run?
The Kia Niro EV is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre automobile guarantee and a seven-year, 150,000km battery guarantee.
Kia presents three-, five- and seven-year pre-paid service plans, priced at $706, $1351 and $1997, respectively. Whereas that’s on par with the likes of the BYD Atto 3, it’s a extra typical, ICE-like method to upkeep than Tesla.
The American model doesn’t specify servicing intervals for its Mannequin Y and solely specifies some objects that must be changed each 2-4 years like cabin air filters.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Niro
The Kia Niro is a kind of autos that leaves little lasting impression.
That’s not essentially a foul factor. The truth is, its excessive degree of all-round competence means there are few flaws that linger in a single’s reminiscence.
However it’s additionally not terribly thrilling, and at over $70,000 and dealing with some robust competitors, it must have just a little bit extra pizazz. It doesn’t really feel low cost, but it surely doesn’t really feel like a $70,000 automotive, both.
It’s laborious to place one’s finger on simply what’s lacking right here. It’s fast sufficient, handles and rides nicely sufficient, and has a good quantity of inside room.
It’s additionally extra fascinating to take a look at than the final Niro, which was exceedingly conservative. There are distinctive angular lighting components, plus the weird colour-contrast C-pillar trim is like nothing else on the market.
And but it doesn’t have fairly the visible impression general of the upcoming EV5. With doubtlessly sharp pricing for that mannequin plus stronger provide, the Niro is prone to recede even additional into the background.
It’s additionally laborious to disregard the elephant within the room: the somewhat elephantine-looking Tesla Mannequin Y, which isn’t solely Australia’s best-selling EV, however one of many market’s finest sellers, interval.
It may’t match a few of the luxurious objects of the Niro, but it surely presents more room and slick know-how of its personal. The Niro’s lofty price ticket additionally pushes it up near rivals from luxurious manufacturers just like the BMW iX1.
It’s not a foul automotive by any stretch, but it surely’s in an uncomfortable, precarious place that may solely be remedied with some value cuts.
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