Road Test
HERO NIRO
THE first-generation Kia Niro SUV arrived in 2017 and was nothing short of a game changer for Kia and electrified cars.
The Niro came in hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully-electric flavours and each made a very strong case for itself versus what little competition there was at the time.
5
Hence Kia sold a bucket-load in Britain, giving this second-gen model a lot to do if it's to have the same impact.
Trouble is, in the five years since, the market has exploded with models that can be plugged in and charged up.
So, the fact that the new-named fully-electric Niro EV we've been driving only has three more miles of range and a nine-minute quicker charge than before seemed worrying.
Kia Niro EV key facts
Price: £36,245
Battery: 64.8kWh
Power: 201bhp
0-62: 7.8 secs
Top speed: 103mph
Range: 285 miles
Charging: 10-80% in 43 mins
Out: Now
But, spending time with the entry-level '2' model has confirmed there's really nothing to worry about at all.
The old electric Niro's range and charging were game-changing in 2017 and remain great today, despite only a slight improvement.
Most read in Motors
All Niro EVs have an official 285-mile mixed-driving range which is more than adequate for most people.
We found that figure almost achievable on our drive, too.
And while the Niro EV's 72kW max charge speed is nothing special by today's standards, you can still charge from 10-80% in 45 minutes with the right 100kW public charger.
The '2' is the cheapest Niro EV at £36,245 - a useful £2,500 cheaper than the '3' and a huge £5,500 less than the range-topping '4.'
There are various lease deals available right now on the '2' at less than £400 a month, which is competitive for an EV of this size and shape.
Win a Lamborghini Huracan from just 89p!
SUN readers can win a Lamborghini Huracan plus £5,000 in cash for just 89p!
We have teamed up with 7days Performance to offer you a special discounted chance to win the amazing car this week.
Using the code SUN10, you will get 10p off the normal price of 99p.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Of course, if you plan to run the Niro EV through work, it also costs peanuts to 'own' in company car tax payments.
Going for the entry-level model doesn't feel like you're scrimping, either, because the interior looks and feels smart and there's loads of standard kit.
LED headlights, climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alloy wheels and a lovely set of digital drivers dials for instance.
What don't you get? Well, the infotainment screen is eight inches across rather than the 10 higher up the range, but it made no difference to me.
The alloys are a 17-inch set rather than the others' 18-inch, but I think the 17s look nice and I found it made the car noticeably more comfortable.
READ MORE ON KIA
Oh, and it doesn't have Kia's 240-volt three-pin socket inside, but there's a 12-volt plus multiple USB ones on offer anyway.
The only 'luxury' I missed was electric folding mirrors, which just make life easier on the tight urban streets I often drive and park on.
Read More on The Sun
So, it's not often you spend less and get more, but that's true when it comes to the Kia Niro EV.
The '2' is the cheapest, comfiest Niro EV that still comes crammed with the kit you want, decent space for a family and a driving range and charging speed that feels up-to-date.
5
5
5
5
Read More on The Sun
Topics