KIA Niro EV – First Drive

A Worthy EV Competitor with an Advantage

With the EV revolution just around the corner, KIA has prepared well by electrifying one of their best sellers with the Niro EV. Above all, the Niro EV gets a very respectable range of 239 miles. That, along with its price point stacks up competitively against alternatives alike the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt, but the competitive advantage here is that the Niro EV comes in a compact SUV form factor, making it the most practical and spacious of them all.

With its initial debut just last year, the Niro EV doesn’t see many updates, but the revamped headlight and tail light design makes the it look a tad bit newer.

Trims and Options

In Canada, the Kia Niro EV is offered in just two trims, the base EX, or the SX Touring. We prefer the latter with the added luxury and safety treatments including a power sunroof, heated steering wheel, front and rear seats, upgraded Harmon Kardon Audio System, lane keeping and blind spot detection system. That said, SX Touring costs more at $54,495 (Canadian), but the base EX tri wouldn’t be a bad choice with a slightly smaller infotainment system, and more basic amenities for $9,500 less.

Powertrain

Kia’s Niro EV is powered by a single-speed asynchronous conduction motor that produces 201 horsepower, or 149 kW with the ability to propel a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds. Energy storage is provided by a 64 kW lithium ion battery pack that gets the Niro EV an EPA rating of a respectable 239 miles, or 382 km of EV range. Both level 1 and level 2 AC charging are supported and will take 26 and 9 hours respectively for a full charge. The KIA Niro EV also supports CCS1 DC Fast charging at a rate of up to 100kW of power, or a 0-80% charge capacity that takes just under 1 hour.

Interior Cabin and Tech

EVs typically compromise the interior cabin space to make up for the added cost of the battery pack. Still, the Kia Niro EV’s interior gets a clean, practical interior with faux perforated leather seating, 8-way power adjustable front driver seats, heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats – provided that you opt for the more premium SX Touring trim.

The Kia Niro’s rear lift gate is not power assisted, but the hydraulic assist still provides ease of access. Thanks to its box-like form factor, cargo space remains a big plus, especially with the ability to fold down the 60-40 rear folding seats for even more added room.

An 8″ standard infotainment screen comes equipped with the base EX trim while the SX Touring trim gets an upgraded 10.” screen along with an 8-speaker Harmon Kardon audio sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and voice-activated navigation system. Both infotainment system are powered by UVO connect software that will support both Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Test Drive and Final Thoughts

The Niro EV is reminiscent of the KIA Soul with its basic form factor, and ease of driving. An initial drive immediately reveals an upright driving position that provides excellent visibility. KIA has also done a good job in sound insulation within the cabin space, essentially muting out any electrical whining noise from the induction motor.

Acceleration is swift and provides instantaneous torque as expected from an EV powertrain. But the limitation of a heavy curb weight from high-density battery pack in all EVs is apparent. Still, the KIA Niro EV manages the compromise fairly well with an easy and comfortable ride in both city and highway driving.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2021 Kia Niro
• Model : Niro EV (Touring)
• Vehicle Type : 5-door Cross-over
• Seating Capacity : 2+3
• Engine : 149kW AC Electric Motor
• Transmission :  Single-Speed
• Price as tested: $54,495

Pros

• Offers an EV solution in a practical compact SUV
• Ease of driving and whisper quiet operation
• Excellent cargo space and decent and practical interior

Cons

• Prices of EV are still high and as a result, more luxury gasoline vehicles can be bought at the same price point. But prices of EVs are expected to come down as the BEV technology continues to mature.