2019 Kia Niro EV Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Niro EV follows the Soul as Kia's second battery-electric vehicle, but it's still a mostly ordinary hatchback.
The Niro EV is dull. It’s not ugly, offensive, or anything regretful you’d later scrub off your timeline. Judging how my gray-on-black example was a loaded EX Premium Launch Edition, priced at $45,995, it looks this drab on purpose. Normcore is a throwback fashion style in which today's 20-somethings dress like their parents did in the early 1990s. Thick-rimmed glasses with oversized gray Champion sweaters are the bare minimum. A pair of jeans with rolled-up cuffs and a phone bulge—Bluetoothed to white airpods in each ear—are normcore’s few modern flourishes. The Niro EV, for better but mostly worse, makes this statement. This car erases what little excitement there was on the regular Niro Hybrid, such as the swooshy 18-inch wheels, and the contrasting rear skid plate and trim flowing around the license plate. Minimalism is one thing, but dowdiness is another. The flat 17-inch wheels, formless silhouette, and cheap-looking bumper cutouts aren’t offset by the teal accents, the arrow-shaped LED running lamps (available on only the Launch Edition), or the solid grille, each of which are unique to the EV. Kia makes $40,000 cars that are flat-out "wow" (the Stinger sedan) or utterly handsome (Telluride SUV), so the Niro’s design is disappointing. Compared to the visual excitement pouring from Kia’s other economy cars and crossovers (Soul, Forte, Sportage), it’s unacceptable.
The interior makes amends with LED ambient lighting and gloss black door panels with raised dark teal accents. Kia separated the center console from the center stack to create open storage, and perched a hockey-puck-style shifter by the driver’s hand. Material quality, fit, and finish are good for a car in this category, and the additional gloss black trim on the dash and more matching teal stitching on the seats and steering wheel (plus teal-colored air vent surrounds) are welcome. The speed and range numbers on the instrument panel—hastily converted from analog gauges—appear like early LCDs did in the 90s. Who was in charge? I’d really like to attend the meeting for the Niro redesign.
The EPA rates the Niro EV at up to 239 miles per charge. Kia says you can recharge the 64-kilowatt-hour battery from dead to 80% in less than an hour. During my winter test, neither claim held up. Even the best and most affordable modern EVs (like this Kia) are optimized for stop-and-go city driving, overnight home charging, and the temperate weather of Los Angeles. They can deal with a two-hour trip to Boston—as I did in the cold, facing elevation changes, at constant highway speeds—but they can’t make the trip home. Upon fully charging the battery, the Kia showed a range of 226 miles in normal driving mode. When I pulled into Copley Square, a total distance of 120 miles, the range showed 85 miles. I briefly left the car on a Level 2 charge for an hour where the station could output only 5.9 kilowatts—that’s six percent of the Niro EV’s 100-kilowatt capability. As such, the charge was almost useless. Later that evening, I attended a college hockey game with my best friend and couldn’t charge in the two stations provided in the garage. So we left, on a 30-degree night with about 80 miles, until reaching an EVGo DC fast-charge station at a rest stop. At 40 kW, the Niro EV charged from about 20 percent to 70 percent after the station’s 45-minute timer expired. With 107 of the 120 miles left in our trip and 130 miles showing on the dash, I figured we’d be fine. I got home with barely three-percent of the battery left (5 miles) as the car switched itself into a low-power mode. This was a stressful, long, drawn-out story that repeated itself over the week I had with the car. Why should any new car have to be like this? Kia’s advertised range isn’t so much a lie as it is evidence that all EVs—no matter the manufacturer—cannot travel moderate distances without multiple, time-sapping fill-ups. At least the powertrain is among the most efficient EVs, with an EPA-estimated 123 MPGe city, 102 highway, and 112 combined.
If you charge on a Level 2 connection every night and drive the Niro all the time in optimum conditions, you won’t have an issue. It’s fun to drive, actually. The electric motor produces 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque, sent through a single gear to the front wheels. That’s far more powerful than the hybrid powertrains in the regular Niro and Niro Plug-In. But unlike other EVs that zip off the line, the Niro EV can’t put all that power down in Sport mode, as the traction control cuts the acceleration. With traction off, the Niro EV lights up its front tires like a high-schooler. All-wheel drive is unavailable. But once you get it going, the Niro EV is zippy.
The steering feel is accurate and the brakes feel natural, without the artificial regenerative sensations I felt in the Jaguar I-Pace. The Niro EV is also really smart with regen braking. Holding the right steering wheel paddle will activate an auto mode where the car’s radar sensors pace the vehicle in front. It will slow the car down for you and increase braking gradually until you apply the brake pedal. Or you can choose one of three regen modes that vary from light to aggressive one-pedal driving, where you almost never touch the brakes. You can also shut it off entirely to coast. This is intuitive and very useful. While the ride is cushy, the minimal grip and excessive body roll convinced me the Niro EV does not like to be hustled on tight roads. For everyday driving, it’s great. But like the car’s exterior style, you won’t find much sportiness behind the wheel.
The Niro EV’s bland design works wonders for the car's practicality. Every seat, while lacking in lateral support, is roomy and spacious by any measurement. There are 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Storage is fantastic, with a large central cubby that opens its sliding door to reveal the coolest cupholders I’ve ever seen. Push the spring-loaded holders against the sides to use a flat, fully open storage bin. Press two buttons and the cupholders retract into their normal position. You’ll have to watch our video review to see it in action. It’s incredibly useful and simple. Additional cord cutouts in the storage bin let you route cables neatly to the outside, where there’s lots of open space and USB charging ports below the center stack. A wireless charging pad is nearby.
The instrument panel may look dated, but it’s easy to read while driving. So is the main infotainment screen, with an EV app that shows you how much the accessories draw from the battery and the estimated time to charge at various voltage levels. The stereo and climate controls are well-marked. The steering wheel controls for the multi-function display in the instrument cluster work in the same way. Daily-driving in the Niro EV is a conventional experience. It’s intuitive and not at all intimidating.
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2019 Kia Niro EV Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Pandora internet radio · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 12.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Floor Material: carpet · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Ambient lighting: color · Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 8.21
Engine
EV battery capacity: 64 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium polymer · Electric Motor HP: 201 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 150 · Electric Motor Torque: 291 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE Combo CCS · Electric motor charging time (120V): 59 hours · Electric motor charging time (240V): 9.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 239
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: black · Door handle color: body-color · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: black · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Rocker panel color: black · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: UVO · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in.
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rails: silver
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: door unlock · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth · Upholstery accents: leather-trimmed
Spare Tire
Kit: tire sealant
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Kia MyUVO · Smart device app function: maintenance scheduling
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: intermittent · Solar-tinted glass: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Pandora internet radio · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 7 · 315 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 12.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Floor Material: carpet · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Ambient lighting: color · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: accessory hook · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 8.21
Engine
EV battery capacity: 64 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium polymer · Electric Motor HP: 201 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 150 · Electric Motor Torque: 291 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE Combo CCS · Electric motor charging time (120V): 59 hours · Electric motor charging time (240V): 9.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 239
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: black · Door handle color: body-color · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: black · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Rocker panel color: black · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google search · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in.
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass · Roof rails: silver
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: door unlock · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Kia MyUVO · Smart device app function: maintenance status
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer · Solar-tinted glass: front