Kia Niro EV Sport Reviews | Overview

THE KIA Niro is a small SUV that’s about the very same dimension as its Seltos sibling, but in addition offered in petrol-electrical hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery-electrical guises. The five-seat family members SUV is offered in two trim grades per engine variety – S or Activity – for a complete of 6 variants all advised.

The Niro vary starts off at $39,990 (plus-on street fees) for the Hybrid S by means of to an eye-watering $65,990 (+ORCs) for the major-of-the-range Niro EV Sport tested right here.

We say eye-watering mainly because, as superior as it is, the BEV version of the Niro is far more than double the cost of an equivalent petrol-run Seltos Activity ($32,790, furthermore on-road fees). Even if you are a staunch environmentalist, that quality equates to many tanks of petrol – ample to push the Seltos 519,652km centered on current petrol costs – or to the moon and most of the way back.

But we digress… Kia isn’t on its Pat Malone in charging far more for the somewhat new and, thus, highly-priced technologies employed in its EV variants. We are, by no indicates, singling the brand out.

The entrance-wheel-push Niro EV twins share their drivetrain with Kia’s sister corporation Hyundai’s Kona EV. Battery ability is rated to 64kWh with peak power and torque shown at a wholesome 150kW and 395Nm respectively. When working with a 100kW DC rapidly charger, the Niro EV Sport’s battery can be charged up from absolutely depleted to 80 per cent cost in about 54 minutes. When hooked up to or a domestic power outlet that window will increase to all of 29 hrs, however.  

Kia rates a WLTP range of 455km for its Niro EV, which is 29km fewer than the slightly lesser – and marginally lighter – Kona. On examination, we averaged 15.2kWh for every 100km, which equates to a driving range of about 421km.

But what it lacks in selection (in comparison with the Kona EV), the Niro would make up for in space. Cabin lodging, primarily in the back seat, is appreciably far more generous than the twin-under-the-pores and skin Kona, when luggage ability also romps in advance with 451 litres over the Kona’s 332 litres. 

Devices concentrations see inclusions these as regenerative braking, keyless entry, leather-accented seats with 8-way electrical power adjustment for the driver, a leather-based-sure multifunction steering wheel, automatic LED headlights, as well as LED daytime functioning- and tail-lights.

Infotainment arrives courtesy of a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Android Vehicle and Apple CarPlay compatibility, multi-connection Bluetooth, digital radio, indigenous sat nav, a reversing digicam, moreover an eight speaker DBL audio program.

The Niro EV Sport also provides a selection of 4 push modes (Standard, Eco, Eco+ and Sport), paddle shifters for the adjustable regenerative braking procedure, an electrochromatic rear-check out mirror, metallic-complete pedals, one-zone weather control and 18-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber.

Basic safety kit is, likewise, very well sorted and, may well we increase, incredibly very well calibrated. The Niro assortment contains, as conventional, 7 airbags, autonomous emergency braking with automobile-, pedestrian- and cyclist detection, lane-retain help, lane-follow support, intelligent cruise manage and driver-notice inform with the Activity grade adding blind-location detection and rear cross-website traffic inform.

Company intervals are established at 12 months or 15,000km and capped-price tag servicing is obtainable. Routine maintenance pricing tallies $1164 around three-, $1728 in excess of five-, and $2803 about seven many years. All Niro EVs are covered by Kia’s 7-calendar year/limitless-kilometre warranty, but the batteries and motors are only included up to 150,000km (guess you are not getting that trip to the moon, eh?).

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