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Battery size: 64.8 kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.2
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 72 kW
Range: 285 miles
Motors & Performance
The front-wheel drive Kia Niro EV only gets one powertrain option – a 201bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels, and which is carried over from the e-Niro. There’s no four-wheel drive option.
You can also get the Kia Niro as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, but here we’re focussing on the pure electric Niro EV.
There have been improvements over the e-Niro in terms of the dynamics, though – chiefly that it doesn’t jump forward and scrabble its front wheels like the previous version. As a result, the 0-62mph time goes up from 7.5 seconds to 7.8 seconds, but that’s still more than adequate for a family car and you'll spend less time at Kwik Fit buying tyres.
There are three drive modes (Sport, Normal and Eco), and the Niro still has Kia’s paddle-operated regenerative braking accessed via paddles behind the wheel. This seems smoother and stronger than before, helping to recapture energy which would otherwise be wasted. You can also choose whether you want the adaptive regen’ mode, which senses traffic in front of you and automatically increases the braking pressure, or if you want it to simply deliver a linear level of brake recuperation. There’s a one-pedal drive mode for around town, too, and you can tow up to 750kg – useful if you need to lug a light trailer around, occasionally.
Drive & Handling
The Niro is nice and quiet, with satisfyingly supple suspension. It’s not perfect - it still thumps slightly over smaller bumps - but the faster you go, the better it gets. The steering also feels good, so you can place the car really easily.
It all feels very calm, safe and secure, and there’s decent body control, meaning that the car doesn’t lean dramatically in corners and direction changes. This isn’t night and day over the old e-Niro, but the edges have been smoothed out - like the car has been to finishing school and ended up with better manners and posture. The MG4 is a little more fun to drive, and there’s even a super-rapid XPower hot hatch version of the MG if you want it, but the Kia is exactly the confident, smooth drive that most buyers will be looking for in the class.
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