9 minute read
MOTORS
STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE
KIA DRIVING DAY
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A DRIVING day featuring almost their whole car range highlighted just what a motoring force Kia have become in the UK.
Yours truly was one of the northern journalists invited to try out the Kia range at the recent event near Skipton – from the diminutive Picanto up to the fire-breathing new Stinger – nearly all models were on show.
They each have their own merits but I chose to put two in the spotlight, the all electric Kia e-Niro and XCeed PHEV as hybrid and electric cars are very much in buyers’ minds at the moment.
First up was the XCeed, which I tried out in 1.6 GDi ‘First Edition’ spec. As the name suggests there is a 1,580cc conventional internal combustion engine doing most of the work but this is mated-up with an electric motor to give 104bhp on tap.
The first figure everyone wants to know is the electric only range – around 33 miles – while the combined mpg is a claimed 167.
What is impressive is the seamless way the car switches between power plants or employs both together under hard acceleration. It is comfortable and fast enough for most with a 10.6 0 to 60 time and top speed of 99mph. That battery system can be charged up in just a few hours so as the average commute in this country is less than 25 miles, providing you can also plug in at work, driving almost completely on environmentally-friendly electric is possible.
For an on-the-road price of £34,905 this XCeed is mid-range (prices start from £31,805 for the PHEV models) and comes with 18” alloys, panorama sunroof, leather seats (memory, heated and cooled in the front), heated steering wheel, smart cruise control, 10.25” infotainment central touch screen, park assist with reversing camera, digital dashboard and a whole heap of safety systems. As with all Kias these days build quality is good as are the materials used throughout and then there is the manufacturer’s much lauded 7 year warranty to fall back on in the unlikely event of a problem.
From there it was into the totally electric world of motoring with the e-Niro. I tried the ‘4+’ spec range topping model which is £39,395 on the road (e-Nero prices start from £30,345).
That all-important electric range is up to 282 on a full charge in mixed driving and Kia say the car will fully charge from zero on a domestic socket in 29 hours, but that drops dramatically if you use a 100kW commercial charge point to just 54 minutes. In reality topping up the charge overnight at home will be feasible if no long journeys are planned.
What also changes is performance as this car’s 64kWh motor can get it from 0 to 60 in just 7.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 104.
Again the quality in both build and materials is evident and a long spec list includes such essentials as heated leather seats (again memory and cooled in the front), big central infotainment touch screen with sat nav, wireless phone charger, smart cruise control and the usual comprehensive line up of safety systems and driver aids.
Kia has just picked up two category wins at the annual What Car? Electric Car Awards for their EV6 and the e-Niro. The EV6 has won the ‘Readers’ choice’ award and the e-Niro earned the title of ‘Best electric small SUV’ for the second year running.
So you don’t have to just take my work for the quality of their cars. Kia’s growing trophy cabinet is also testimony to their products and services.
For all the latest car tests see the motoring section of our website at www.50plusmagazine.co.uk/motors/
HALEWOOD GETS INTO THE SPIRIT OF ELECTRIC WITH KIA
• Beverages firm transitions fleet to electric with Kia • 25 e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range ordered to replace diesel and PHEV fleet • A further order for six more e-Niro and three EV6 has been placed • The e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range is capable of up to 282 miles to a single charge thanks to its large 64kWh battery • Halewood commits to install workplace chargers at each of its UK locations to support its electric fleet drivers
Halewood Artisanal Spirits PLC has taken delivery of 25 Kia e-Niro from Bolton Kia to help transition its fleet to electric power.
Halewood chose the e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range, which was introduced in March this year and offers up to 282-miles (WLTP combined) or 382-miles (WLTP city) range from a single charge of its 64kWh battery. This e-Niro model also benefits from the high-power 201bhp (150kW) electric motor that top specification e-Niros are equipped with, while also offering an on-the-road starting price of £34,945. This qualifies for the UK Government Plug-in Car Grant, reducing the price by a further £2,500.
The ‘2’ Long Range also offers the same large cabin and spacious boot as other e-Niro models, with generous space for five occupants and 451 litres of cargo capacity.
Halewood Artisanal Spirits is one of the UK’s leading independent distillers, producing an award-winning range of spirits. Still familyowned, Halewood’s brands are distributed in 75 countries, with a turnover of £400m+ and 950+ employees. The company plans for 90 per cent of its fleet to have transitioned to electric power this month. An order for a further six e-Niro and three of Kia’s latest electric car, the EV6, has been placed bringing the total number of e-Niro to 31. The EV6 electric cars, which are capable of 10-80 per cent charge in just 18 minutes, will be used by the firm’s senior management.
To support its switch to electric cars, Halewood has committed to installing workplace chargers at each of its UK facilities, allowing its electric fleet drivers to charge up when on site for work or while attending meetings, or travelling between Halewood’s own locations.
Halewood’s drivers will also benefit from comprehensive driver training, teaching best-practice to get the most out of driving efficiently in an EV, in addition to being provided with information about home charging and cheaper energy deals available with off-peak EV tariffs.
Iain Wilson, Fleet Manager at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “Our previous fleet was made up of diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and we’d monitored the EV market for quite some time before taking the plunge. The Kia e-Niro addressed all our concerns about EVs convincingly, thanks to its excellent practicality, range and charging speeds. We know that all of our fleet can cope with the car’s range, especially once we have chargers at all of our UK facilities, which will really make a big difference to the ease of adoption. We’re looking forward to adding to the e-Niro fleet in the near future too, having placed an order for a few Kia EV6.
“There are many reasons why fleets should at least look to go electric. There are significant savings to be had including the cost of electricity versus fuel, lower SMR costs and of course significant tax savings for our company car drivers too.”
John Hargreaves, General Manager for Fleet and Remarketing at Kia UK Limited added: “This is an excellent example of how seamlessly electric cars can fit into a fleet operation that knows its staff, their journey types and takes concerns out of the equation with charge points at all of its facilities.”
Providing simplified and comprehensive access to the UK public charging network, fleet drivers are able to sign up to Kia Charge. This service offers access to more than 17,500 charge points across the UK, including those from major networks such as bp pulse, Pod Point, IONITY, Source London, Chargepoint, NewMotion, Char-gy and ESB. Furthermore, Kia Charge provides access to 260,000 chargers across 28 other European countries, all from the convenience of a single account. With fully itemised billing, Kia Charge also makes it convenient for fleets to monitor public charging expenses.
Kia Business caters to small and large businesses as well as company car drivers, whether running a single car or an extensive fleet. Visit https://www.kia.com/uk/ business/ to find out more about Kia’s latest range and business offers. Bolton Kia is proud to be Europe’s No.1 Kia dealer and a Business Specialist Dealership, located in the Middlebrook Retail Park, Bolton, close to Junction 6 of the M61. To speak to a member of the Fleet and Business User Team, contact them directly by emailing fleet@boltonkia. co.uk or calling 01204 664 800 (option 3).
For more details contact our dedicated Business and Fleet team at Bolton Kia – Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer
fleet@boltonkia.co.uk or 01204 664800.
New Stonic ‘GT-Line S’ 1.0 T-GDi 118bhp 48V 6-speed manual ISG On Business Contract Hire
Business Contract Hire Value From £211.73 + VAT per month*
C02 Emissions From 127 g/km
P11D Value From £22,474.99
36 month term with initial payment of 6 months rental + VAT. 8,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charge of 4.90p per mile + VAT
Bolton Kia – Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer 79 The Linkway, Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich, BL6 6JA 01204 664800 l kia.co.uk/bolton
@bolton_kia /boltonkia
Fuel consumption in mpg (I/100km) for the model shown: Combined 49.6 (5.7), CO2 emissions 129g/km. MPG figures are
official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are tested using WLTP. Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. For more information about WLTP please refer to kia.com/uk Offer available on Business Contract Hire on orders received before 10th September 2021. Quotation valid at Bolton Kia from 13.08.2021 - 10.09.2021, subject to availability and status. Age 18+ only. Business Contract Hire Terms and conditions apply. *Figures based on model shown: new Stonic ‘GT-Line S’ MY22 1.0 T-GDi 118bhp 48V 6-speed manual ISG at £22,700 including premium Storm Grey with Yellow Roof paint. Offer available on Business Contract hire with advance rental of 6 months rental + VAT (£1,270.38 + VAT), followed by 35 monthly rentals of £211.73 + VAT. Excess miles over contracted mileage of 8,000 miles per year (24,000 total contract mileage) over 36 months charged at 4.90 pence per mile (+VAT). Excess charges also apply if you breach manufacturer servicing or maintenance guidelines or if the car exceeds BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guidelines for its age/mileage when it is returned to Kia Contract Hire. The total P11D value of the vehicle includes options, extras, manufacturer’s delivery of £495.83 and VAT. Total Effective Rental (applicable to cars only) is £232.90 (this assumes a 50% VAT disallowance on the Finance Rental and VAT). Business Contract Hire Customer Maintenance (inc. RFL). Package includes road fund licence and Kia Contract Hire Assistance. Guarantee/ indemnity may be required. Prices and details are subject to change without notice. For full specification and T&Cs contact your local retailer. Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. You will not own the car. ALD Automotive Ltd., trading as Kia Contract Hire, BS16 7LB. 7 Year / 100,000 mile manufacturer’s Warranty. For full terms and conditions visit kia.com/uk. Kia UK Limited trading as Bolton Kia are a broker (not a lender) for the purposes of this financial promotion and can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers and may receive a commission from them for the introduction. Bolton_Kia
