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PURE ELECTRIC
“The silky-smooth and quiet running around town is typical of an EV, but the upgraded platform gives it more solidity and assurance over rough roads”
Yousuf Ashraf
Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars
THE EV6 may be stealing the spotlight as Kia pushes into an all-electric future, but it’s the new Niro EV that’s the bedrock of its battery-powered line-up. The original model – called the e-Niro – was one of the UK’s best-selling EVs, thanks to its blend of space, range and affordability, and this Mk2 version aims to boost its appeal. The Niro retains a practical bodystyle, but has redefined styling and some extra design flourishes. It’s far more distinctive than before, with textured grille elements, angular headlight units and a two-tone paint finish, while the aerodynamic C-pillars help channel air. Kia has tried to set the Niro EV apart from the competition – and it works. Inside, similarities with the EV6 are clear. The tech is a marked improvement over the Mk1 Niro, and on higher-spec cars there’s a 10.25-inch digital dash and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen housed beneath a single panel. It’s one of the better systems on the market, with relatively intuitive menus and crisp graphics, although quicker touch responses wouldn’t go amiss. Kia’s slick multi-mode panel also makes an appearance, allowing users to switch between climate and media controls at the
24 13 July 2022
Kia Niro EV
FIRST DRIVE Mk2 EV gets more tech and range, plus fresh design touch of a button. Wireless phone charging, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a head-up display and heated rear seats are available, too, along with a three-pin socket to power or charge other gadgets quickly. The Niro is laden with tech, then, and the cabin itself is mostly attractive. Apart from the gloss black centre console and rougher plastics lower down, the touch points are of a high quality. Progress has also been made under the skin. Riding on Kia’s latest K3 architecture, the Niro EV delivers more sophistication than its predecessor. The silky smooth and quiet running around town is typical of an EV, but the upgraded platform gives it more solidity and assurance over rough roads. While it smooths out scarred surfaces and potholes, this EV’s mass makes the body fidget over some bumps, plus a series of larger undulations can introduce some float where the hybrid and PHEV models remain better tied down. Still, the Niro EV’s handling is secure and the
steering is well weighted. There’s plenty of performance on tap, too, with the frontmounted electric motor producing 201bhp and 255Nm of torque. Acceleration is brisk up to motorway speeds, and a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds is more than fast enough for a compact family SUV. Plus, tyre noise isn’t intrusive while cruising. Thanks to a 64.8kWh battery, Kia claims the Niro EV has a range of 285 miles. This is a healthy figure in isolation, but given that the old car trails this by just a few miles, we’d have liked to have seen the Niro EV break the 300-mile mark. But we know the car’s range predictions are trustworthy, so there’s still impressive flexibility on offer. A 10 to 80 per cent charge takes 45 minutes, and the Niro EV boasts a nifty navigation-based battery conditioner. To
maximise range it’s best to use the Niro’s one-pedal driving function, which recoups energy when slowing down. It’s a well calibrated system, but you can also cycle through multiple levels of regeneration using the wheel-mounted paddle-shifters. Despite having the biggest battery of all the Niro variants, the EV also has the largest boot, too, thanks to its underfloor-mounted pack. The 475-litre load capacity grows to 1,392 litres with the rear seats folded, and the EV version also has a 20-litre front boot, which is useful for storing charging cables. The trade-off for the floor-mounted battery is a slightly compromised rear seating arrangement, with the raised floor forcing tall passengers to lift their thighs from the seat bases. Still, there’s lots of headroom and plenty of kneeroom for one six-footer
“A 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds is more than fast enough for a compact family SUV” www.autoexpress.co.uk
