I’m driving a 2012 Optima Hybrid that seems to be on its last legs (hybrid system warnings in cold weather, features slowly dying) and I came across a brand new 2023 Niro EV for $23,599. This sounds too good to be true, but after looking into it, I see these cars have dropped a lot in value and it has a pretty slow charge time. I guess the dealer is just trying to get rid of it. My wife drives a 2021 Sorento, so we already have a gas car, and I was thinking about this for my daily commute car. I have a 40-mile commute and a dryer outlet in my garage for faster charging. If I bought this, it would be my main car for the next 8 years. I don’t drive much except for work and I’m not sure if I can deal with not having the instant gratification of filling up and getting on the road quickly. Should I grab this deal or is it too good to be true?
I’ve been driving a 2023 model for a year now. Love it, and that price is great. You’ll be able to charge it overnight at home, setting the charge to whatever level you want. 80% is a good target for battery life if you don’t need more for longer trips.
@Taj
That’s good to hear. For longer trips, we’ll just use the Sorento, so it’s nice to have the option of a second car for flexibility.
The Niro is great for daily driving. It’s a bit underrated. It handles well and has a lot of space. I’ve been driving mine up here in Canada, and it’s perfect in the cold weather.
The ‘terrible charge time’ people mention is mostly about DC Fast Charging. The Niro only goes up to 75kW, meaning it takes about 40 minutes to go from 10-80%. For daily commuting, this doesn’t matter much. You’ll be charging at home, probably using AC charging at 11kW or less. The time won’t change much compared to any other EV. And you won’t miss the gas station either—plug it in at night, and it’s ready in the morning. Plus, you can pre-heat or cool your car remotely, which is so nice in the cold!
If the price is right, take it for a test drive.
@Finch
I can’t get enough of climbing into a warm car with a heated steering wheel on cold mornings.
The value drop shouldn’t be a big issue if you’re keeping it for 8 years. I’ve got a 2022 and I drive over 150 miles daily. I do have access to a Level 2 charger at work, but I mostly use it when I need it for Uber/Lyft driving.
@Blake
That’s good to know. I just need something that’s reliable for a daily commute, and this seems like a good option.
Kim said:
@Blake
That’s good to know. I just need something that’s reliable for a daily commute, and this seems like a good option.
I switched from a Model 3 to the Niro and I’m really happy with it. I just wish it charged a bit faster and was rear-wheel drive.
I’ve had my 2024 model for 4 months. If you’re not relying on public chargers, charge time isn’t really an issue. I charge at home overnight, so I don’t care how long it takes. Right now, I’m on a Level 1 charger, so it takes a while (around 30 hours), but I work from home a few days a week, so I just plug it in and it’s ready by Friday. Eventually, I’ll switch to Level 2 for quicker charging, especially since my state offers lower electricity rates for off-peak hours.
@Hollis
That makes sense. If I get home at 6:00 PM, the car has until 8:00 AM the next day to charge. So maybe I’m overthinking the charge time.
Kim said:
@Hollis
That makes sense. If I get home at 6:00 PM, the car has until 8:00 AM the next day to charge. So maybe I’m overthinking the charge time.
Definitely. You’ll be charging overnight on Level 2, which should top you up from empty each night if needed (depending on amperage). Charge time concerns are really only for Level 3/DC fast charging on the road.
Kim said:
@Hollis
That makes sense. If I get home at 6:00 PM, the car has until 8:00 AM the next day to charge. So maybe I’m overthinking the charge time.
Everyone tends to overthink it at first. Your car will be sitting in the garage most of the time, so there’s plenty of time for it to charge.
@Windsor
Exactly. It takes a while to get used to the idea, but once you get into the routine, you stop worrying about it. That said, there might be a time when you need to charge at a public station. I had to do that recently after driving more than usual. My range dropped more than I expected, so I stopped at a Level 3 charger to top up before heading home.
@Hollis
When I’ve done longer trips, I’ve generally been able to charge enough at 50-75kW while grabbing a snack or stretching my legs. The only time it could be an issue is if you’re going on a 2-hour trip and want to head straight back without taking a break. That might be a bit much without a big charging pause.
I can’t speak to the value drop, but government incentives or rebates might help. I’ve got a 2023 Niro EV Premium, and the charge time isn’t an issue for me. I plug it in overnight, so it’s always ready. Maybe people are comparing it to 800V systems with faster charging speeds. For me, charging at home works just fine. I’ve only used a DC charger once since August, and it takes about 60 minutes from 20% to 80%. I bought mine new last year with some great discounts, and I’m really happy with it.
I got one of those ‘brand new’…