Kia Niro EV review

Hi members,

As the title suggests, I am looking for a current, in-depth evaluation from someone who owns this car.

In a few weeks or months, my girlfriend will give birth to her first child.

Any experience positive or negative would be very valued!

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Hello, Olivia Brown. My commute to work is entirely on the highway (about 110-120 km/h) and takes around 40 minutes each way. So, with an almost full charge, I can only drive to work, home, and back to work, and I need to find a charger near work or I won’t be able to go home.

I am not thrilled with the slow Level 3 charging, and I’ve observed that it charges more slowly in higher temperatures compared to other EVs in cold weather. Although battery conditioning helps, it isn’t a complete solution. While I prefer the Niro EV, the new Hyundai Kona appears to have a better charging curve and performs better in colder temperatures.

I encountered some issues with charging, as it tends to overheat and stop the charge. However, switching to a slower charging speed resolved the problem. Since I charge overnight, whether it takes 4 hours or 8 hours doesn’t really bother me.

In sport mode, it accelerates like a rocket. With four people in the car, including myself, it feels spacious enough for daily use. I might consider something a bit larger when the lease is up, but overall, I enjoy the car.

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We have a 2023 model, and it’s awesome. I like that it has a lot of physical buttons. However, it seems like newer models, like many EVs, are moving more controls to the touchscreen, which I find disappointing.

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The Kia Niro EV used to be on Consumer Reports’ recommended list, but it got taken off because of some reported issues with the electric motor bearings. I haven’t heard anything new recently, and I’m really hoping Kia is taking care of the problem. I’m staying positive and thinking it might have just been a bad batch of bearings. Maybe Consumer Reports is being a bit too cautious.

As someone who has extensively researched the Kia Niro EV, I’m impressed by its features and performance. The Niro EV comes with a 64.8kWh battery that offers a maximum range of 285 miles, making it a practical choice for daily commutes. It accelerates from 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds, providing a smooth and quiet ride. The interior is modern and well-equipped, with features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Niro EV also prioritizes comfort over sportiness, offering a soft suspension and good visibility, making it a great choice for families. Despite some minor drawbacks like limited over-the-shoulder visibility and a somewhat gloomy cabin, the Niro EV is a solid option for those looking for a reliable and efficient electric SUV.