Test Kia e-Niro, the expected relief

Kia renews the Niro range and we get behind the wheel of the one hundred percent electric version, the Kia e-Niro, to see how it has improved.

After having been at the world presentation of the first Kia Niro (2013) and that of this second, also in Germany (2022), I really wanted to thoroughly test the benefits of this new generation that its creators told me. But what is behind so many broken lines and such a personality?

Kia e-Niro, the pure electric

To begin with, the well-known modular platform K, which allows you to choose the Niro as pure electric (from 41,700 euros), as a hybrid (from 27,480) or plug-in hybrid (from 37,000).

In this zero-emissions car, you can also see at first glance an effort to prioritize comfort and practicality over sportsmanship: at the controls of an ergonomic and modern cabin, the seats are thinner and leave more space in the front row and in the second (whose passengers have more knee and head room).

real autonomy

A fast charging cable is actually the most interesting, because although we also had the transformer for a domestic plug on board, the first thing to note here is that it is worth looking for a direct current charger (up to 80 kW) and refueling the 64.8 kWh battery, from 10 to 80% in just 45 minutes.

Only then will we have a real range of more than 360 km, even at high speeds, in a very short time (on paper, it’s 460 km, and just over 600 km per city!) and we’ll be able to really travel around a country like Spain and justify a pure electric car like this. Now its daring lines already enter your eyes a little better?

Behind the wheel of the new Kia e-Niro

At the wheel, everything seems well arranged and finished, but you have to get used to certain brightness, to the fact that fingerprints are marked everywhere and that the refrigeration and infotainment functions are relieved in the central button panel when pressing a virtual key.

Dynamically, the noise is somewhat high, but the atmosphere is pleasant for a quieter than sporty drive (the engine torque goes from 395 to 255 Nm and the steering is not particularly communicative).

It’s great that without taking your hands off the wheel you can choose Eco, Normal or Sport mode and, with the paddles, select the degree of hold/recharge (to go cruising or hold so long that the right pedal is enough to accelerate and brake). . And all with a 7-year warranty (including batteries).

The editor’s opinion

If you want an SUV for the low-emission zones of your city and travel many kilometers with your family without giving up the Zero sticker or having to buy a second car, the new e-Niro is a versatile, comfortable and practical crossover.