Kia Niro EV Review 2024

If you're looking for a comfortable and versatile electric car with a long range, the Kia Niro EV is a solid choice. It's just as impressive as the old model, albeit with a fancier interior and more head-turning styling. It might not be as rapid (or rapid charging) as a Tesla, nor does it move the game on in any particular area, but it's still a well-finished all-rounder for a very reasonable price. 

We'd recommend the mid-spec Kia Niro EV 3. The entry-level Niro EV 2 does without certain desirable features (the bigger infotainment screen, heated seats and driver-assistance tech such as Highway Driving Assist, for example). The top-spec Kia Niro EV 4 is well-equipped but also nudging Kia EV6 prices, which makes it a little more difficult to justify.

If you're considering the new Kia Niro EV, you should also look at the (slightly more compact) Hyundai Kona Electric as well as the Peugeot e-2008, Citroen e-C4 and Mazda MX-30. The Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID.3 are two more hatchback-like alternatives, as well as the excellent Renault Megane E-Tech, while the slightly bigger Skoda Enyaq iV should definitely be on your shortlist if you're in the market for an electric family SUV.

Other alternatives include the Volkswagen ID.4, the Renault Megane E-Tech and the more affordable but lower-range Vauxhall Mokka Electric. 

Generally, the Kia Niro EV feels mostly well-finished inside. There are a few hard plastics here and there, and the interior light panel looks a touch low-rent, but it's a big improvement over the old model (and it definitely feels plusher than the MG ZS EV). Importantly, nothing feels flimsy or cheap, like it would fall apart after five minutes of exposure to your children. 

The brand is keen to point out the eco-credentials of the Niro's cabin – the vegan 'leather' seats are made using sustainable materials derived from eucalyptus wood, for example, while the headlining is made from recycled paper. The latter isn't that pleasant to touch, however. 

We've tried the basic 8.0-inch media system fitted as standard to the entry-level Kia Niro EV 2 and it does a decent enough job, responding well to the touch and not looking too downmarket. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, meaning you can access apps from your phone on the central display. You don't get sat-nav on the entry-level car, but we'd recommend using Google Maps anyway as it tends to be slicker and more up-to-date than factory-fit navigation.

Tech fans should look for a Kia Niro EV 3 or 4, though, as this brings a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen  infotainment display with in-built navigation. It's logically laid out and quick to respond, so negotiating the menus never feels too much of a faff.

All Kia Niro EV models come with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which is just as sharp and impressive as the central display. It adds to the upmarket, tech-heavy vibe that the old Kia e-Niro was lacking. The 4 trim also comes with a head-up display to keep your eyes on the road more of the time.

You'll also find wireless phone charging on all except the base model, alongside wired connections for both USB-C and old-style USB. On the back of the rear sears there are also USB C ports - again, like the EV6. 

But herein lies a problem: for some reason, if you get the entry-level car you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but if you step up to 3 or 4 spec you only get wired connections for both. A Kia representative told us its because wireless charging is problematic with wireless connections, but other manufacturers manage it.

For a relatively small electric SUV, the Kia Niro EV is incredibly spacious. It certainly feels bigger inside than, say, a Hyundai Kona Electric or Peugeot e-2008, only really beaten by the family-focused Skoda Enyaq iV in terms of outright space.

Rear passengers in particular benefit from an increase in interior space compared to the old Kia e-Niro, thanks not only to a longer wheelbase but also thinner front seats designed to boost rear legroom. There's loads of headroom, good visibility out (so it doesn't feel claustrophobic back there) and a completely flat floor means you won't be struggling for somewhere to put your feet.

Cabin storage is generally decent enough, with a pair of cupholders with VW-style pop-out holders in the centre console, a decent sized bin under the centre armrest and a good glovebox. The door bins are on the small side, however. 

The Kia Niro EV's boot can carry up to 475-litres of luggage, which is more than you'd get in a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Niro. There's an extra 20 litres in the 'frunk' at the front of the car, too – ideal for stowing away your charging cables, but not much else. Still, many electric cars don't have a 'frunk' at all. Fold the rear seats and you can stash away up to 1392-litres of goodies.

In terms of exterior dimensions the Kia Niro EV is - unsurprisingly - identical to the hybrid models. That means it's 4420mm long, 1825mm wide and 1585mm tall.

In terms of motors and batteries, the Kia Niro EV line-up is pretty simple. There's just one option: a 64.8kWh battery pack paired with a 204PS electric motor. It produces 255Nm of instant torque, providing 0-62mph acceleration in 7.8 seconds.

That's ever-so-slightly slower than the old Kia e-Niro, but it's still going to be sprightly enough for most buyers. And it's intentional: Kia has restricted the power delivery a little at lower speeds to stop the Niro EV lighting up its tyres so easily, but once you're above, say, 30mph you feel a bit more of a shove in the back to get you up to speed.

There are three different levels of regenerative braking available, adjusted easily using the paddles behind the steering wheel.  With the regen set to max, the car will slow down significantly when you lift off the accelerator – great for driving around town as you'll hardly have to use the brakes. We'd recommend reducing the regen when you're on the open road, though, allowing the Niro EV to coast at speed.

The Kia Niro EV has an official range of 285 miles. That's likely to drop slightly in the real world but, based on our experience with other Kia electric vehicles (including the old e-Niro), you should be able to get pretty close to the official figure with little effort.

When we tested the Niro EV in the UK we crawled around a snarled up London, headed out onto the motorway and drove normally (at 70mph, not mixing it with the lorries) and then took it down some country roads. All of that was in temperatures over 30 degrees, with the air-con working overtime. Despite that, it managed 4.4 miles per kWh - in laymans terms that's 282 miles on a charge. Do lots of town driving with regen braking? That'll be over 5 miles per kWh.

Some 4 trim models come with a heat pump included to prime the battery for optimum charging, or you can add this as an option for £900 to the rest of the Niro EV range.

Refinement is good for a car of this price and design. Obviously there's no engine noise, but Kia's done a commendable job of ironing out other noises, too, with no whine from the motors. You might notice a bit of wind noise at high speed or road noise on less-than-perfect surfaces, but it's rarely intrusive. 

All Kia Niro EV models come with the brand's Forward Collision Avoidance system (FCA 1.5), able to detect other cars, pedestrians and cyclists and apply emergency braking if necessary to avoid a collision. This is upgraded to FCA 2.0 on the top-spec Kia Niro EV 4, adding features like a junction crossing function (which detects vehicles approaching from the side) and evasive steering assist (which can help you swerve around a pedestrian or cyclist if necessary).

Other driver-assist tech available on the Niro EV include Highway Driving Assist (which helps you maintain a safe distance from other vehicles on the motorway as well as keeping you in your lane), an intelligent speed limiter and a blindspot warning system which can apply the brakes to prevent a collision when you're changing lanes or pulling out of a parking space.

The Kia Niro EV is yet to be crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the Niro has been. It scored a mildly disappointing four stars out of five in standard form, but moved up to a five-star rating when tested with the safety pack.

Don't expect to see many Kia Niro EVs on the back of recovery trucks. Kia as a brand has an excellent reliability record, backed up by its generous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Electric vehicles are generally more reliable than petrol or diesel cars. That's because there are much fewer mechanical parts in an EV – there's no engine oil or drive belts to need changing, for example, while the batteries generally last longer than the average lifespan of a car. That's not to say a software issue won't crop up, but the same applies to high-tech petrol and diesel cars these days. 

Kia came an impressive eighth in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index while the old Kia Niro was ranked in the top 20 most reliable used cars.

The Kia Niro EV 2 has been placed into insurance group 28A, while the 3 and 4 models are in insurance group 29A. That means the entry-level model should, in theory, be the cheapest to insure – but the difference in reality will probably be minimal.

As always, we'd recommend searching for some insurance quotes before paying a deposit on a Kia Niro EV. Electric cars are becoming more popular but they are still seen by some insurers as specialist vehicles which could be expensive to repair, so they might attract a premium compared to a petrol or diesel car.

As a pure-electric vehicle, you won't pay anything for your annual car tax (VED). Even Niro EV models with a list price of more than £40,000 (that's the top spec Kia Niro EV 4) are exempt from the usual premium car surcharge – which means you are saving that £490 charge each year plus the £190 for road tax by going electric.

The Kia Niro EV is available in three trim levels: 2, 3 and 4. 

The range kicks off with the Kia Niro EV 2, which features 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth seats, a dual-height boot floor, rear parking sensors and camera system, an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with DAB radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster cluster. In addition, standard driver assistance technologies include Forward Collision Avoidance with car, pedestrian and cyclist recognition and junction crossing and Smart Cruise Control.

The Kia Niro EV 3 adds a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, cloth and faux leather upholstery, front parking sensors, keyless smart entry and start, and heated seats and steering wheel. Equipment also includes rear privacy glass, driver lumbar support, Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) for the rear, a wireless smartphone charger, and adjustable multi-angle rear seats. The Kia Niro EV 3 also features vehicle-to-device functionality with a three-pin socket as standard, allowing you to power external electrical devices.

Topping the range, the Kia Niro EV 4 adds a head-up display, twin 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument cluster display, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats (trimmed in vegan leather), front passenger premium relaxation seating, a power operated tailgate, electric sunroof, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, driver’s side memory seating, and front passenger lumbar support. Additional tech includes Remote Smart Parking Assist, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driver Assist 2 and Forward Collision Avoidance 2.