Kia has change into a powerful contender in Australia’s fast-growing electrical automobile gross sales race with extremely regarded EV6 crossover and soon-to-launch EV9 massive SUV. 

However the firm has one other EV providing within the type of the second-generation Niro, a smaller mannequin with a still-generous 460km WLTP driving vary declare, and a extra Euro-centric focus. 

In contrast to the new-from-the-ground up EV6 and EV9 with their skateboard platform and 800V charging functionality, the Niro comes as a petroleum hybrid in addition to the EV examined right here. 

Whereas the primary iteration of the Niro nameplate was a conservative-looking automobile, this one brings some edge with its squat stance – and on this guise its boomerang-shaped tail lights and optionally available colored C-pillar. 

For these taking part in at dwelling, its design was fairly clearly impressed by the brash 2019 Kia HabaNiro idea automobile – with some real-world firming down.

The Niro EV additionally brings headline options like an Australian-market suspension tune, distant connectivity and infotainment companies, in addition to vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.

Sadly you’ll pay a steep sum for the privilege, if you may get your palms on one. Such is the demand for this automobile in Korea and far of Europe that Australia is left with restricted provide, making this a distinct segment proposition.

How a lot does the Kia Niro EV GT-Line value?

The Kia Niro EV is available in two spec ranges known as Niro EV S ($66,590 earlier than on-road prices) and Niro EV GT-Line ($72,360 earlier than on-roads) – the latter of which we’re testing right here.

You observed that being topic to tight provide, Kia has taken a couple of liberties with the pricing, as a result of positioned into context the worth simply doesn’t stack up in any respect.

As an example the Niro GT-Line EV ($72,360) prices kind of the identical because the faster, longer-range and altogether higher EV6 Air ($72,590) and is costlier than the larger and top-selling Tesla Mannequin Y ($65,400). The one EV that may rival it within the overpriced stakes is the largely irrelevant Mazda MX-30 Electrical.

For these after extra sensibly-priced EV choices with 400km-plus vary claims, there’s the big-selling BYD Atto 3 Prolonged Vary ($51,011), MG 4 Essence 64 ($47,990), and GWM Ora Extremely ($48,990). Choices from outdoors China embrace the $59,990 Cupra Born and Volvo EX30, whereas the runout Hyundai Kona Prolonged Vary is $60,500 – a new-gen is due earlier than the tip of the yr.

We must also point out that the Niro GT-Line with the petrol-electric hybrid choice prices $50,030 – which means the EV battery and motor provides greater than $22,000 to the worth.

What’s the Kia Niro EV GT-Line like on the within?

The inside design is sort of as fascinating as the outside, notably the two-spoke wheel design and framing for the dual shows.

The leather-wrapped wheel has cruise management, lane help and journey pc controls on its left spoke, and audio or voice controls on the appropriate. A small button on the decrease left-hand facet adjustments your drive fashions.

The crisp instrument cluster behind the wheel seems to be sharp and shows your pace, power utilization, regenerative braking, and numerous menus from journey knowledge by way of to battery standing. It’s augmented within the GT-Line by a projecting head-up show.

The panorama centre touchscreen doesn’t dominate the fascia like in a Tesla or BYD, however runs pretty intuitive software program with good high quality maps, voice instructions, and a top quality Harman Kardon sound system.

Nevertheless there’s solely a reversing digicam fairly than a surround-view, and the GT-Line doesn’t include wi-fi cellphone mirroring regardless of providing a wi-fi charger pad beneath the local weather controls.

There are a combination of good contrasting trims used all through in addition to an abundance of dust- and scratch-prone piano black trims in all places – a design fad that I’m assured is not going to age properly.

On the subject of grievances, whereas the entrance seats are powered and heated/ventilated, and likewise include a ‘Premium Rest’ folding mode for the passenger, they’re for my part additionally missing enough under-thigh and facet bolstering.

Beneath the display screen is a graceful touch-sensitive bar that doubles as a local weather management interface and separate audio shortcut controller – it seems to be nice and turns into intuitive to function shortly.

Alongside the centre tunnel is a round gear shifter dial alongside the steering wheel and seat heater/cooler buttons, digicam pull-up and Auto Maintain perform. Behind this sits a decent-size centre console with cupholders.

At 4.4-metres lengthy the Niro isn’t a lot greater than your run-of-the-mill small hatchback, nevertheless the again seats are acceptably spacious for 2 adults and the ground is pretty flat. There are USB ports behind every entrance seat.

The boot is fairly beneficiant at 475 litres with each seat rows in use, increasing to almost 1400L with the again row folded. Neither the again seats or boot come near a less expensive Tesla Mannequin Y although, for these after a household pleasant EV.

On a facet word, the Niro is vehicle-to-load (V2L) suitable as much as 3.6kW, with a three-prong plug within the again seat and the flexibility to attach an adaptor to the outside Kind 2 charging port to energy home equipment from the automobile’s battery.

It additionally pairs to the Kia Join app so you’ll be able to remotely examine in on the automobile, and the important thing fob has buttons that let you transfer the automobile slowly in an out of bays whereas standing outdoors the automobile – a function we first noticed fitted to the Sorento SUV.

On one other word, to its credit score the Niro showcases recycled supplies like headlining made out of recycled PET supplies, seats made out of Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus tree fibres, and BTX-free paint (no benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers) on the door panels.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

A small storage nook.

Each spec ranges of the Niro EV run the identical drivetrain, a front-wheel drive single motor with 150kW of peak energy and 255Nm of peak torque, permitting a 0-100km/h time of 7.8 seconds.

The everlasting magnet synchronous motor attracts present from a 358V lithium-ion battery pack with a tick beneath 65kWh of power capability and a weight of about 450kg. Primarily based on lab-tested power consumption of 16.2kWh per 100km on the WLTP cycle, anticipate driving vary of as much as 460km – sufficient for the overwhelming majority of individuals.

The entrance bumper Kind 2 charging port can deal with as much as 11kW AC, which means a 10-100 per cent dwelling charging time of about 6.5 hours. On a 100kW-capable DC charger you need to anticipate 10-80 per cent charging time of about 45 minutes.

How does the Kia Niro EV GT-Line drive?

The second-generation Niro stays front-wheel drive however doesn’t torque steer like some EVs with this configuration as a result of Kia has stored the motor’s outputs smart – with an obvious eye to better effectivity.

It’ll nip you to 100km /h in a brisk 7.8s however as with most electrical vehicles it’s the 0-60km/h that’s the quickest, as a result of e-motors don’t want revs to generate their most torque.

In order for you a bit extra punch off the road, simply hit the drive mode button mounted low on the steering wheel and choose the sportiest accelerator pedal setting, or choose the eco-focused mode to numb response and save power.

In terms of slowing down, you’ll be able to lean on the regenerative braking system managed by way of paddle shifters to recuperate kinetic power, all the way in which as much as one-pedal driving the place you barely contact the brakes. For those who want no rolling resistance you simply flick it off.

As with many EVs the shortage of engine noise does imply there’s a little bit of surplus street noise on coarse-chip surfaces from the (Continental Eco Contact) tyres, nevertheless it’s habitable.

When it comes to nuts and bolts the Niro runs impartial suspension at each ends (McPherson struts and multi-link) and column-mounted electrical steering offering a ten.6m turning circle and barely any arm resistance.

Like most Kias it underwent an Australian calibration program earlier than launch – certainly it was Kia Australia’s first full trip and dealing with program for the reason that begin of the pandemic.

The result’s, as marketed, comparatively car-like dealing with with good and flat physique management and minimal roll coming into corners. At 1727kg (tare), the Niro isn’t precisely featherweight, nevertheless it feels suitably nimble.

It additionally rides comparatively properly, absorbing corrugations and jagged bumps higher that its low-profile tyres could recommend – in that sense it does reside as much as the premium positioning, given some competitor EVs are extra type than substance.

What do you get?

The bottom Niro EV S comes with a sparse function listing for a automobile that prices the most effective a part of $70,000…

Niro EV S highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Halogen headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED tail lights
• Black roof rails
• Rear parking sensors 
• Tyre-pressure monitor 
• Non permanent mobility package
• Proximity-sensing key fob 
• Rain-sensing wipers 
• V2L inside energy socket
• Material and leather-based seats
• Powered driver’s seat
• Twin-zone local weather management
• 10.25-inch instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch centre touchscreen 
• DAB/AM/FM
• 6-speaker audio system
• Satellite tv for pc-navigation 
• Kia Join telematics 
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wi-fi Android Auto
• Rear-view digicam 

Niro GT-Line provides:

• LED headlights 
• Single-row sunroof 
• Powered tailgate
• Privateness glass
• Entrance parking sensors 
• Distant Sensible Park Help (key fob) 
• eCall with SOS button
• V2L exterior Kind 2 to socket adaptor
• Synthetic leather-based seat trim
• Powered passenger’s seat
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats 
• 64 ambient lighting colors
• AI voice instructions 
• 10.0-inch head-up show 
• Wi-fi cellphone charger 
• 8-speaker sound system
• Wired Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto 

Colors

• Clear White
• Snow White Pearl
• Metal Gray
• Interstellar Gray
• Aurora Black Pearl
• Mineral Blue
• Runway Pink
• Cityscape Inexperienced
• Snow White Pearl with Metal Gray C-pillar
• Mineral Blue with Gloss Black C-pillar
• Cityscape Inexperienced with Gloss Black C-pillar

Is the Kia Niro EV GT-Line protected?

The Niro achieved the utmost five-star ANCAP security score with 2022 date stamp.

It scored 88 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 84 per cent for baby occupant safety, 76 per cent for weak street person safety, and 87 per cent for security help options.

Commonplace security options embrace:

• Airbags:
  • Entrance
  • Entrance-side
  • Entrance-centre
  • Driver’s knee
  • Facet curtains
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Automobile, pedestrian, bicycle owner & junction turning
• Lane-keeping help
• Blind-spot collision avoidance help
• Rear cross-traffic avoidance help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Secure Exit Warning
• Main automobile departure alert
• Driver consideration alert
• Clever pace restrict help
• eCall with SOS button
• 2 x ISOFIX, 3 x high tethers

The Niro EV GT-Line provides Secure Exist Help (helps keep away from opening a door right into a passing bicycle owner) and lively collision-avoidance braking in reverse.

How a lot does the Kia Niro EV GT-Line value to run?

Kia supplies a seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, with a seven-year service plan out there for $1997 (or $1351 for 5 years).

Kia claims power use of 16.2kWh per 100km, however I averaged 17.4kWh per 100km. However a real-world 400km with some care must be achievable more often than not.

Charging choices differ from a primary three-prong trickle charger by way of to a house wallbox with both 7kW or 11kW outputs – the latter pair lowering 10-100 per cent charging occasions to 9.5 hours and 6.5 hours respectively.

A CCS DC cost ought to take you from 10-80 per cent in 45 minutes or so, sufficient for about 300km give-or-take. As a result of the 358V Niro doesn’t use the EV6’s 800V battery it can’t deal with notably speedy DC charging speeds.

As an example at AmpCharge Altona I noticed a mean of 53KW.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Niro EV GT-Line

The Niro EV is slightly electrical crossover with head-turning design, loads of driving vary, first rate dealing with traits, and a few fascinating items of inside know-how.

However for all its worthiness as a automobile, it’s just too costly to suggest until you’ll be able to wrangle a great deal or decide up a near-new second-hand or ex-demo mannequin.

It’s a miss from me.

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