Road Tested by Hugh Maguire.
Its January and many people consider a new car at this time of year. With EV’s the talking point I decided to try a long term test of some three weeks living with an EV to see how it really shapes up. Kia Ireland kindly set up the test and the results are interesting.
The Niro EV on test here is in K4 trim and is priced from €44,900.
Has It Got Any Street Cred?
I really like the new styling. Its distinctive and classy looking! Unlike some of its rivals the Niro does not have that “eco car” look. Thankfully it looks just like a neat and tidy compact crossover which stands out from the crowd by virtue of its attractive new style.
What is it like inside?
The cabin is roomy and will actually seat five adults at a squeeze and four with absolute ease. The boot which is accessed via the large rear tailgate is a decent 474 litres.
Standard equipment is as you have come to expect from Kia, comprehensive and on the K4 version it includes includes imitation leather upholstery, heated electrically adjustable front seats, lane keep assist, blind spot monitor, smart cruise control, wireless phone charging reversing camera, sat nav, a super head-up display, Highway Drive Assist, multiple USB-C sockets, plenty of storage areas and a rather good sound system.
I am really impressed by the lovely analogue style digital dashboard which merges beautifully into the central touchscreen. I really like the touch sensitive row of digitally interchangeable “switches” below the touchscreen. It all comes across as extremely well though out and designed. The only element in an otherwise gorgeous cabin is the two spoke steering wheel which harks back to styles of yesteryear but I didn’t like it. Overall then the new cabin is just about ergonomically perfect and it looks top class.
What is under the bonnet?
Well an electric motor of course! A 204 bhp motor drives the front wheels with power coming from a 64.8kWh battery. The official range is 460km but over my time in winter with temperatures getting down to minus 5C an average of 330km from 100% battery charge was more realistic. Further from an 80% charge (the manufacturers recommended to preserve battery life) the Niro only managed 245 km. I tried this a number of times and got pretty much the same result.
The other point of note here is that selecting the “Heat” on immediately dropped the predicted range by some 20 to 25 km. These issues are true of many EV’s I have tested though not just the Niro.
Will I enjoy driving it?
The Niro EV rides and handles well and noise levels are commendably low. I don’t think you will ever run out to drive it just for the hell of it, but that apples to its rivals also. Its comfortable and refined. In short then it does what it was designed to do. I came way from my time in the Niro EV feeling it is one of the very best in class available. After all it won the MMAI (Motoring Media Association Of Ireland) Compact crossover of the year award 2023.
So what is the verdict on EV life?
Living with an EV is very different particularly if you rely on the public charging network. So to summarise.
The claimed range of an EV is not often achievable particularly in winter with lower temperatures. If you follow the manufacture instructions and only charge to 80% each time you can immediately drop their claimed range by 20% as they quote range from 100%.
The public charging network is hopeless! Its a disgrace! There are not enough (resulting in many frustrated motorists including myself queuing for up to 40 minutes just to get on a charger). Further one near me was labeled out of order for 3 weeks! Its also now a lot more expensive to use the public network. In short if you are away from your home charge point its a miserable existence trying to charge on the public network so in reality this limits your practical range.
So to the Niro EV. Well if you want an EV this is certainly one of the very best out there. Its a superb all round package!