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The Kia Niro EV is a $47,000 electric crossover for those who prefer not to stick out from the crowd
The Kia Niro EV is a $47,000 electric crossover for those who prefer not to stick out from the crowd
Alanis KingMay 21, 2020, 18:27 IST
Business Insider
The Kia Niro EV is the Korean carmaker's attempt at delivering on two major car segments: crossovers and electric vehicles. Crossovers are topping popularity charts, while EVs are future technology.
The Niro EV's electric motor makes a rated 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque, and it has an EPA-estimated driving range of 239 miles.
It has two trims: the $38,500 EX and the $44,000 EX Premium.
Overall, the Niro EV is a blast. It's cute, it's completely silent, and it's enjoyably fast from a standstill thanks to its electric motor. But elements of it feel dated, especially for a car that costs nearly $50,000.
The 2019 Kia Niro EV is cute. It's spunky, it's so quiet that you have to check the dashboard to confirm that its electric motor is running, and the bright-blue accent pieces incorporated into all of its paint options show that at least someone wanted to have a little fun with the styling.
But cute doesn't mean cheap, because like most EVs on the market today, taking the Niro home will cost you about $40,000 or more, before the federal electric-vehicle tax credit. Whether it's worth it depends on your priorities.
The 2019 Kia Niro EV: An electric vehicle that blends in with a gas-powered world
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
electric vehicle sales united states us ev
Government sales data on EVs and plug-in hybrids in the US.
Department of Energy
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2019 kia niro ev
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
Details and safety ratings: High on tech and high on price, scattered headlight quality
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 kia niro ev trims
Trim levels for the 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 kia niro ev
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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What stands out: Whisper-silent drive, attention to detail on certain styling elements
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia niro ev
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
What falls short: Dated interior, front-wheel-drive handling, hefty price tag
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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How the Niro compares to its competitors: Full tax credit, falls short on range
The 2019 Kia Niro EV (top left), 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric (top right), 2020 Nissan Leaf (bottom left) and 2019 Chevrolet Bolt (bottom right).
Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Chevrolet
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2019 kia niro ev vs competitors
Alanis King
Our impressions: Modern technology that could use a styling update
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 kia niro ev
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
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2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
2019 Kia Niro EV
The 2019 Kia Niro EV.
Alanis King
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The gist: Fun to drive, but high on price and low on glitz
Pros: The Niro EV is cute, fast, and benefits from the road silence of an EV with all of the instant torque your accelerator foot could want. Its regenerative-braking paddle shifters also let the driver switch from two-pedal driving to different levels of one-pedal driving whenever they may feel like it.
Cons: It's obvious when flooring the accelerator on the Niro EV that its instant torque is a bit too much for the front-wheel-drive crossover to handle. There are also elements of the interior that look dated and leave the car feeling like it could have benefited from a bit more time in the styling studio.
What to know before you head to the dealership: While the Niro EV hasn't been crash rated, its headlights are worth some attention. Upgrading to the EX Premium might get you a lot more perks inside, but the trim's headlight quality — given the IIHS' lowest rating mainly due to glare — will make other drivers on the road hate you. The EX, on the other hand, got the IIHS' highest headlight rating.