2019 Kia Niro EV First Drive - The Better Bolt

Kia is starting an EV onslaught for 2019 with not one but two new EVs with over 230 miles of EV range. The first is the new Niro EV, Kia's all-eco small "crossover" to be followed closely by the new 2020 Soul EV. The 201 horsepower electric motor should deliver significantly improved performance vs the "compliance car" segment and the 64kWh battery pack yields an EPA range of 239 miles and real world range of 250+ when driven gently. Topping it all off, Kia's federal tax credit of $7,500 is still available but GM's has started to sunset...
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[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Sorry for the correction folks: Teslas do not use heat pumps. My bad. I was mixing up cars in my head. Teslas use resistive heat and can use the battery cooling loop to heat the cabin as well.

[@AaronD12a]

The Niro EV also has an independent rear suspension.

[@OraEtLabora0]

as a damage control measure, it would be nice if you overlayed corrections over mistaken bits, rather than just pinning in comments section. i imagine fair amount of people do not read comments...

[@pepstein]

Thanks for the correction. With the number of cars to review and how thorough each review is, it's impressive how few mistakes you make.

[@Abevlife]

Alex, does it concern you that battery on this hangs Lower than rest of the floor? I saw this in another review.

[@Jon_Godfrey]

@@OraEtLabora0 yes... or at least add a Text over the video as "correction - xxxx"...

[@JSmithDad]

Got a Niro 2020 EV and love it. I consistently get between 260 to 280 miles on a charge, that's between 4 to 4.5 miles per kW. More comfortable and quieter than other EVs in that price range I tried and an upgraded interior. Interior has some similarity to BMW X1 which we have experience with. Apparently Kia has an ex BMW or Audi designer who restyled the interior.

[@refletdansunoeil]

As an oversea viewer I appreciate the very good quality of your elocution : all your words are separated one for the other , and so , well , it looks like I understand you very easily . Thanks a lot ! .

[@josefernandez7367]

This is the right step for "normal" car manufacturers; to take a good package, with real buttons and real world usability, and turn it into a highly efficient EV. Kudos to KIA for pulling this off, and kudos to Alex from always bringing us those excellent reviews. Keep up the good work.

[@tomted5011]

*_I have never seen a car review that gave this much information so smartly supported by graphics and multiple cameras. Nice job. I got a Bolt in May of 2017 after watching many positive video reviews of the car on KZbin. I leased knowing in three years I might have some interesting choices. My only deal breaker is real one-pedal driving like the low gear in the Bolt that will bring you to a dead stop When you get on to that you can drive all month and never touch the brake. You just learn when to take your foot of the go pedal for stop signs._* *_I have seen a few EVs that have a one-pedal switch. I wish they all did as I can't imagine driving any other way. Again, great job on the car review. You take this to a whole new level!_*

[@AM-zn9di]

Great EV review. Glad you are ahead of the curve when it comes to EV knowledge and it shows when compared to other channels who try to review EVs. I look forward to the day when the majority of your reviews are pure EVs.

[@supernova1976]

Alex, your level of information is amazing . Well done

[@MoneyMaples]

I don't know how Alex doesn't have 1 million subscribers by now.

[@mikefarrington7141]

Oops, I can't believe I wasn't subscribed to him. I watch him all the time. Sorry Alex, I'm subbed now.

[@skuzzyj]

@@mikefarrington7141 Same here. Fixed that.

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

Because he refuses to review Teslas?

[@jamsbong]

May be Tesla refuse to let him review the car

[@DigitalYojimbo]

Because he ain't annoying AF as demuro

[@jonnykromps9836]

That was fast! Normally your teasers are a few day away from the video. Another great review!

[@aarong9378]

Checking in. It's been 5 years and I still love my Niro EV. Zero issues with it; I can take long trips with it with no problems. Even EVgo's plug-and-charge works with the Niro EV! What's not to love?

[@sprockkets]

Mine is a little creaky, but the biggest gripe with mine is, at least the US, none of them seem to come with LED headlamps. For a vehicle that costs $46k, that's insane.

[@aarong9378]

@@sprockketsThat is odd. I didn't pay anywhere near that much for my Niro EV. I did add a third-party kit for LED lamps in my car. They work surprisingly well and don't seem to blind oncoming drivers.

[@sprockkets]

@@aarong9378 I tried putting in Phillips LED bulbs. They fit, but they never came on, regardless of which way I connected them. They worked for the fogs. Which ones did you get? Sticker price for my Niro EV was $46,945. It was the top of the line model with the heat pump.

[@aarong9378]

@@sprockkets I got Hikari branded LED headlights. I left the fog lights as-is. I got a completely base model Niro EV. Zero options.

[@CumBrianFries]

Damn Alex, you work fast my man!

[@godfatherNYC]

11:20 "Electric Avenue" LMAO nice touch.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

Brixton!!

[@karlp8484]

Niro looks like a hero. Useful comparisons with the Kia Soul, better packaging efficiency there if you like the Nissan Cube type looks.

[@daveincanada785]

This thing makes the Bolt redundant! Kia nailed it.

[@Martin_Level47]

Like the Niro and like Alex - one of the best reviewers in the game. Videos got the right length and all the info you need 😊

[@woof059]

I own a Model 3. This car looks great and I would like one to have as the other car. More usable space, less expensive but still has lots of nice features and comfort, just really practical without looking frumpy or being slow. Nice car, nice review.

[@featherboards1565]

Great overview, as always! Your 0-60 estimate is much quicker than the 7.8 seconds I've been reading elsewhere. I like your number better.

[@bogieman101]

I have nothing but a passing interest in electric cars, so me watching this should tell you how good a job you do on reviews. Oh, and thank you for not having a 5 minute intro.

[@user-ym6lc7pk1e]

Finally we start seeing popular crossovers with EV drive train. Really like the Niro dimensions, practically and upright seating. And with typical high KIA quality this can be a great car to own.

[@joepah51]

Great review Alex! 64 kWh battery pack was the Tesla Model S base size just a few years ago. Whoever invented the term Crossover SUV should be awarded a lifetime supply of Gold coffee mugs from the rest of the Auto industry. Turned the 5 door hatchback into marketing magic!

[@yandan8]

Alex, great job! Covered all the details I wanted to hear.

[@LJLion]

E-NIRO in Texas...what !!!did I hear that right? I'm getting one. It's way better than the bolt. Great review.

[@TaylorYangOrDie]

Thank you for your video updates as always

[@claytonroot806]

Once again, a stellar job Alex! Some people will probably complain that your reviews are too long BUT if you are in the market to purchase a vehicle, doesn't investing a little time in the process make sense? If this was just your "1st drive review", I can't imagine the upcoming full review but await it's arrival. We own a Kia Niro Hybrid and love it so I can't imagine why the Niro EV will not be high on our list when our lease expires on the current vehicle; that is IF the charging infrastructure improves SIGNIFICANTLY in the next couple years. Where I live in Canada, EV charging station availability is abysmal and normally occupied by an ICE vehicle anyway. Arghh!

[@earlyearthecology4996]

Much BETTER review than other reviewers

[@ooboobay]

Thank you for another great video, Alex. Will you still be releasing another video with a full review of Niro EV?

[@confusedone97]

Thank you for having technical explanations

[@sixdoubledeuce]

Really nice catch on having room for a spare tire. Having blown a tire on my e-Golf in the middle of nowhere, this is something that's definitely on my mind for its replacement

[@olegvihodet4104]

Alex do you have any ideas when its going to be available in Minnesota? And how it will handle our winter temps ( today - 28 F ) . Thanks

[@schmo7777]

I'm buying this in Canada if I win the lottery Friday. Nice to dream.

[@mortgagefinancing5558]

GUESS YOUR NOT BUYING ONE

[@schmo7777]

@@mortgagefinancing5558 ya, I didn't win. Also my stocks crashed. Be driving my 2012 Kia for another 6 years I guess.

[@claytonroot806]

As always Alex, simply amazing review with details about features we NEVER hear about anywhere else. One area that surprised me though was trunk space. All other reviews I've seen show the EV version of the Niro to have a slightly larger capacity with the rear seats upright than in the Hybrid version. Whatever, the difference is not enormous. We currently lease a fully loaded Kia Niro Hybrid Touring and love it, due to ease of entry/exit, exceptional feature content for this class of vehicle, and of course it's fuel economy. So I did some math on the "Cost Effectiveness" of the Niro EV for comparison as far as fuel cost goes. This has nothing to do with the environmental impacts of full EV's versus hybrids, nor it's performance advantages, but is simply a matter of economics. Since we don't have exact pricing for the Niro EV yet this is only a calculation of the fuel cost savings. I WILL try to make this the MOST favorable to the E-Niro as possible, ie cheapest electricity rates for off peak charging at home versus highest current gasoline prices for the Hybrid Niro. I live in Canada so I'm working from metric figures but will convert to U.S. mpg. I log ALL fuel receipts into a spreadsheet so I know exactly what our Niro Hybrid delivers, not what the "Guess-O-Meter" in the dashboard displays, as they are ALWAYS optimistic and the Niro is no exception. Since picking up the Niro just under 10,000 kilometers (6,250 miles) ago, we have averaged 5.348 liters/100 kilometers. That translates to 44.23 U.S. mpg and includes a mix of city/highway and summer/winter driving with snow tires and extreme cold. So we drive about 12,500 miles per year and would use 12,500 / 44.23 = 282.613 gallons of gasoline. The highest current price in the U.S. appears to be in California so I'm using approximate GasBuddy average prices for Los Angeles at $3.50 per gallon. Therefore annual fuel cost with my Hybrid Niro in LA would be $989. Unlike in Ontario Canada where I live, I found it virtually impossible to determine the exact price per kilowatt hour during off peak usage in Los Angeles for comparison purposes. Apparently they offer a 2.5 cent reduction for charging electric vehicles if you have a separate meter at home, (additional cost) specifically for that purpose. So I'll use their 18.4 cent average minus the 2.5 cent EV charging reduction and assume a 50% reduction for off peak overnight and weekend usage at home. Alex determined that the Niro EV can travel 3.4 miles on a Kilowatt of electricity. So in 12,500 miles, it would use about 3,675 kilowatt hours worth of juice. Using the logic above, with that separate meter, I'm using a price per off peak kilowatt hours of 6.9 cents (which I suspect is more than generous and probably doesn't include delivery charges, taxes, etc). At that rate, the cost for electricity would be 3,675 x 6.9 / 100 = $253.60 per year or a saving of $735 for fuel costs. I see that as an ABSOLUTE best case scenario using NO public hi-speed charging stations and NEVER searching out less expensive gasoline refueling stops. Obviously, California has some of the highest gasoline prices in the United States so elsewhere, the economic annual advantage would be even worse. IF you use Public Charging stations, the costs per kilowatt hour become ridiculous and throw the whole economic argument for EV's fuel savings right out the window. It is my belief that full EV's make zero economic sense for any apartment dweller without access to their own plug and metering system. The cost of oil changes and other routine maintenance throughout the life of an ICE vehicle is easily offset by the greatly reduced up front purchase prices. This is especially true if you lease your vehicles, which with a Kia, will be warrantied for the full extent of a 4 year lease. In my mind, the best ECONOMIC option is to lease a fully warrantied Plug-In Hybrid (if rebates on those vehicles are still available where you live) which can be charged overnight on ANY 110-120 Volt outlet and can cover 90% of MOST users daily needs in their electric mode with 30 miles of range. Lower up front cost, absolutely no "Range Anxiety" and if you happen to miss a charging session, no big deal.

[@jeffruebens8355]

For costs, a used 2006 or newer RAV4 costs less up front and over the next 10 years. For 20 years, a used Prius might be the best, if you can live with low power for passing and merging, and if you buy a used battery for the electric motor if the original fails- the original battery has been known to last 300,000 miles. If you live in a city with lots of air pollution, you may want to spend more for a cleaner vehicle, and also try to get your political leaders to take old diesel trucks off the road, along with getting the police to tow vehicles with a huge cloud of smoke like Singapore.

[@marjoriehall9984]

Great job as usual! The Niro EV to be sold in Georgia is surprising--hope it sells well.

[@swanblake]

I'd be very interested in how this EV would work and it's range on this balmy -37 degree day here in the Midwest.

[@RALPHD57]

Another great video Alex..thanks man!

[@MikeLoomis]

I'm surprised the rear head/leg room numbers didn't include the Leaf. Also, we may be getting to a point where you mention how the self-driving (adaptive cruise + land keep assist) aspects compare to other cars. It is becoming standard on more and more vehicles so it is another relevant point of comparison that could steer someone towards a particular vehicle.

[@himmura]

Great review. Looking forward to all the EVs in the near future.

[@chewie94116]

Excellent detailed review. Also easy to understand explanation of EV charging and how EV range is affected by ALL Wheel Drive. Please cover cargo space and compare the EVs, especially luggage- carry on and the largest suitcases (example 34x22x12.5 in)

[@Pikminiman]

Great video as always, Alex. I love seeing you cover more all-electric vehicles! That said, I'm not sure Tesla vehicles have heat pumps in the traditional sense. They do use waste heat from the motor and inverter to heat the battery, but I think the cabin is heated by a resistive heating element. I've attempted researching this, but the answer is unclear. If you have any sources for this info, I'd appreciate you sharing it, as I'm curious to get a concrete answer myself.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Teslas use resistive heat, that was my mistake.

[@belvedere351]

Another great and thorough insight Alex. Both the Niro and Kona can certainly help propel EV adoption but only if you can actually buy one. Presently you can buy the "worse Bolt" in every state in the U.S. but GM definitely needs to make more of them as well.

[@sth128]

Great video. I'd like to see more of the infotainment options, specifically EV related options. For example charging schedule, preheating, and drive mode settings. I drive an Ioniq and there's no way to set start up regen level to to 0 (lowest you can default to is 1). Also I'd love to see a demonstration of the full regen to stop at different speeds by holding down the left paddle. (Again, a feature not in Ioniq that I'd really like)

[@SNESmapper]

Kia has a winner with this Niro EV. If I had to choose an EV I'd pick this Niro over the Kona, Bolt and yes, the Model 3. As usual, Alex provides the best and most detailed videos, looking forward to the full review.

[@stephenhendricks103]

Hyundai/Kia would be happy with your choice of the Niro, the Kona, or the Soul EV. The Koreans are going all in in this category.

[@mikeg.9083]

Thanks Alex. By any chance you recall seeing the power liftgate button option on your fully loaded eNiro? Keep up the good work:)

[@jamsbong]

His reviews are very comprehensive. Like an Encyclopedia.

[@LlyleHunter]

The most informative automotive journalist on KZbin. What he does is legitimate journalism on a par with some of the best automotive writers in automotive magazines.

[@Abevlife]

Alex, please compare it to 2018/2019 Nissan leaf. Make one more video. You are the best car reviewer I find in KZbin. Thank you!

[@alliejr]

Excellent review.

[@salocin911]

Alex, just curious why you included the RAV4 but not the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for interior dimensions.

[@petegalindez9961]

I’ve had my 2022 Niro EV for almost 2 years now and 12k miles and when I charge it to 100% (whenever I go on long trips), I’m getting over 300 miles of range…it’ll show between 310-315…if AC gets turned on, it’ll drop to just below 300. And, it’s been very accurate. I get very close to 4 miles per KW and sometimes as high as 4.8!

[@infernovideo]

Great detailed review as expected, thanks. Two things- I also wonder why Kia is putting out a Niro ev around the same time as a new Soul ev with such similarities? Or am I missing something? Why didn’t they offer one with awd to set them farther apart? And second- I read that the Niro has different cell supplier than the Kona, but you said it’s the same! Do you know for sure?

[@quizzley7]

Surprisingly Tesla's do not have heat pumps. They do have coolant systems that can harvest heat from the motor and power electroncs. So somewhat more efficient than purely resistance heat.

[@Holeyguagaamoley]

Great review Alex, it was your review of the Soul EV that convinced me to get one! I love that car and won’t go back to ICE. At the Detroit show I was shocked how cheap the Niro felt , smaller cheaper interior compared to Soul hate the cheap feeling charging ports actually changed my mind and now have more interest in new design Soul. Go figure.

[@nyc863]

Alex the Tesla model 3 uses resistive heating and is very power hungry in cold weather !

[@gadgetperson5128]

Fantastic review. A little longer than I prefer to watch but you crammed a lot of valuable information into what turned out to be a reasonable amount of time. One suggestion that I’d like to make is to show how a typical set of golf clubs plus a walking cart would fit in the back - or would part (or all) of the back seats need to be folded down. Before I purchase a vehicle I always bring my golf gear. If it doesn’t fit I move on. The Niro appears preferable over the Hyundai Kona with the exception of the reduced range. If the clubs, etc. fit, this looks like a reasonable choice. Thanks.

[@claytonroot806]

gadgetperson "Fantastic review. A little longer than I prefer to watch" Good grief! On perhaps the 2nd largest outlay you're likely to make after a house, spending 25 minutes getting fantastic information (as you stated) is too much time to invest in research to help with the right choice. Perhaps another round of golf would be preferable.

[@gadgetperson5128]

Clayton Root, you obviously misinterpreted what I wrote. Most KZbinrs are verbose, repeating what they say many times and don’t plan their reviews. Most of their reviews that take 25 minutes have only 5 minutes of content. Alex, by contrast packed a lot of information into his review and did a fantastic job, as I noted. I also agree with guitar slim - Alex should have a million subscribers. As far as golf, yes, another round would be preferable. Let’s not take things so seriously. Great job Alex.

[@reneomarbenitez3645]

Great job ...lot information

[@donhill1825]

Alex is like a Doug Demuro that doesn't somehow both irritate the piss out of me & put me to sleep.

[@wonkers]

I need a head to head 2019 Soul vs Niro comparison!! EV model and top gas trims please!

[@greenbox2149]

Fantastic car, it checks all the boxes I have with the exception of price which is understandable since battery costs are still fairly high. Can't wait until the tech improves and we get cheaper batteries that have longer ranges, hopefully we can see these changes five years from now.

[@gerbre1]

One topic for an upcoming video might be, how does the e-niro qualify as a taxi? Is there enough trunk space to put in suitcases or walking frames?

[@ltkwok2961]

Side by side comparison between the 3 Hyundai/Kia EVs please. Kona, Niro & Soul.

[@supraphonic88]

Did Kia do the press event at your house? Amazed to see it on home ground this soon.

[@TheGerm24]

That is basically what he said in the video. The press event was near where he usually drives.

[@briankirby6714]

I get mine the 1st week of April

[@JeffKubel]

How did you get your hands on the eNiro? Nice. I would take one of these over a Model 3.

[@claudec815]

Hello Alex excellent presentation , what about battery cooling and heating system ???

[@Fleshybitz]

I want to see you actually use the steering wheel controls, I have found having a wheel for volume is the best design on my 2016 Sorento

[@spiritmorin]

Has a owner of a SoulEv 2016 I wait to have more info on the next gen Soul and this NiroEV For full review, would like to know: UVO available, for USA and Canada, different colors for interior, demo of auto steering, demonstrate the quality of the charge door ( look cheap). Great reviews, as usual.

[@aaronz9687]

This car will charge at 200 amps ,74 kw , really good speed. Not quite 100 kw but that is still 3 times faster than Chevy Bolt, 150 amps 55 kw. This car is high on my list of next EV to buy.

[@puregsr]

Unfortunately you won't find any DC chargers at that speed around … US is so behind, I can't even find any quick chargers that can charge my Bolt at max kW

[@aaronz9687]

@@puregsr Electrify America is building a national charging network. They have 150 kW charging that will charge your Bolt at the maximum speed.

[@claytonroot806]

Please explain how 74 kw is 3 times faster than 55 kw????

[@Adrayven]

@@claytonroot806 It's about the Amps per kWh .. don't let the 74 vs 55 fool you.. and the Kia will spike for a short time up to 100 kWh, then ramp down to around 75. The important number is charge time to 80% and too 100%, which is about double. Bolt is around 1 hour to 80% and 1 hour 45 to 100%, where Kia is around 30-35 min to 80% and 1 hour to 100%.. Though most won't stick around for the last 20% if you're smart. You're charged by time in most cases so it costs a lot more to get the last 20%

[@belvedere351]

Also at least from early reports from various KZbinrs, the Niro and Kona won't spend very much time at all at the higher charging speeds. Both cars are at least as aggressive at stepping down the charge rate to protect the battery as the Bolt. I'm hoping they can open that up a bit with future OTA updates though.

[@qile2708]

can the charging door be opened from the outside alone?

[@JakeRichardsong]

Doesn't make sense to charge in the front bumper area which could damaged in a small accident, so then you couldn't charge"?

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

How's the NVH of the Korean brands these days? My 2011 Elantra was a rattlebox after only a few months.

[@ender25ish]

I think the interior of this car looks way better than the hybrid version, the center console in particular looks really nice.

[@hbm_54]

It's a station wagon, plain and simple. That whole "cross-over" term is just a marketing term coined to avoid tagging smaller suvs as, well, suvs, and it's just plain stupid. I am a big fan of KIA and would definitely love to buy either this one or the new Soul EV! Great review, as usual!

[@Alvan81]

Yeah I get it but what the did "Station Wagon" mean? It's just a question of what your used to eh?

[@Tinomentoll]

A wagon is an extended sedan with a hatch, a crossover is a neutered sport utility vehicle.

[@hbm_54]

@@Tinomentoll -- LOL!!! Right on!!! I can't stand that term. I started to be ised when car manufacturers didn't want their vehicles to be thrown in the same bag as the fuel-hogging suvs. Also, with so many different form-factors within the suv spectrum, it has become easier for people to relate the "cross-over" moniker with anything that doesn't look like a Suburban.

[@theevermind]

"Crossovers" were originally vehicles that were made from cars' underpinnings (lightweight platform, size, packaging, features) but given features of SUVs, such as extra height. At that time, SUVs were typically made from truck platforms, so they were RWD-based while the new corssovers were FWD-based. Thus, a vehicle made from a car but made to work like an SUV, that has the weight, efficiency, & cost basis of a car but the sitting position, cargo space, and appearance of an SUV was called a "crossover" and blended many of the benefits of both. And of course that's why they became so popular.

[@dchawk81]

Crossover/CUV etc are all just 🏇💩 marketeering terms that really don't mean anything. It's mostly a slightly lifted car but the lines are all blurred, hence meaning nothing. Departments of Transportation still call them by their basic shape...sedan, truck, wagon. I have one of the original full size body on frame truck based luxury SUVs. As far as Pennsylvania is concerned, it's a station wagon.

[@xelnaga18]

I reallllyyy wish you would show the driver headroom and leg room chart on your reviews. so I can see how the driver seat stacks up vs others.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

I'm not sure, but you may have a full stop option if you pull both paddles.

[@stephenhendricks103]

The extended range of pure EV's to 225+ miles in vehicles with decent performance and a purchase price in the mid-$30K neighborhood is a potential game changer, I think. Here in the Puget Sound region commutes of 30-40 miles each way are fairly common. An EV with a range of 100-120 miles has to be recharged every day. Adding more than a hundred miles to that range transforms a daily driver (only) to one that can be driven for a longer distance without worry. Even a weekend trip to the shore isn't out of the question. And for someone who just needs an urban runabout, recharging once or twice a week can be sufficient. Challenges remain, of course. The price of adding a recharging station at home has to be figured into the budget. And electricity isn't free. States that finance highways primarily with taxes on fuel need to come up with alternate ways of paying for construction and maintenance. (An issue that is already a significant issue with hybrids and plug in hybrids.) Not everyone who'd like to own an EV lives where they can add a recharging station. The entire world isn't populated by suburbanites in single family homes. Apartment dwellers and renters drive, too. And even places like Silicon Valley and Redmond, Washington where employers have added EV recharge stations to ease the range problem find that employees have to arrive early to get a spot. Proliferation of EV's aggravates each of those issues. All in all, the extended range of affordable pure EV's is good news. It's not surprising to see KIA and Hyundai leading the way.

[@tjs114]

So if your target is purely miles per charge; the Kona will likely be the choice since it's the lightest of the three which share the same motor/generator+battery combination? I wonder if Hyundai will upgrade the Ioniq EV now that they've got this drivetrain available.

[@mmonteon]

Does anyone know when this will be available in the US?

[@Scoinsoffaterocks]

This car has the potential to be really really good for its market, I'll wait a few years before considering it.

[@Hafeez3775]

good review

[@barrymawson1841]

I have watched numerous reviews on EV’s and this one describing the Kia Niro electric is one of the most comprehensive of them all. Good job.

[@informationretrieval5896]

Do you like the Niro more than the Kona?

[@GeorgeStar]

That charge port on the bumper looks pretty vulnerable.

[@NeilBlanchard]

I totally agree with you about coasting. This is how all EV's should work - or at least have as an option. Does the Niro EV have all the seats heated standard, or as an option? How about a heated steering wheel. The e-Golf seems to be the only EV with a direct heating defroster - which saves a lot of energy in the winter, in many situations.

[@newchannel1231]

Thank you

[@CKPHH]

Im liking the Soul EV with wide screen touch yass

[@damienvigneron4798]

Good job Alex, as always :-) . In the rest of the world it's the number of kWh/100km that is used. You can use the kWh/miles as in UK instead of this strange mpg-e .

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

The MPGe thing is just insane.

[@1234everbs]

Am I crazy, Alex? Do you pick a song that goes with the theme of the car you're reviewing? Electric Avenue!

[@pepstein]

Yeah, he does this a lot. Attention to detail!

[@bstevens9831]

Would like to know if the rear seats fold down to increase storage capacity. Thanks for the review Alex.

[@claytonroot806]

Absolutely.

[@MrYabusa]

Alex, I have a question regarding charging this car in the US or in Europe. Would it be possible to buy a Niro in the US and take it to Europe and charge it there. I am thinking about the difference on grid features (namely voltage and frequency) and the plug type itself. Thank you.

[@pepstein]

I believe the CCS plugs are different.

[@Marbellous]

Are you sure normal braking pedal has regen? If so, I find no reason to use wheel pedals for regen. Only reason would be one-pedal driving which is practically less easier than normal driving. Especially when smart cruise is on.

[@stevec3526]

I was seriously looking at the Bolt but the cheap seats and white dash pretty much killed it. I think this is a much better option.

[@belvedere351]

The seats are much improved with the '19 model year. I've not seen white plastic interior in the Bolt but there is a sort of honeycomb carbon fiber light gray pattern on the dash and doors. It actually looks pretty good. Both cars have an abundance of plastic naturally at their price points. The Bolt's digital instrument cluster and larger center infotainment system do seem light years ahead of this though.

[@webcomment8895]

@@belvedere351 Bolt seats are only very slightly improved, not "much improved." If the 2018 seats bothered you, the 2019s still won't be very nice.

[@chrisrader8547]

Dear god, I have a ‘19 Bolt and the seats are terrible. I shudder to think what they were like in the ‘18. Love the car tho, in spite of the seats.

[@LlyleHunter]

It’s like a transit bus in there

[@suzilindblad5207]

I don't get the whole seat thing? Nor the interior. I guess maybe I was just used to driving an '01 Cherokee for so long the Bolt seems totally luxurious.

[@kk-yy8oi]

Is this better? Or the Mitsubishi outlander phew?

[@SirHackaL0t.]

I’m sorry, did I hear you correctly when you said that you can’t buy this car in most states?

[@be236]

I thought Niro EV was slightly larger than a LEAF, but your video says it's smaller.. And do you think Kona Electric and Niro EV have the same range in real world, even though EPA says they are 19-miles apart (239 vs 258 miles).?

[@mattjones3257]

Andrew Le Niro is 4 inches shorter than the Leaf. Niro has a more upright rear cargo door while the Leaf kind of swoops inward and upward, so interior space may feel a bit larger in the Niro.

[@pepstein]

Kona and Niro are similar, but I think Kona is smaller and therefore a bit more aerodynamic. EPA data shows Kona is more efficient in both city and highway: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=40585&id=41060

[@mattjones3257]

I haven't been able to find updated coefficient of drag numbers for the EV versions of these cars (they should be a bit better than the ICE/hybrid versions due to the closed off grill). My gut says the Niro may do as well as the Kona EV or better in real world highway driving scenarios at 65-70 mph because it appears to be lower to the ground and more aerodynamic. It's not a perfect measure, but the Niro hybrid's coefficient of drag is 0.29 while the conventional Kona's is slightly higher at 0.32. I recall reading that EPA highway efficiency testing is done around 55mph, rather than at the higher speeds most people drive at. Likely that both cd numbers will change significantly in EV versions due mostly to grill revisions, but drag has a bigger impact than weight at higher speeds, while weight has a bigger impact in stop and go traffic.

[@pepstein]

My gut says Kona will be a bit more efficient than Niro at all speeds.

[@be236]

@@mattjones3257 There's a video from these German guys that drove both Niro and Kona at fast highway speed in cold weather and they said both have 0.29 drag coef.. but in the end they concluded that Kia Niro was slightly more efficient.. Search KZbin for the video.

[@hdtvkeith1604]

Great review, but seems like in t he 2020 model they removed LED headlights only in the US market and in your video I see homelink in the mirror that seems to,also be removed in the 2020 model. Both have stopped me from even looking at this car.

[@DJ-Daz]

I went to my local kia showroom last Friday, they warned me that they're taking orders now for May... 2020! It seems that there's an issue getting the batteries from their supplier.

[@kens97sto171]

I noticed that the Bolt EV is a much smaller car, but actually has more leg and head room. . Kinda surprising considering the much smaller the Bolt is. I'm sure the Niro is wider across the rear seat. Also kinda prefer the gauges and infotainment on the Bolt.

[@rafacq]

Have you review any Tesla? If yes, can you provide the links? Not in your EV playlist!

[@mattjones3257]

A few questions. First, what exactly makes a state a CARB state? Pennsylvania has pretty generous state incentives on top of the feds (up to $2,750 depending on battery size and pure BEV vs. PHEV), but does not ever seem to be listed in the "CARB states." Are CARB states the states that go on to mandate a specific percentage of EV sales rather than to just incentivize them? Second -- would a resident in a state not listed here be able to buy one of these in a neighboring state and then transfer the registration? Obviously service could become an issue, but assuming tire rotations are the same as regular cars and really no other regular maintenance needs, couldn't someone just say they'll go back to the state if there's some sort of more complex service need? I don't live in any of the states listed (but I do live smack in the middle of three of them. Alex, just curious -- have you had any real service needs/problems with your Soul EV?

[@spazzman90]

CARB is short for California Air Resources Board. They have set strict rules for selling zero emissions vehicles in their state along side traditional ICE vehicles. CARB states are in lock-step with those rules that California has created. Of course you can buy an EV in a neighboring state, but as you suggested service will be a problem. You will most likely need to get the car back to a state that sells EVs and has properly trained technicians for EVs. Generally if the dealer doesn't sell the particular model, they are not going to touch it service wise.

[@henrylee8510]

These are hard to find. I called 2 dealers in CA and both don't have them.

[@tarassu]

Thank god it has yellow turns.

[@hughwright1317]

Wish that auto manufacturers could make an electric car that could accept a trailer with a generator on it. The trailer/generator could be connected for long range trips. Trailer could even have additional storage space for long trips. Trailer could be sold or rented by dealers as customers needed. What are your thoughts on this?

[@lbrown7164]

Are you sure the prius is bigger than the rav4 ? that seems odd. Most people feel the BOLT is roomier than the kona EV

[@cypvh74]

The Niro is likely to be in short supply and high demand for the first year, so expect dealer markups and certainly not below MSRP for the first year. Meanwhile, you can get heavy discounts on the Bolt EV. So, while the Niro May have more to offer, I suspect the real world cost of the Bolt to be lower.