2023 Kia Niro EV Has Range And Style. But Charging Speed?

[@L3x4Pr0ne]

just took this car for a test drive yesterday. I'm kind of in love with it. I actually had just driven a model Y a few hours earlier and liked this more. The combo of space, some physical buttons, the paddle shift for regen, the driver-centric dash/displays, carplay, and ventilated seats...dang, what a great ride. Had plenty of pep, too. It's not something i'd like to take a road trip with...but this thing is a daily commuter/weekend warrior. I honestly think this will be my next car.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

"Affordable" is such a relative term these days... 🙁

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Right on 👏🏼

[@johnkimbell1093]

Another to-the-point, no BS car review - thanks! This review, coupled with viewing and an EV6 test drive at the Seattle Auto show, leaves me thinking the Korean car maker(s) have it all going on right now. Interesting styling, comfortable and quiet interiors, well engineered cars that are fun to drive. Too bad no federal credit for them, but their excellence should push all manufacturers to raise the bar.

[@davids1816]

I really like it. Looks nice and nice teach. But I bought a Bolt EV for about 30k this summer and nothing here would make me give back the 10k extra this would cost me, plus the extra 1500 for the charger that Chevy had installed. But the car itself is really nice.

[@markstafford6357]

Thank You for that last message !!!

[@petegalindez9961]

Great review again Tom! I owned a 2021 Niro PHEV, and now a 2022 Niro EV. The EV is much better. The PHEV is fun, but too abrupt when the engine kicks in and the DCT is a little rough…not bad for peeling out from lights though! It was fun. I sold off two Teslas (3 and Y) and wanted an EV6, but the markups were HUGE! So, went for the Niro EV and haven’t regretted it at all…I use it for local commuting to work during the day (40 miles round trip) and my son uses it for doing Door Dash at night. It has PLENTY of range and plenty of zip. Don’t miss the Tesla (though the Tesla is much faster and quicker). Mine is rated for 239 miles, and we easily get that if I charge it to 80% charge. 100% charge gets me around 310 in the nice weather. It’s also a great EV for teens learning to drive. My son wanted to keep the Tesla, but not suitable for teens to drive!!! This blends in, isn’t too fast, etc…Everything in it works all the time. Novel these days in the car industry unfortunately. I’m fine with plugging in for CarPlay. I’ve yet to own a car with wireless CarPlay that works well…I wind up plugging in on them too.

[@ccroy2001]

The rear aeroblade reminds me of the 1st car I learned to drive stick shift. My family's 1979 VW Bus! Had vents like that to cool the engine in back.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Tom, Great to see you swimming against the tide. When everyone else is releasing their Civic Type R videos, you are introducing us to a sensible Niro. One thing I can't quite make sense of is the CUV shape without an AWD option.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I was not invited to the Type R event so there's that. As for lack of AWD, same with Soul. Kia is able to offer Niro at a lower price point because of lower development costs and less complexity.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@DrivenCarReviews Not invited??? What about the GR Corolla event?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@rightlanehog3151 Not invited.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@DrivenCarReviews Is this a legacy of something your evil twin did at an earlier event? I cannot think of a more plausible explanation for this injustice.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@rightlanehog3151 There are many I don't get invited to. It's a thing that we writers talk about a bunch. And yes, maybe bubble bath in the hotel hot tubs got ET (and me by association) off a few lists.

[@Nam3Iess]

We have the highest trim of the Niro EV from 2020 with around 44000 km. I love the Niro and it is an amazing car, the only two downsides are the slowish DC charging (77kw) and no towing capability. I was quite disappointed when the new model came out and they really did not solve any of those issues.

[@TheAdventureAuto]

I wish the Niro had the same charging speed of the EV6, because I like the overall Niro package and looks much better. Regardless, it'll be a great competitor to the Bolt.

[@HumptyDumptyActual]

If anyone has been or is automotive designer, why don't cars always end up looking like what they show as concept? The concept for Niro was amazing, this too looks nice, but man! that concept was something. Great review as always.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

All sorts of reasons- safety, convenience, customer acceptance for staters.

[@markblass]

That shot of hailstones scared me-I thought you were holding three of your teeth until you identified them.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Those were small ones and had melted a bit.

[@petegalindez9961]

LOL! Same here…thought Tom was going to tell us he was looking up to the heavens, hit the car in front of him, and lost some teeth on the steering wheel!

[@michaelgromek9637]

Small correction. The floor in the backseat is flat. The hybrid was shown in the video. Which has the bump.

[@JDelta87]

Has nice touches to it but still blends in nicely with the rest of the non-EV trims. Thanks for the content as usual. Didn't get to meet you post COVID restrictions at this year's auto show but got to test drive some nice vehicles while there. Until next year!

[@PeePee666PooPoo]

please do a review on the 2017-2019 Fusion Sport, they are pretty badass unknown sleepers (the equivalent of a baby Taurus SHO) they are AWD twin turbo V6 from the factory and make 325hp and 380ftlbs stock with a 6 speed auto and electronic dampening suspension they are pretty loaded for the price. The suspension literally firms up in Sport mode electronically and the handle capabilities basically double, less body roll, less front end nose dive under hard braking, and at high speeds on a bumpy road it makes the car alot more controllable! Just trying to get one of my favorite overlooked cars out there so they can be appreciated. The reason I'd say they are pretty unknown is they only made them for 3 years and made less than 28,000 of them all together even though they were faster than the Taurus SHO they were kind of over looked I'd say cause the SHO was produced twice as long as had 40 more HP, but here is the kicker though the Fusion makes 40ftlbs more torque!

[@the_jarmel]

GOOD JOB ON THE VIDEO 👏👏👏 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY EVERYONE ✌️

[@mts982]

sounds like the bolt is great if not doing much long distance driving or needing to charge in a hurry.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

A lot of people are realizing the same thing

[@d.j.j.g]

Kia certainly seems to be making smart improvements! Me, I simply don't fancy the Star Wars storm trooper styling. (I think I might've seen the Mrs. driving!) Thanks, as always, Tom!

[@BeyondOurEyes]

Why on earth they would put so much gloss black on the door panel is beyond me, don’t automakers know better by now to use that stuff sparingly and away from touch points??

[@bzdtemp]

Just realizing that EV's have been with us for so long, that we are now seeing 2nd generation models.

[@daves1646]

Bolt EUV vs Niro EV: Niro less power, but 45 min 10-80% is about 20-25 min sooner than Bolt EV/EUV’s real world charging tests (68-73min for 10-80% SOC). Bolt has no battery conditioning, but IS about $10 less expensive. Bolt should qualify for Fed $3750 tax credit (final assembly in North America) in 2023, and more likely a state rebate if there’s a max MSRP limit in your state.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Yup. Buy the car that works for you.

[@danhall3450]

Bolt and Niro are both very good for compact, EV city cars and not too shabby for longer distances as well. Each has its pros and cons, but I'm not so sure that the Fed tax cred applies to the Niro : / . Even as a very satisfied owner of a 2019 Niro PHEV, the Bolt price advantage certainly gives an edge for those in this market where cost is a factor (most potential buyers I suspect).

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@danhall3450 Niro does not qualify for the federal tax credit.

[@BanBiofuels]

The cost of vehicles is ridiculous these days.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

A base Model T cost $850 in 1909, that's $27,000 in 2022 dollars. It didn't have enclosed cabin, electric start, airbags, sound system or any hint of safety features. An extreme example, but adjusted for inflation and wages, vehicles of today and 20 years ago are not significantly more expensive, especially when comparing the more sophisticated designs and features. The shortage is kind of throwing things off, for now.

[@jeffruebens8355]

The prices are a lot better buying used with 50 thousand miles. If you did this in 1972, the vehicle was already quite rusty, and you considered yourself very lucky if there were no major engine or automatic transmission problems at 100 thousand miles. Also new spark plugs and points were needed every 15 thousand miles, and the tire traction was terrible compared to 2022. Lots more safety now, 30 thousand traffic deaths per year instead of 70 thousand for the US.

[@tommihelich2613]

Looked like the wife came along for the ride Tom. Pity her view wasn’t included as she usually has something pithy to add.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Covid protocol meant no pairings with other writers. I brought her so I could shoot running footage. She agreed to come on the condition she wouldn't have to talk.

[@N2Stooges]

Nice video but one correction... the rear legroom of the EV is much less than the PHEV. EV: 36.9 inches; PHEV 39.8 inches. Odd that the EV has less rear legroom. Conversely, rear cargo room is greater in EV (rear seats up/down) 22.8 cu ft / 63.7 cu ft versus 19.4 cu ft / 54.6 cu ft for the PHEV.

[@petegalindez9961]

Less leg room in the EV due to the batteries…they take up some of the foot room. For the PHEV, that battery pack is under the floor in the back if I recall (I owned the PHEV and now the full EV). It’s negligible.

[@alliejr]

Just like 0-60(100) sprint times… DC fast charging speed is the most overrated EV spec. If you own an EV you charge at home where charging speed is irrelevant.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

No irrelevant at all. 0-60 gives a baseline idea of what acceleration is like when merging onto highways (the east coast tends to have much shorter ramps). And while most EVs charge overnight on L2, charging speed can be important for people who use DCFC on a regular basis.

[@brianlangley9317]

@@DrivenCarReviews I get what @alliejr was getting at with the reference to 0-60 times. They didn't say it was irrelevant they said when charging at home it is irrelevant. I live in the UK (although I did live in the US for nearly 18 years) and the reality is the average daily drive is ~30 miles and some owners may never use DC charging or perhaps just once or twice a year on road trips. Of course, for some fast charging speeds are essential and should be weighted accordingly for others they may be ruling out a car for a benefit they may never realise.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@brianlangley9317 I agree. And usually I talk about that but I used every frame of video I shot. For many, charging speed at DCFCs doesn't really matter much, only if you travel a lot. Know your needs.

[@tonywong9105]

Great reviews as always, Tom, but I must admit the loss of the US federal tax credits for this new Kia EV does spoil my mood in watching this video

[@DrivenCarReviews]

It will take a few years but at the end of the day, those incentives are exactly what the US needs. It's both consumer and manufacturer driven.

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Bravo, Tom! ?: did I hear Kia will be making EVs in the US?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

It broke ground in GA recently. Should be around 2 years.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

I'm a little concerned about how long the battery will last in much of the country if you don't buy the $1,300 battery conditioner. Equipment that keeps the battery in top condition regardless of the climate feels like something that should be a given. Also, and this is just me being a grumpy old man, but thinking about a $40,000 vehicle as a budget option just feels wrong to me. Of course, the last new car I bought was a 2009 Elantra SE for $16,289, so my feelings for what's affordable might be sliiiightly out of date.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Why should people in the sunbelt pay for something they don't ever use? I think it's smart. I'd go on any electric car forum and ask about range in the climate you live in. Down near 20 degrees, a number of reputable organizations have found it drops range 30-40 percent. It helps a lot to pre condition the cabin while the car is plugged in. EVs are good for many people but not for all. At least for now.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

@@DrivenCarReviews Maybe I'm misunderstanding the tech, then. I assumed a battery conditioner would do whatever it does to optimize for extreme cold AND extreme heat. But maybe it's the EV equivalent of a block heater? (A very, very expensive block heater?)

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@jonathankleinow2073 The liquid cooling system is standard. The Niro's optional system is a battery heater (and that's standard on the Wave). Much of the efficiency and cost of the option is in the heat pump. In fact, the package for the Wind and Wave cost the same $1,300 even though the Wave gets the battery heater standard. Does that help?

[@jonathankleinow2073]

@@DrivenCarReviews Yeah, that makes more sense. I first read it as something where the battery would crap out sooner unless you coughed up some extra cash, but it's more like something you need if you live in Minneapolis and don't have a heated garage. (I lived in Madison for a few years, and it was miserable enough in the winter without having to start my car outside on a -20 morning.)

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@jonathankleinow2073 Pretty sure it doesn't shorten the overall life of the battery. Cold just reduces the range, that's battery chemistry, it goes back up when it's warm. And I lived in Minnesota so I know what you mean.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

But the question is when will it be available outside the ZEV states?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Available in all 50

[@tinujatinpatel]

Of course the one thing you did not see how the battery hangs low about 2 to three lower than what you see. I am not impressed.

[@paulholterhaus7084]

If the charge plug is still on the front bumper, Those of Us with short Garages cannot charge it..............Paul

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I have a short garage and I could charge this in mine.

[@NasrAhmadTv]

فخمة

[@g-manthenurseman7532]

Rented one in SF. Terrible road noise and not a smooth ride.

[@jenesuispasbavard]

If only these were actually available nationwide...

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Sold in all 50 states according to Kia

[@jenesuispasbavard]

@@DrivenCarReviews Great, so hopefully things have changed distribution-wise since the 2022 model year.

[@bryanherr1093]

There is a transmission, it is a single speed transmission.

[@19sloper]

Good review, Tom. Just a personal opinion here, but I think that car is butt ugly (to be polite 😊) I like the looks of the Bolt EV (the EUV less so.)

[@Robin.Backer]

Anyone else binge watching Niro EV videos because their delivery has been delayed?

[@Martinko_Pcik]

I don't like it's styling. Those headlights are too weird for me.

[@stevenreichertart]

This car sure lost a lot of style in translation from the concept version.

[@sloanNYC]

I think they made it very ugly, which is sad given a lot of good features.