2019 Kia Niro EV | The Mainstream EV To Watch

[@James-rd9mo]

Alex hands down does the best car reviews. There's zero crap and provides a tonne of useful, unbiased info.

[@Pikminiman]

There's no doubt in my mind that, apart from Tesla, Hyundai and Kia are the automakers that have become the most competent at making all-electric vehicles. I just wish they would make a lot more of them. I would love to buy a Kona EV, but I can't. It's a real shame.

[@larryspiller15]

I think Hyundai/Kia are not yet profitable which is why the low volume exist. But other then that they are true competitors

[@linh811]

uh Tesla can't make a profitable car, sinking ship..............

[@larryspiller15]

@@linh811 all of Tesla's cars are profitable, capex brings the net negative but thats an investment and definitely not wasted money

[@jfgaynor]

@@larryspiller15 I've heard the reason has to do with ongoing litigation at SK Innovation, their battery supplier. If the IP issues can be resolved then production could, at least in theory, be ramped up.

[@Bigbadwoo]

@@linh811 Yikes, after 2 years this post didn't age well. Lol

[@jimhlee]

Just picked up the niro ev and through your videos am glad I did over the other EVs. It's not as luxurious, though it has all the technical features. However, practicality wise and size wise it's perfect. I also took your tips and can validate that I could fit a spare tire in the back, I picked one up in ebay and it fit fine using the existing fitment equipment. Thanks Alex!

[@onthefence928]

Alex is the true OG doing long form comprehensive reviews outdoors in the rain!

[@jamesk4005]

Great review. after 19 days and 950 miles, I am averaging 4.45 Kwh per mile or 150 miles a gallon. I was able to get a discount because I bought early, now the dealer stock is thin. at 100% charge, my range is about 300 miles or so, but the most than I have driven in a day 145 miles. I looked at Kona, and Leaf, but the fact that Kona offered a heat pump and battery heater in Canada moved me to look at the Niro, which had just got to dealers the week before. Also, Niro had more advanced safety item, But could justify the $ 6,000 price jump for the sunroof and heated seats Traded a Hybrid which it I went into town, would give me 30 mpg. Now the niro is more like 200 mpg. Lastly I live in Vermont, so we will see how it is in the winter with studded snows.

[@Trades46]

I personally quite like the look of the Niro EV - modern without being in-your-face about the whole thing. That said the pricing is...optimistic, especially next to the Kona & Leaf e+.

[@jakesandry5130]

I LOVE HOW YOU ARE FILMING IN THE RAIN 🎥 Shows dedication :)

[@erikstephens34]

Excellent video. For charging network the gap is narrowing quickly. We drove our Bolt EV from Ontario, Canada to Orlando, Florida and back again with no major issues. As a note GM also does warranty capacity (70% specifically within the 8 year 100K mile). I do agree the Bolt EV is now showing it's age. Hopefully a mid-cycle refresh is coming soon to bring it back to being a class leader. While GM's credit is in sunset there are massive discounts and better financing available that make it often a very affordable option right now. There really isn't much negotiation room on a Niro EV.

[@alliejr]

Alex, just the _BEST_ most comprehensive review! Thank you.

[@saminyasaranabil920]

alliejr how did you get that batch with your name?

[@quizzley7]

I bet you could get a much better deal on a Bolt or Leaf due to various discounts and much more available stock. Availability on the Korean EVs is so limited you will pay closer to MSRP. I think it's worth noting that there are more Supercharger plugs than CCS plugs in the US. There are fewer supercharger locations, but many more plugs per location. In practice the superchargers are more reliable and more likely to be available than CCS or chademo stations. Always check availability on plug share before depending on a CCS charger, especially ones located at a dealership.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Sorry for some of the glitches in the first upload of this video, we had a few things mixed up. Don't like the fact that I said it's not a Model 3 competitor? Well, check out our head-to-head video if you want to look at it that way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnqqfYmPbailrMk

[@-Munditimum-]

Well, no need to apologize to me Alex, I didn't notice any issues when I watched the first version. I will watch it again however. :) Cheers and thank you for the great quality content as always!

[@Jaymac720]

Funnily enough, you’re not the first person to re-upload a video today in my feed

[@tongtran007]

model 3 is main stream in many markets. its the 3rd best selling car of any kind in California which has a economy bigger than many countries. Good review!

[@FrankD71864]

That is true. However, in most US markets like here in Mobile, Alabama, it is a luxury model that only Physicians and Attorneys are buying.

[@tongtran007]

FrankD71864 actually it’s not as expensive as most people think. The standard range model 3 costs 35,400 which is the average price of new car purchases in America. With gas savings and super low cost of maintenance, the savings over 5 years is huge! Model 3 is the best EV you can buy in terms of range, price, performance and safety

[@FrankD71864]

@@tongtran007 I wouldn't notice any savings. That's an indictment on my poor money management. The initial price of the Model 3 standard is comparable if one wants black, bluetooth entertainment through smart phone or mp3 player.

[@tongtran007]

FrankD71864 true but every model 3 comes with best super computer chip, cameras, radar, and with over the air updates the car gets better over time. There’s a lot of value in Tesla cars which makes sense why it’s the 3rd best selling of any car in California. No other car has a lower cost of ownership in its class. These cars are iPhones on wheels :)

[@FrankD71864]

@@tongtran007 Oh sorry. I am still on Galaxy S5. California has the charging infrastructure to handle it also.

[@MrBenHaynes]

My goodness Alex! So comprehensive and professional. You certainly pack many words in per minute. Even though I'm in Australia, I love it. Very hard to find such in depth reporting elsewhere on the interweb. I'm in, subscribed!

[@CandycaneBeyond]

Would love a review of home chargers. % that it charges faster, and worth the cost?

[@petegalindez9961]

Thanks for this review Alex! Just sold my Niro PHEV and buying the EV version. A much better car overall….the PHEV was fine for a while, but wanted to get back to a full EV after owning 2 Teslas….was hoping to get either the Ioniq 5, EV6, or iD4, but being so new and in high demand, supply is low and dealers are marking them up over MSRP. Was able to find this one with some discounts! Just need it for commuting so this will do just fine….I do wish you’d do your noise test at a higher, more realistic speed that people are going to cruise at…like 65-70mph which is the speed at which people are cruising for long range and when noise in the cabin matters more…50mph isn’t really that important. As for the competition, the biggest downside of the Leaf is that not only is the interior less premium, but the steering wheel only tilts…there is no telescoping! Terrible design…not sure why. Bummer, because I liked the ride and tech. The Kona just feels downright cheaper inside compared to the Niro…I’ve owned a Model 3 and it’s a great car. The Niro has it over the Bolt since the Niro doesn’t catch fire as often! LOL.

[@AhBeeDoi]

On a serious note, that microphone looks awesome. Kind of retro style but modern looking.

[@CelticMike2011]

Am a little surprised the Soul EV won’t get ventilated seats for the US market given they’re standard here in Canada (a country where the seat ventilation ostensibly wouldn’t be used as much as south of the border) - we do also get the sunroof for the Soul (though not the nifty panoramic version of the First Gen Soul EV). Kinda strange given we normally watch with envy as US models more often get more perks than we get.

[@GreatCreative]

Interesting. Canadian model of the Niro (only the premium model was released) has heated rear seats. Listed at CDN $54,995 to qualify for the federal $5000 rebate. Base is listed online at CDN$44,995. It's worth every penny.

[@hdtvkeith1604]

Hmm, you mention LED projector headlights on the Premium model, but in the 2020 it looks like both models only have halogen projectors.

[@pureplay2755]

Alex honest to God I scower the internet for auto reviews when considering a new purchase there is no doubt that you are the go to guy for car info Thank You I just followed you on facebook

[@Hans-gb4mv]

Hi Alex. Electric motors can slow you down but they can't stop you and they certainly can't hold you in place. You would need a stepper motor for that but they are not practical to scale up to car size motors. Whenever you do one pedal driving and come to a full stop, the friction brakes will be used below a certain speed and to hold you in place. This happens seemless and is called blending. Same happens when you want to regen but the battery can't take the energy. The friction brake is used in part or alone without the driver noticing.

[@pepstein]

Good point! One minor correction: it's also possible to use the traction motor to bring the car to a stop (but not too hold it there), and that's what BMW did for one pedal driving in the i3.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

@@pepstein I'm pretty sure BMW did the same as everyone else and use friction brakes for the last bit of speed. While you could invest in doing it with a motor by putting a reverse magnetic field on it (basically putting the car in reverse while driving forward), it adds complexity and provides 0 gain (I would say the opposite since you'll need to put power back into the motor) and still makes it impossible to judge when the car comes to a complete stop. At low speeds there simply isn't enough electrical energy to put a load on to slow down the car further. The power electronics were not designed for such a light load. And you need the blending between regen and brakes anyway for when the battery is full. So why invest in something that gives you no advantage?

[@pepstein]

@@Hans-gb4mv I was repeating what I've been told. I was unable to find the answer on the web.

[@pepstein]

An i3 owner could easily figure out whether the friction brakes are used to bring the car to a stop by using one pedal driving to come to a stop in a quiet neighborhood with the windows down: friction brakes are audible in an EV. I vaguely recall reading that BMW wanted the car to behave consistently, even when the battery was too full to accept charge. Perhaps they developed this reverse power technique to achieve that goal. In my experience, blended brakes aren't as linear as friction brakes, so I like how Tesla and BMW allow you to modulate regen using the accelerator pedal alone.

[@yoyoyoyo1999]

Great review Alex, video is great & well organise, good sound, and most of all great content! Cheers & thanks. BTW I've ordered one and they say 12 to 20 weeks.... faster than Kona I guess (Jan/Feb 2020) Will see.

[@dansanger5340]

In addition to expiring tax credits, another thing to consider is actual selling price vs. list price. With Tesla, discounts are rare. You pay what they ask. The Niro EV is new and in short supply, so you probably won't see many discounts yet. You might even be asked by some dealers to pay a premium. The Bolt is often heavily discounted. I recently saw one on a local dealer website for $29k.

[@beatnik09]

This is what I'm struggling with. I just don't know that I could justify the price of a Niro, even with the tax credit. Is it $10,000 better than the Bolt? I dunno.

[@spazzman90]

@@beatnik09 As a both a Bolt and Kia owner, I would say no way is the Kia worth more money (maybe a little bit more, but only if it has the heat pump and you live in a cold climate). They are both great cars. Go with the best deal you can find!

[@brucetx4432]

Kudos for doing this review in the rain.. very informative. I think you should now do all reviews only in the rain! :)

[@davidbranum2617]

Great review. I just bought a Niro EV in New York. My Niro shows about 314 miles at full charge, which surprised me. I haven’t yet tested if will actually go that far on a single charge. Have you heard of anyone else getting this much range?

[@bluefever02]

They should add a motor in the rear for all wheel drive, even if it were as small as the one in the awd-e Prius. The Niro ev sounds just about perfect though. Unfortunately not mass market :(

[@123cedmondson]

Alex, as always a great review. I watch a lot of your reviews and would like to make one suggestion, which is to put a date when the video was done just to the lower left by your icon. Look forward to your review of the new Soul EV.

[@tjs114]

Did the Bolt ever feel fresh or premium? It looked dated the first time I saw it- too much borrowing from other models for the appearance.

[@directorjustin]

I find that the first generation Volt still feels fresh and premium today.

[@alihappens4555]

tjs114 ع

[@trr5291]

There's not a single EV battery charger in my rural county. The infrastructure is not good enough yet but one day I plan on buying a electric vehicle.

[@dtay8913]

Take a shot everytime Alex says ev 🤣

[@amerigo88]

Take a shot every time Alex says "overall."

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

How about "actually" I think you might bet better mileage out of that.

[@alliejr]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide "It's important to remember..."

[@Jluislive]

I would die of alcohol poisoning.

[@JeffKubel]

I disagree about this not being a competitor to the Model 3. A lot of EV buyers have decided before picking out a specific make and model that they want an EV. In that case, they will cross shop. I did. I was looking at literally all 200+ mile range options. I narrowed down my choices to a Bolt EV and a Model 3. My last BEV was a Nissan LEAF. You could say it's not in the same class, but I guarantee people will cross shop them.

[@lostinthought38]

True especially considering that all evs are compared to a Tesla as they are the absolute best ev out now

[@My2JZandMe]

If you have extra money get a model 3. I have a Bolt and it's simply a great car with tons of space except of course the cargo. But not sure why all these KZbin reviewers use that chart stating it's TINY? TINY is a Spark EV, FIT EV, FIAT 500e. If you look closely, the Bolt EV has a minivan type cockpit. The range is closer to a Model 3 mid range. I have no idea why they are driving with an average of 3.4-3.5kw/m. I average anywhere from 4-5kw/m so either they are running under inflated tires or whatever. It doesn't make sense to me. The Bolt EV is a truly underrated car. The Niro and Konas infotainment screens just looks cheap to me. It's like comparing the original Leaf's SL to SV screens. It just doesn't look attractive. The Model 3s however is a different story!

[@Ezero8]

When I was buying a Niro EV yesterday, I was kinda comparing it to the Model 3 and the salesman told that buyers he's met are not cross shopping the two. It's mainly against the Bolt and LEAF. I think people who want a Tesla are buying for the badge. Plus one is a sedan and one is a small SUV so they may fit different needs.

[@beartankoperator7950]

i love the camera shot during the driving from high rear driver side very nice

[@Jacob-nn7hv]

"Pregnant hatchback" lol

[@MGXsport]

It would be interesting to put an infrared camera to in view of the discs and see when they actually heat up and are being used. I would do varying amounts of brake pressure and quickness to see how the computer modulates the friction brakes in.

[@spazzman90]

Already done that. The answer is as Alex stated in the video. If you exceed 80kW of regen, the friction brakes will engage. This applies to most all EVs, except for Teslas. They simply will not let you waste energy as heat and are very advanced systems hardware and software wise. The friction brakes are only used to hold the car stopped. Transition from regen to friction brakes usually happens at about 3 mph when coming to a stop, or basically one full rotation of the wheel (or less). I recently pulled off the wheels on my Soul EV with now 20k miles of city driving and tons of stop and go. The pads looked brand new and the rotors still have the factory score marks that you see on brand new rotors. Finally you can test all this yourself by driving a Kia, or the Chevy, or Nissan. Get out at some point and check the temp of the rotors. They will be stone cold from lack of use.

[@luck02]

Hi, Did I miss the seat comfort rating? I _think_ I watched all of it...

[@claireferrant]

No heat pump option in France on e-Niro unfortunately 😟

[@Theonestrongbusleader]

This will be my dream EV car to own Alex.

[@DeanRendar]

Still use a 2011 Nissan leaf, with just 30 miles left from a full charge, this is the car I want once it devalues to around 10k just like when I got my preowned leaf 4 years ago

[@Finlaymacnab]

If the 3 is the same price, then I think it's legitimate to call it a competitor

[@AM-zn9di]

Seems like keeping the model 3 or getting a niro EV is the best new lease option. Hope you stick to EV for commuting.

[@tommac5411]

Alex, another great review.

[@kennyzenk]

Great review Alex!

[@TRYtoHELPyou]

great review! came out swining in the beginning huh? More EVs!

[@mountainhobo]

Checking in at 360p. Time to get some coffee.

[@jasanmiguel]

Alex, what criteria(s) make the Tesla model 3 standard edition a luxury vehicle?

[@beatnik09]

Mostly the insane repair costs.

[@3mvious]

That road looks like a fun bike ride

[@christianfrancke]

Alex, for viewers like myself, from Europe could you please add KM to the miles and here in Germany we usually provide the consumption in kWh/100 km. For instance my BMW i3s uses 15.2kWh/100 km (Kilometers). Another thing that would be great, if you could put the absolut numbers next to your scoring. E.g. when you were driving you had that bar on top of the screen with A and B sort of grades. For me the absolute value is more interesting. Maybe there are other opinions out there on that one. Besides the 2 afore mentions topics I really appreciate your level of detail compassion to your reports. Thanks for these great contributions to the open world.

[@nevco8774]

In winter snowy places that charging port door without rubber sealing creates problem with snow and ice when trying to chsrge.

[@kens97sto171]

I think the Kia has a 8 year UNLIMITED mileage warranty on the battery. Definitely something to consider if you plan to put serious miles on the car.. like for Uber etc.

[@SilverIndian]

And after the 8 years..what? Less battery autonomy, mileage...batteries are not the solution. And time to get new battery pack will come, more money to invest for a car who started loose its value. I don't understand the reason people buy so expensive cars. Buy a normal car with less money & youre ready.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Oddly enough the Hyundai gets a lifetime warranty, the Kia does not. It seems to mainly be marketing that's the reason for that./

[@lostinthought38]

@@SilverIndian Tesla cars are rated for 360-500k miles and in the future they're working on 1 million mile car battery durability

[@MrAalestrup]

In Denmark, it can only be delivered in 2021 :( The Danish importer says that Kia cannot obtain batteries?

[@thefixation500]

Great video as always! What do you record your audio with its amazingly clear without any road noise.

[@henrysinsioco7620]

Is Regen safe not to damage the electric motor (engine)? Or better use brakes?

[@CarolSteele]

Not sure where this 239 mile range comes from. I live in a fairly hilly (not mountainous) region of the UK, but when I charged my e-Niro up to 100% on AC a few days ago, my range was indicated at 317 miles

[@guillermomonroy7319]

Do you think its wise to lease instead of buy here? It seems like these cars tick so many boxes, but I'd imagine in 5-10 years things will continue evolving, especially with tax incentives (making a future model 3 purchase a better value). On the flip size, an elantra is still cheaper than these cars (even when factoring in gas 2x as expensive) simply because purchase price + running costs are lower. Any thoughts - what would you take + keep long term (5-8 years) when balancing cost to own vs driving enjoyment? Its a much more difficult decision for me when you can either chose a model 3 or an elantra with a trunk full of cash.

[@sedanchair2]

... That's right! Get the Elantra value edition and run it for 7 years then the electric cars will even be less than the gas powered ones.

[@mx5hong]

The refreshed Niro has a much larger navigation screen. And an all digital dash.

[@edwinjimenez7609]

I seen it looks nice, hope the EV version gets the refresh too.

[@dzfarms8110]

If I ever bought an electric car it would probably get this

[@pepstein]

13:32 no EV can come to a stop using regen alone. It's either using the brakes or using battery power to apply reverse torque using the motor. This isn't important, as the potential energy of marginal at that point, but I wanted to correct you because it's a common misconception.

[@rickjamieson6605]

Kudos for video production in the rain. Really never seen this before. Next how about -10 F in a snow storm?

[@mountainhobo]

"how about - 10 F in a snow storm?" -- In San Francisco Bay Area?

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I’ve done reviews in the snow, I prefer it to rain

[@Deetroiter]

I was seriously considering a Tesla 3, BUT...way too many horror stories of pathetic service after purchase. Basically, Tesla tells you we don't know you. Unacceptable in my opinion. That's how I came across the Niro EV. I know Kia/Hyundai will not leave you stranded with bad service. A luxury car? Not at all. Luxury features? Absolutely! And I've read many reviewa of people getting closer to 300mi per charge. Better warranty, better price, and better service than Tesla. The Kia Niro EV is a total winner. Only issue I can see is that it's only available in very select markets.

[@engelcrona]

Driving so seemingly close to the cliff edge got me all nervous and clenchy.

[@tonys9413]

The Kia Niro is a better usable car AND a better deal than the Tesla. Besides, you don’t deal with the silly control panel, where you have to take your eyes off the road for virtually every control function.

[@directorjustin]

I don't find physical controls much easier to use than on screen ones when driving. Modern cars typically have lots of buttons clustered together, making them tricky to use without looking. I just find it easier to quickly glance at the buttons instead of trying to feel for them over the course of several seconds, diverting my attention for longer.

[@lostinthought38]

I would argue the model 3 is about equivalent but than just wait til the model y comes out, than you'll be getting bang for your buck being a small cuv

[@spazzman90]

Both cars interfaces work just fine. I hope no readers base their decision on your unexperienced perceptions.

[@goclunker]

Tony S clearly you never driven a model 3. The base model is good, the midrange and top range models are absolute rocket ships. Stupid fast, on rails handling and huge brembos to reel it back in. This thing doesn't even remotely compare to a model3. This compares to economy hatchback

[@fleyua7176]

@@goclunker Tesla is only fast in a straight line. If you want handling a Miata is far better in corners and many owners with mention the same thing. Light weight always equate better performance in cornering. This is why gasoline cars still dominate in this side of the market and why the fastest cars are hybrids on track or a very light weight ev comparatively to other evs. If I wanted a fast straight line, supras can be had with hard accelerations at 200 to 300kmh for far less. Or mod a Miata with 600hp or modify it into an EV with far less weight.

[@kevinnguyen6731]

I see it posted 2 minutes ago and I thought there was something wrong. Can't wait for your full Mazda 3 review!~ Only thing I really do not like about it is it's meh mpg and non-ventilated/cooled seats.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

And here I keep being told I hate Mazda and love Jeep!

[@theexmann]

Just let me say right off the top. That your initial premise is completely wrong. What makes a vehicle a competitor in a given sector, is first and foremost, PRICE! Have you priced out the Kia Nero EV to a equally spec'd Model 3? They are very close in price and very close in performance in many ways. There are individual features that both have or don't have. But most car buyers in the EV market are going to first consider PRICE above all else first and then weigh the pros and cons. We currently don't have fully fleshed out segments within the EV market. In fact, most car buyers would consider any full EV to be a luxury car because of their price points in the market today. I seriously considered the Model 3 and the Niro EV, but they both (after taxes) came out to around $50,000. That was just too much for me. And I'm sure I"m not the only EV buyer making those comparisons. The EV market is still too young to say you truly have segmented levels of EVs. We don't. They are ALL more expensive than your American car. In any lineup they would be put in the luxury class because of their price right now.

[@tarassu]

Just saying that ChaDeMo is also not going anywhere in EU. CCS (or CCS2 to be more precise) is the future. Tesla also switched to CCS in Europe. And pretty much everywhere near here.

[@larryspiller15]

My conspiracy theory is that Hyundai/kia don't make money on the kona/niro because of the high quality cabin, large battery, and proper thermal management. Would make sense because the supply is so restricted. Where as something like the leaf does make money given the production numbers and availability but at the cost of skimping on interior quality and proper battery management. And then theres Tesla with demand and output so high and unique methods they are able to profit without skimping on anything BUT they don't have 100x ice sales volume+profits to carry the cost of development of their ev's and thus look like a trainwreck but likely will not be.

[@briankirby6714]

The goofy compliance act was authored by obummer to protect his wealthy oil sheik quadrillonaire royal fiends.

[@fleyua7176]

Kia and many of these other car companies already have experience building interiors and exteriors including better paint jobs unlike Tesla. These things are not new. Thermal management isn't new either. Tesla isn't special at all like what fanboys make them out to be.

[@jasonyoung6420]

Living in New England, I'm just waiting for that charge door to get frozen shut in winter, and for water to infiltrate the actual charge port and ruin it. That's a lot of money for an economy compact CUV; heat pump would be a required option.

[@robertbass7944]

A grate look at real world EV's

[@NickPowellPhotography]

I live in the UK where there is currently a 1 year+ waiting list for the E-Niro. Because of this I am very tempted to go for the Tesla Model 3. We also do not get the extras like LED lights, sunroof or upcoming app. Extremely confused with what to do right now, as we currently have the new Volvo XC60 D5 R-Design Pro.

[@theodoreahn686]

I should have bought two while I had a chance.

[@onetallman76]

How are system updates done, wifi, cellular or dealer?

[@JP-sw5ho]

Could you go into more detail of what this heatpump is- is it just the air conditioner running in reverse, or is it a second unit? Does it also provide cooling? Why don’t other auto makers leverage the air conditioner system for heating?

[@jghall00]

What I want to know is how did he keep the water drops off the camera lense?

[@NeilBlanchard]

I am so glad they did the regen like they did. It is quite similar to the e-Golf; plus the paddle like the Bolt has. Coasting by default is the best way to go, in most situations. No heated rear seat? Boo! The e-Golf is the only EV (so far) that has a direct heating windshield defroster - this should be on every EV!

[@jmmaddison]

Hi Alex in your comparison video you mentioned you could fit a rear facing carseat behind you. 1. Which carseat 2. How tall are you? I just got a Niro EV and need to get a car seat!

[@Tresh234]

what mic are you using? its insane

[@raymondowilson8537]

Awesome video!

[@madcowusa4277]

Don't forget to check your state for any special EV and hybrid fees being added. WA state just added a $75 annual hybrid tax which EV owners get to pay on top of their special $150 EV tax on top of the annual registration fees/taxes. They're stealing the gas savings bit by bit.

[@paulgoudfrooij6561]

I wonder why the range of this same car is rated 280 miles in the UK vs 239 in the US. They have the same battery. I typically get about 280 miles on mine. It’s a great car, highly recommended!

[@rmwarriors16]

Thank you for video and working in the rain plus window to bring all of this video. I am happy EVs are coming. I wish the credit would be up front and not in the form of a tax credit because not everyone will qualify for it. I like the Kia but I think the winner will be the Soul EV.

[@GSRider]

please add metric units to imperial. would be great. thank you

[@SSS-mp8th]

Tax credit question. With the recent changes to the tax code many will not have itemized deductions but will use the standard tax credit. I assume this credit is not part of your deductions but is an upfront deduction of your actual tax owed? So say you have $18,000 in taxes, standard deduction is $24,000 (married filling jointly) the $7,500 comes off the $18,000 correct? So you should get that much back (in addition to whatever else you would have gotten) in a refund? It is not considered a regular itemized deduction so in the above example it would only put you $1,500 over the standard deduction?

[@kaysersoze2335]

I don't see any reference to the heat pump in Kia Niro EV spec sheet. Are you sure that this one has it?

[@efavuzza73]

Alex how is build quality between Kia and Tesla. Also how can you find out if you qualify for rebates. I am disable war veteran so my money is tax free do I still get tax credits. Great video like always

[@lostinthought38]

I'm curious 2 as I am a vet also and idk what I'll be getting from the va but I will be finding work and making some income but the majority looks like it'll be va benefits ie the gi bill and possible disability benefits

[@efavuzza73]

Yes I was med board 100% and SSD and Union disablty therefore I haven’t file taxes over 15 years

[@beatnik09]

Hi Alex, great review. One thing you didn't mention with the Bolt is that in many places it is getting significantly reduced in price. New 2019 Bolts can easily be found, fully loaded, for $28-33k. Even with the tax credit sunsetting, that's quite a deal. How much better would you say the Niro is than the Bolt? The Niro is certainly preferable to me, but is it $10,000 better than the Bolt? I'd be interested on your take.

[@gamesguy]

This same issue comes up when comparing any other brand with Teslas. It's fairly typical to get a discount off msrp on most brands, but with tesla you pay msrp.

[@aadi8568]

Yes

[@Sivaprsx]

I would love to buy this! Oh wait, I can't.

[@jabom99]

Kia Niro base price in Canada. 24,995. Kia Niro EV 44,995. It is too expensive. The thing with credit and long credit payment periods a lot of dumb people will buy this. It is too expensive. Someday cars like this may be competitive. not now.

[@goclunker]

KG buy a whole collection of classic bmws and still have 10k for parts and repairs for what this pile of bile costs

[@jackp2563]

Wayne T Not entirely True. Kia Niro EV in BC for eg. After rebate works out to $38K So, it’s about $10-12K premium. Last year I spent about 5K on gas driving my V6 SUV This year I will probably spend $6K on gas. After doing basic math, I took a plunge and put a deposit on Niro EV Bottom line, EV’s don’t make sense for everyone They do for me !

[@jabom99]

@@jackp2563 Thanks for the great reply. I am in BC too. I live in the interior and there are not really any charging stations here. I like the Niro, but I still think that the technology and infrastructure needs some work.

[@jabom99]

@@jackp2563 Also, If the government has to give people $10,000 of our tax money to get people to buy it then I do not think the tech is really there yet. You say it is good for you, but we have to pay for it.

[@uberlolzzz]

The upper trim Kia is selling for 1K more than the Long Range Model 3 with less impressive specs, so for now, not a big competitor but I see a bright future. Kia is doing the best job outside of Tesla at the moment.

[@voldar70]

Compare a 2019 vs a Chevy Bolt EV 2017. Would be nice to hear what you think about the 2019 Bolt EV who's got some changes regarding the ride, the seats and the charging targetting. And yeah, no real One Pedal Driving for a Niro ! You need to use the break paddle...

[@greenbox2149]

If the MSRP for this was lower I probably would have bought one. Too bad battery prices are still 'up there' but it'll be interesting to see what the next five years will bring in terms of price parity with ICE vehicles.

[@be236]

I just picked up Kia Niro EV 2019 and find its driver seat a little tight/narrow, compared to my old Nissan LEAF 2017, which seemed more wider/comfortable...

[@KSECP]

halogen lamp on fog lamp are not because of cost cutting, because its color matters in foggy, rainy mist condition.

[@beatnik09]

They could just get LED bulbs that output at the color they want. But halogens are likely easier.

[@theodoreahn686]

Just bought 2019 Kia Niro EV Premium at $36,000 yesterday (9/9/2020). If you add $7,500 Fed Tax break and $2,500 from CA for buying electric vehicle, then it will be $26,000. Now, that's a bargain. I didn't see too many difference between 2019 vs. 2020 Niro EV Premium. Now, as Alex pointed out, Kia is better Chevy Bolt in every way. Overall, I bought this vehicle after watching Alex.

[@esa4aus]

Gotta love that B0 coast mode......

[@thecadean]

I think it is a very good competitor to the Tesla 3. Actual range very similar more storage capacity more comfortable back seat . also very competitive on price. Especially when considering the $7,500 Federal credit not available for Tesla.

[@webcomment8895]

Niro isn't really available to purchase unless you are willing to pay $5,000 to $10,000 over MSRP for one of the few hundred available nation wide. Both the Niro and Kona are just compliance cars where the manufacturer builds the minimum possible number to get their corporate EV credits. It's sad that the Tesla Model 3 is much easier to buy. If you have the money, anyone can buy a Model 3 for MSRP under $40K and have possession of the vehicle within just a few weeks. Take the same $40K to a Hyundai or Kia dealer and see if you can drive off in a new 200+ mile range EV.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

The price will come down. There is a battery shortage world wide that has caused delays and slow shipments. Kia basically said the Niro and Soul EVs would be available in more than just 12 states "soon"

[@webcomment8895]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide I know Tesla builds their own batteries, but why aren't Nissan and Chevy affected by this same battery supply shortage? Kia can expand selling into more states, but that could just mean the supply would be spread even thinner per state than it already is.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Everyone is effected by the shortage, even Tesla has been crunched according to Elon. Companies making cars prior had long term supply contracts which have helped them but has delayed newer EVs like the IPace, Kia/Hyundai models, e-Tron, etc

[@webcomment8895]

@Robert Blackford The dealer markup isn't shown when you look at prices online. Physically go to the dealership and look at the cars and take note of the actual dealer prices with additional dealer markup. There are ample examples of people posting their experiences attempting to buy Niro EVs and Kona EVs and not going through with it due to dealer markups.

[@marderend]

Alex, I think you are showing a bit of dogma not comparing this to M3. The reason you give about the brand does not completely make sense. You have compared a KIA to a Lexus, Stinger to an Audi, etc. The prices of this and M3 are absolutely comparable. They are definitely competitors.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

If you want that comparison, check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnqqfYmPbailrMk I went both ways to satisfy both sides.

[@TW-fx2jx]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide that is great!

[@marderend]

Alex on Autos thanks

[@destincoutee7377]

Reupload?

[@amigatommy7]

Sine range is not much of an issue I would like to see one with wider tires.

[@PeterRevie]

Great review, as always. It's good to see some mainstream EV options like this - unfortunate that it looks so...mainstream!

[@FrankD71864]

I would love to see a long term review of an EV in this salty Gulf Coast humidity.

[@James-rd9mo]

Outstanding videos Alex and the audio is superb. Any plans to add a 60fps videos? Check out some Redline Reviews @ 60fps, they look great.