2022 Kia Niro EV: Regular Car Reviews

[@TheSerotonine]

YOUR car, Toyota comparison, autumn landscape, that personal touch, no off screen voice. A solid like.

[@piketubeman]

What's wrong with "off screen" voice?

[@TopGear25S]

They went with 201 hp and not 200 because 150kw=201hp

[@RegularCars]

Ooohhhhh

[@TopGear25S]

Senpai noticed me UwU

[@rolon-ew5kl]

@@TopGear25S now get a mazdaspeed Miata and do a T pose and act superior to all of us 😂

[@derekgutierrez1609]

He's an English major , not a math major jessusss lol jk 🤣

[@dontbethatguy783]

tbf kia uses 201 in other non-ev products as well, but the other one is probably just so they can say it has more than a civic si

[@jasyatz]

If you turn off ECO mode, the heat gets way better. You can also go into a user menu and tell ECO mode to leave the heater alone when you push the ECO button.

[@0hypnotoad0]

Must be a quirk with the non-heat pump models. On the Canadian heat pump version even on ECO mode this thing just sears the flesh off your skin on the lowest heat setting. Basically has to be in the negatives (celcius) before I even bother turning the heat on in the lowest possible setting.

[@benclark1423]

@@0hypnotoad0 Can confirm. I've got the heat pump model and it gets hot as hell very quickly.

[@Johnnyynf]

the moment Mr.Regular said this is his Kia to replace his fun mobile to minimize the fun I can feel all the dad energy out of Mr.Regular

[@markoz673bajen8]

This is pretty much a Bravada in-morphed EV. The Korean brand went selling Soul to Americans to becoming one.

[@adamogden5212]

I was gonna say the same thing

[@filthyfrankblack4067]

yeah he even lets the car nag him..

[@skepticcoach5960]

@@markoz673bajen8 or Seoul?

[@benjaminbuschi284]

He's turning into his character from the Honda accord review.

[@Hausch13]

Mr. Regular's double life as an everyday superhero is as wholesome as it gets. It's also a welcome addition to listen to Nick's voice accompanied by a guitar again.

[@joeysworldsewer]

Mr Regular has concinced me to be the local hero at the Florahome Trailhead down in Florida's Etoniah Creek State Forest

[@WingDingMcKing]

I need a RegularCars x Technology Connections crossover episode in my life. Please. Please.

[@ProfPsycDad]

F****KIN GOLD.

[@WingDingMcKing]

@@ProfPsycDad you're allowed to swear on the internet

[@ProfPsycDad]

@@WingDingMcKing Allowed perhaps, but I try to stay polite, anyone can read this.

[@WingDingMcKing]

@@ProfPsycDad True, and wholesome of you. Though I would point out that this is on a channel that regularly makes non sequiturs about dicks, cum, and other explicit nonsense.

[@ProfPsycDad]

@@WingDingMcKing Oh and I love him for it....its why i did the 'bleep'....been following this guy since the Honda Echo days (i think that was the model) *ALABAMA SLAMMAH*

[@victorkreig6089]

I've always liked cars RCR taught me to *appreciate* them

[@initialyeet3951]

Yeah RCR gets to the deeper side of cars.

[@Planag7]

Not anymore. It's more about tables. That Mercedes last week was a joke. Guy was delusional thinking people like those. They were eyesores then and money pits now

[@victorkreig6089]

@@Planag7 lad just because *you* aren't a fan of them doesn't mean other people aren't You'll get a lot further in life once you understand that

[@sqlevolicious]

​@@Planag7 I'm sorry that you haven't been able to poop for a while, I hope you get that fixed.

[@ravenruizcastro]

@planag7 We recommend you ante up your granola intake.

[@rubenschaer960]

Honestly, japanese late 90s/very early 2000s cars had all the important stuff figured out in terms of reliability, functionality, dash arrangement, general usability. I will continue dailying cars of that generation for as long as they remain affordable, and add an aftermarket head unit for the convenience of bluetooth and parking sensors. That's all I want, and all I need.

[@nomoreheroes93]

More sustainable than buying all new cars too

[@victorkreig6089]

Not even, by 92 they had perfected it

[@parkercushingable]

This is the way. My 2008 Honda civic is the best car I've ever had.

[@4.63v30]

same here, that's why I still got my 07 explorer

[@PaulRudd1941]

Pontiac Vibes and Toyota Matrix's until the day I die.

[@Acoustic_Theory]

That Raycon case looks like it could be easily hidden anywhere. ANYWHERE.

[@Javierm0n0]

.... Prison wallet? O.O

[@donniet5379]

Secret tunnel!

[@darksu6947]

Dirty poop sex!

[@nostradamus7648]

Lover's purse

[@DefendYoungstown]

"Women have more hiding places than men." -Meryl Silverberg

[@gbaran7991]

I have one of these. Completely love it. It’s definitely a hot hatch. And it has a cloaking device nobody sees it coming. FYI pull fuse number two to kill that stupid backup noise.

[@RegularCars]

Can you link to a diagram that shows what fuse you are talking about?

[@raceingperson7644]

Isn't it more of a crossover than a hatchback?

[@jaymzx0]

@@RegularCars I have a 2019, and they used the same wiring harness in the EU model as the USDM model. The EU folks have a fuckin VESS OFF BUTTON in the crash pad by the traction control button. The wiring is there but the button isn't. I connected a momentary switch between pins 9 and 24 on the crash pad connector so I can press a button and go into super stealth mode. It toggles on/off and resets at the next 'key cycle'. I sneak up on neighbors and watch them brick themselves. It's great.

[@msmith99ffl]

@@RegularCars yank the bumper off the front and unplug the beeper box. It won't throw any codes and I've been driving that way for 30k miles. Also pull all of that foam out of the trunk and put the repair kit stuff in the trays around that area and you gain a lot of room. I also drilled out the metal piece that holds the foam down and sprayed the area with noise cancelling paint.

[@Poopsticle_256]

@@raceingperson7644 Crossover my ass, it’s a hatchback that they threw some plastic cladding on to make it more appealing to crossover shoppers. Dimensionally it’s about on par with a Toyota Matrix and it has about the same ground clearance as the previous generation Corolla.

[@dvoicer6785]

The pairing of how the hiker guy asked about political stuff, and then you went off on how you don't want to discuss political stuff was pretty funny imo. Fun inclusion.

[@ProfPsycDad]

Can't bring to mind that Thanos quote....something something inevitable...

[@SalveMonesvol]

Why was the hiker's question political? It's more technical.

[@victorkreig6089]

He didn't ask anything political he asked him what is done with the batteries when they're used up since he didn't know and RCR has one so maybe he did. Stop reading so far into stuff that's only surface deep geeze

[@maxo6306]

​@@SalveMonesvol Why do conservative men go on a "whaddabout lithium mining" tirade whenever they see an electric car? that through hiker's political affiliation was clear as day.

[@ileutur6863]

​​@@maxo6306 The fact that you americans are turning the topic of lithium mining into yet another shit flinging contest between your two pretend political parties is honestly disgusting. Sincerely, someone from a country that has been severely affected by mines in the past 2 years

[@Acoustic_Theory]

A flat load floor is a priority for vehicle designers. The feedback they have from people is that they want a flat load floor, and they don't want to lift stuff up over the bumper to get it out of the 'trunk'. It is nice, it helps save the back. And I'm a toolbox guy and I can hide all kinds of useful stuff under the load floor.

[@markmiller3279]

The main issue both this and the old Hyundai Ioniq, its sister car, faced was the need to house a regular hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an EV in the same basic car. In the EV they slung the battery underneath, so that rear area was largely empty. The hybrid had a battery occupying the lower part of the space, but in the Ioniq hybrid (I don't know that Niro as well), the load floor was pretty low. It was the plug-in hybrid that took up the most space, with a big battery and power equipment pushing the load floor up level with the hatch's lip and the seats. In the PHEV Ioniq, the cargo space was very poor. It looks as if Kia decided to have the load floor in the same place for the three models, probably because that still left a reasonable cargo area, unlike in the Ioniq. It's interesting that they offer an optional doughnut spare. I know I'd want it, as we've used the spare on our current Elantra GT a couple of times, and we don't even drive that much.

[@anydaynow01]

@@markmiller3279 That's what I like about the Volt, instead of using a traditional huge exhaust tunnel and a trunk mounted battery like other PHEVs they ran the batteries through that middle area and use a flat oval shaped pipe to maximize the battery capacity, the only things in the trunk that take up storage are a few small electronics boxes and the 12vdc battery.

[@acerIOstream]

201hp is exactly 150kw, which is how Hyundai Kia represents their power figures internally. Same with the 147 HP that the Elantra makes, it's 110kw

[@james2042]

and the 100kw motor in my 2020 ioniq ev which is 134hp

[@AlainSTO]

That "taking the coat off before you get in the car even during winter" is so true. Even in NJ.

[@bigdavey8863]

I'm never a taking off the coat guy. I suffer through the heat until I can't take it anymore and then crack a window to varying degrees of openness. The sun rises, the sun sets.

[@seththomas9105]

Iowa is joining in...

[@Corkoth55]

@@bigdavey8863 hahaha I've always done the same. Turn on the heat seater to high and the heated steering wheel and then get mad at how damn hot it is and surrender and open a window.

[@brianmiller1077]

If you're going on a long trip (> 1 hour) that's what we do in MN. Warm car means clear windows. If you're just going to the local mall or supermarket, I just keep my coat on.

[@Foxlawl]

NYS here- Between the heated seats, heated steering wheel, and remote start capabilities on my Mazda, I don't even wear the coat- I go from warm house, to cold outside, to pre-warmed car. And even if I forget to pre-start the car, the heated seat and wheel warm you up so fast that even below freezing (but above 0) I'm in a bubble of warm even if it takes a few minutes for the heat to start blowing warm.

[@powershin12]

For Korean Domestic Market, Kia made Niro EV PBV, which is taller and has a larger cargo space overall. Mainly sold to the taxi drivers, I think that car would suit you more than normal one.

[@AndrewSanjanwala]

It’s a shame that you didn’t end up with a heat pump model! The heat pump makes the Niro a furnace on-demand and makes for an enormous savings on battery consumption. When researching our Niro, we learned it was not optioned very often.

[@wizardgherkin]

+1

[@jibcano1777]

Stupid that they would sell them without it at all

[@anydaynow01]

@@jibcano1777 If you live in a area with a warm climate why pay for something you will almost never need? It's one of the reasons Teslas cost so much.

[@k9turrent]

@@anydaynow01 Heat Pump in reverse is just an AC unit. Get stoned with two birds

[@paulgoudfrooij6561]

Oh yes it helps a LOT in cold weather. Life (aka charge) saver!

[@itsamilkshake]

Car companies figured out interiors years ago. Matte black, matte chrome, etc. The dash was more likely to bulge outward than to have pits and valleys. Then gloss came back in style.

[@zechsblack5891]

There isn't a single eye level shiny surface in my 14 civic and it's perfect. Even the info screen is slightly matte. 🤌

[@Abandonsoyciety]

Or you could buy a windshield sunshade for $15 at AutoZone and prevent the sun from destroying your dash, steering wheel and interior in the first place. 😑

[@manhattandave]

Mr. Regular is my age and I really enjoyed the Japanese vs Korean esthetics along with digital vs. analog. In my own analogy, I loved my parent's stereo when I was younger. Each unit was separate, there was a turntable, receiver, non-digital equalizer, dual cassettes, and a CD player. It was more involved, but you can set it just how you liked it (instead of settings like: rock, pop, talk, cinema, etc). At the end of the day, like him, I enjoy letting the mechanical overlords determine what is best for me, while I pick my own music and my own road, and enjoy the ride.

[@linaskvedaras]

Oh man, you reminded me Technics layered stereo that I used to have and love from 1999

[@JustaPersonTryinToHuman365]

My great grandparents had a dresser that had a built in record player with big speakers. There's just something about watching the record openly spin as you change the pitch and speed while hearing the sound changes was an awesome experience. The whole family fought over who got to keep the dresser/record player, so they auctioned it and got $30,000 for it, tho that money didn't go very far between 10 kids and 25 grandkids lol

[@ordinaryJeff]

I hear ya.. I recently put together a late 70s/early 80s system with a Pioneer receiver, digital spectrum analyzer/EQ, Akai cassette deck with VU meters etc, all in glorious brushed stainless and wood-grain, and an Audio Technica record player, also silver. Speakers are standing floor units, silver with no face covers.

[@JustaPersonTryinToHuman365]

@@ordinaryJeff I have no idea what any of that means, but I beleive you, and I want it for myself now lol

[@markhatch7549]

The tape on the dash is a boss move. Household Hint: if you use black gaffers tape, the residue doesn't stick and leave a mess, and it's deliciously matte.

[@leotam3372]

Or use that vinyl wrap material

[@fred_e]

How about speaker box carpet?

[@ThetaReactor]

Stick the fuzzy side of some Velcro tape on the dash. Instant storage space.

[@rtmpgt]

Yep! Nashua 500 tape, buy that shit and stick it in your car. Store it alongside your Mondo and 99 Bananas

[@coll0412]

You may never see this, but in ECO mode the default setting is to use the ECO mode heating and cooling. You can change that option, and then the heater works as intended. Can test it by driving it it normal or sport mode and see if the heater improves. This can be changed in the EV settings.

[@JustaPersonTryinToHuman365]

RCR shouting out Technology Connections. I dunno why, but I like when channels I enjoy mention other channels I enjoy

[@Neptunine...]

With how much you talked about your 4runner it reminded me of my mom's old 4runner (same year, color and trim, but with grill and taillight guards.) I spent 14 years of my life in that truck (I basically grew up in it.) Thank you for allowing me to relive some of those memories.

[@schlickit628]

RCR is now a serious reference for my car purchasing decisions rather than just a source of hysterical laugher and emotional crises. Please do vw Id.4 next!

[@piewackete]

Still the greatest car channel, been watching since 2015 and love every episode

[@TheLeggedOne]

Nice to see that someone is making an electric car that is just a car

[@victorkreig6089]

Still aint worth the money though You essentially pay $9/g for the damn things, they are still much more of a novelty, kinda like 4K even though nobody wants to admit it

[@sqlevolicious]

@@victorkreig6089 lmfao, that's not even remotely true. It's $7 to get my model 3 to full charge, and a fraction of that to do it at home (I do also have 2 years of free charging on the tesla network, most manufactures do this for new EV orders). Plus, zero maintenance other than brakes and tires every few years. 4 of my family members own EVs, one that has owned EVs since the roadster in 2012, several of my friends own EVs too. None of us have ever paid more for our EVs over owning ICE. EVs are TREMENDOUSLY cheap to own, and they are only getting cheaper. My suggestion to get out of your braindead boomer oil propaganda opinion, go buy a nissan leaf for like $6k to scoot around town in. Charge at home, no need to go more than 150miles, never have to worry about it for any reason. It's literally the best thing ever. Batteries don't degrade like the propaganda likes to tell you (something like less than 0.5% capacity loss within 5 years and not even 1.5% within 10 years of everyday use)(you will never have to change your battery for any reason). There is a million mile model s out in the wild that only had one battery change and it was only becasue it had a manufacture defect. There are TONS priuses, nissan leafs, early models Ss and others with hundreds of thousands of miles that haven't seen a dollar of maintenance in their lifetime.

[@sqlevolicious]

TBF, that's what all EVs were to begin with. Great city-dwelling vehicles to get to places with. Tesla changed everything with the high performance stuff and removing the hassle of working with a dealer. Now auto manufactures are focused on finding that sweet spot of main-stream adoption, a formula that has been open-source for a while now.

[@bwofficial1776]

@@sqlevolicious That's the problem with EVs, they're great city and suburban vehicles but not great for the vast rural and undeveloped areas in the country. Mandating EVs won't work for those people.

[@victorkreig6089]

@@sqlevolicious Scotty Miller literally did an entire video on it buddy They are not cheap

[@TheAnalXylophone]

I really liked this comparison style of review. Still miss the dritiness of Echo, Tacoma and Caravan ones, but I had fun.

[@james2042]

I have a 2020 ioniq ev and let me tell you the Koreans are absolutely killing it with ev's. It's the best appliance I've ever bought

[@sqlevolicious]

I've got mine on order right now to trade in my model 3 for, I seriously can't wait!

[@james2042]

@@sqlevolicious Which car, the niro or ioniq 5? The car I got was the previous ioniq that was the prius like car

[@johnpearson492]

The comments about the sun hitting your eyes off the trim hits home. Rented an explorer with practically a chrome interior and drove it in Arizona, we cut out pieces of paper to cover the trim. I love the black plastic trim in my BMW e36, no glare problems whatsoever.

[@adamsteineke4661]

our F31 BMW is glaretastic with black plastic and chrome stuff... obnoxious.

[@Suileron]

God i had that gen 4Runner in high school in Minnesota winters, and that heater rocked my world it was so good.

[@bwofficial1776]

My high school car was a Jeep CJ with the AMC four cylinder. It took forever to get up to temp (coincidentally, almost the exact time it took me to drive to school) but once it did get hot you could drive with the doors off and still be warm. I did that a few times and everyone thought it was hilarious.

[@colpitts350]

Your points on Korean styling are spot on. I have a 2021 Elantra and the styling almost reminds me of an old late 50s-60s American car. I enjoy Korean car styling.

[@Jorts-W-Bush]

The reference to the oppressive heater brings me back to my old 2003 S10 pickup. The heater was the best individual part of the truck.

[@rcfp2006]

I prefer the polygonal design of the Ioniq 5 and the EV6.

[@TheSalPic]

And the ioniq has a lot of physical buttons

[@rcfp2006]

@@TheSalPic that is the important bit

[@TheSalPic]

@@rcfp2006 basically the same as my palisade which I think is a fantastic balance of physical and screen controls.

[@robertkirchner7981]

Spendy tho.

[@trolltheburrito5123]

is there a reason you don’t do motorcycle reviews anymore? I’d love to see some more.

[@sqlevolicious]

Not wanting to become a meat crayon becasue of the skill of the average driver might have something to do with it

[@domenik8339]

@@sqlevolicious Wear gear and don't suck. Also be aware that Tesla autopilot cannot see you.

[@alant779]

IMO 200hp is more than enough for a daily driver. I care a lot more about the quality of life stuff like the console control and reflective trim. This is getting really close to the kind of EV I'm looking for. That comment about "congratulating me for owning an EV" is spot on. It's a big gripe I have with that other EV brand.

[@greatheightsu]

Really fucked up how ads are played on gas pumps in America.

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

I feel the same way about TV screens on railway station platforms in Australia. No consultation, all of a sudden they were blasting out their vacuous nonsense to all and sundry.

[@darkworlddenizen]

Mostly just at shell stations

[@jacobpartin4553]

Almost every pump in my town has those damn screens

[@wristofkings]

You can never goddamn escape the curse of consumerism here. At least my backwater hasn't adopted these yet.

[@jacobpartin4553]

@@wristofkings be thankful lmao shit sucks

[@Anya-Prime]

Nice transportation pod! I’ve been thinking about these even though at this point the price doesn’t make sense. It’s funny how I’d never consider a Hyundai product as of late unless it’s an EV and avoids the mechanical issues. I appreciate how normal of a car this EV is. I’m with you - while I love tech I appreciate functional design like actual buttons, a normal gauge cluster that has an actual hood. I know it’s a compromised car designed for multiple propulsion platforms, but some of the design compromises make the cars better. I gotta say, older cars may have had proper functional controls, but modern toyota doesn’t do it any better than your Kia. They’re no Teslas inside, but modern Toyotas are leaning into trendy black plastic and capacitive buttons. Nice clicky unique controls are somehow out of style now and I’ll miss them when I get rid of my impreza. Oh and it’s funny how EVs are struggling with the basic feature of heating inside. It’s a testament to the efficiency of EVs and the inefficiency of ICE engines but a major oversight particularly with nicer EVs. The heated seats and heated wheel are appreciated and it’s good to see them trickling down to mainstream cars. There is the slight positive trade off that the heat starts a bit faster and that preconditioning is often available, but yeah it’s evident that they have to try to design proper heating. I haven’t been in an EV with a heat pump, but I hope that they can produce reliable and powerful heat. That reminds me - I miss driving top down in the Miata in fall/winter with the heat blasting - I called it the hot tub effect because it was powerful enough to keep the small cabin cozy while the cold air rushes around your head. Hey, if you want some slightly better light, grab some 9011 HIR1 bulb for your 9005 headlamps. They fit with a tiny mod and boost your output by 25-50% without any compromises in safety or glare. Just don’t give in to the fake LED marketing - I know you’ve been tempted before but they’re not legal, effective, or safe. Anyway I’m glad you’re enjoying your EV without any major issues. It’s very very nice to hop in a cozy quiet comfy EVs if you deal with loud unreliable gas cars regularly. For commuting and generic driving, it’s unmatched for the ease of use.

[@quillmaurer6563]

I had the same thought - the difference between the 4Runner and Niro isn't a Japan vs. Korea thing, it's the era in which they were made. Back in the late '90s/early 2000s everything was simple and obvious mechanical knobs and buttons, now everything is "sleek" and "modern" with more emphasis than aesthetic than function - this is true of all brands from all countries. Also, while I know this was meant to be a low-cost car, I'm really surprised it still has incandescant/halogen headlights - really don't see why any cars still have those. Especially an EV where the far greater power consumption will impact range.

[@Anya-Prime]

@@quillmaurer6563 It has halogen headlamps because the base hybrid is a pretty cheap car. Halogens are still significantly cheaper and simpler than LED so the price difference can matter. Also the Niro only takes projectors in its headlights, so unlike the Kona they couldn’t stuff some cheaper reflector LEDs without redesigning the front end. Those Hyundai Mobis bi-LED headlamps on the top trim are quite good but also fairly expensive. I mean I guess Toyotas and Mazdas get standard Koito bi-LEDs headlamps but it’s just a matter of the manufacturer choosing what to cost cut. Also it is something that can be appreciated in the very long run where they need to be replaced. I shudder at the thought of aftermarket headlamps designed to emulate OEM headlamps when they can’t even get aftermarket halogens right when they copy the optics directly. Either way, while LEDS will last a very long time they can still fail eventually or the headlamp itself will be damaged and hazed with time. Or maybe I just watched technology connections’ video on sealed beams and I’m starting to think standardization is underrated.

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@Anya-Prime All good points. Everything is a cost vs. effectiveness question, and I suppose headlights were a place they didn't consider the added cost worthwhile. As for standardization with the sealed beams, there are pros and cons of that. Standardization is good, but not if that standard is too stagnant, or sucks to begin with. So it could be bad or good, if the standard thing is well designed then everything will be good, if the standard sucks then everyone is stuck with it. Though if options compatible with that standard are available, then that means you can get more options rather than just something that fits your specific car. That is one advantage of the old sealed beams, they weren't very good but a lot of compatible better options exist now. Halogen sealed beams that are much brighter than the conventional tungsten - they were way better headlights than those on my mom's '07 Subaru Impreza. Or drop-in LED replacements, there are tons of options for that. I have a classic Beetle that uses them, initially it had one basic tungsten (almost useless) and one halogen (actually fairly good, as good as any non-LED or HID), later had both halogens, then eventually converted to LED replacements. Bought them for $80 about 4 years ago, the same ones (unbranded Chinesium) are now like $40/pair. They work great, comparable to a new car with LED headlights, are DOT rated (though I suspect that doesn't mean much, sure doesn't for motorcycle helmets), and don't seem like they cause glare issues (because the optics are integrated rather than an LED bulb put into a housing meant for halogen). And have held up really well, the left one has taken the brunt of a crash that crunched up the fender, and later hit by a flying board that broke the trim ring and mounting, light module undamaged. If there were to be a new standard headlight, I could see a small (size of a soda/beer can) module with integrated LED and optics, the outer lens less than 2" diameter. That could be mounted on any car design far less obtrusively than the old 7" sealed beams, which were problematic when cars wanted to become sleeker - which lead to the pop-up headlights.

[@Anya-Prime]

@@quillmaurer6563 oh absolutely, I’m not suggesting a return to giant sealed beams of old for the reasons you mentioned but there is an appeal to them. The replacement factor particularly with the option of replaceable bulb h4 and h1 high beam ECE sealed beam replacements as well as LED options is fantastic to have. That said, you’re correct, and DOT “certified” means shit in the headlamp sphere. Manufacturers self certify compliance with FMVSS108 and stamp DOT on the lens, but many imported parts do this without the due diligence relying on the fact that the NHTSA doesn’t have the resources to check all of them and if they do - no recourse for tiny pop up manufacturers making parts overseas with nothing but an online presence here. Those cheap LED 5.75”, 7”, and rectangular replacements are junk and often use basically flashlight optics with little to no concern for glare. There are models from Trucklite, Philips, Sylvania, JW speaker, Hella, and a couple other legacy suppliers that are legit and at least comply with ECE regulations if not FMVSS108 (not that big a deal because ECE has stricter and arguably better standards than the NHTSA set). Also, while there is a small market of sealed projector headlamps (including HID and LED) from Hella, Hamsar, JW Speaker, and a couple others, they are mostly used on RVs, buses, trucks, kit cars, and a few production cars like the first gen Smart and the “spider eyes” Alfa 4C. The HID Hella 3.5” premium bi-xenon model is actually very good, although most of the LED options are middling. As much as it would set back styling and aerodynamics to an extent, I’d love to see this form factor become standard and the market to provide more options for this rather powerful form factor. Even the halogen models of low beam can produce 40kCd which is way more powerful than most reflector halogen headlamps even today. While they’re not 2” lenses on the front, that size is nigh impossible due to the actual size of the optics behind it. Most cars using very slim outer optics have larger optics on the inside, use multiple elements like a projector, TIR, and reflector, or they just use a slim row of reflectors with downward firing LEDs. But you can fit two 3.5” 90mm projectors side by side in a pop up headlamp sized for a 7” round headlamp so they are rather compact. Additionally, unfortunately as the size of the final optic decreases, glare increases - the more lux passing through a set flux area, the higher the surface luminance of the optic and the higher the glare whether you’re in the beam or outside of it. That’s why old sealed beams look dim on oncoming cars (even on high beam) while still putting out 60-80% of the intensity of a modern halogen projector. I’ll also add that while halogen is inherently superior to tungsten incandescent due to the halogen cycle, it’s operating temperature, and longevity, with sealed beams the halogen variants allowed late in the game were a sidestep. They derated the low beams to 35W or so and went on “whiter light” to market them while the performance benefit was a wash. That said, a 7” round headlamp has a lot of potential with the size of the optics and it’s frustrating that the best halogen 7” round headlamp was made by Cibié three or more decades ago and has since not been topped. If there was any interest, development might have continued and we could have split reflector dual bulb options or H18 models that could make a marked improvement over the modern lookalikes like the Jeep, hummer, and toyota H13 7” round headlamps on their retro trucks. Also, even 20 year old OEM halogen headlamps are often better than any sealed beams. That 2007 impreza is still capable of better performance, but like mine it’s likely aged and damaged to the point of lower output. That’s the other downside with proprietary headlamps because replacements are hard to find, OEM versions get replaced with shitty CAPA parts or even shittier aftermarket versions. You can still get OEM headlamps for that car like i need to do. If you do, get some 9011 HIR1 bulbs for the high beams (truly awesome high beams) and Daniel Stern’s Osram H7 Rallye low beams.

[@sqlevolicious]

I'm just happy that cheap EVs are all really fun to drive, and new EVs are only getting cheaper. Can't wait to see the review on the new chevy equinox EV, only $23k after rebates in CA!!!

[@saeedhossain6099]

I do like our Niro PHEV, for nothing else the silence of the cabin in the school pick up line is worth it. it's the last few moments of silence before parenting resumes. the only interrupting noise is the other parents x5 & XC90 engines idling, yeah it's that kind of suburban hellhole but the Niro makes it much more tolerable. as for questions never got any on either the Niro with the extra gas flap, or about the ID4. they are like cammo EV's.

[@ben501st]

Not only did my 92 Suburban have an aggressive heater, it had an aggressive AC. I'm talking large blankets in July on road trips. I miss R12.

[@bwofficial1776]

American carmakers understood the importance of overkill AC. In the olden days Arab desert sheiks would drive Cadillacs instead of Rolls-Royces because the RR AC couldn't keep up with the desert heat.

[@gavinmarshall2228]

Love the extra flannel stashed in the back. 'It must be autumn because it blows the Leaf away' 😆

[@Lorentz_Driver]

As JDM-fanboy as I am, American heaters can't be beat. My old Trailblazer never left me cold as soon as I got inside.

[@biggerb08]

My 98 Lumina was so hottttt lol

[@bwofficial1776]

American car AC was also legendary. In the old days the Arab desert sheiks would drive Cadillacs because Rolls-Royces, being made in a cold wet country, had tiny AC units that couldn't keep up with the desert heat.

[@quillmaurer6563]

Is it American car heaters, or more truck/SUV and big-engine vehicles - which are what the Big Three tend to be best at? Mr. Regular pointed out the Tacoma's (SUV with big-displacement engine, but Japanese) has a really effective heater.

[@CalebD413]

My '97 4runner was the best truck to drive in the winter. The heater worked amazingly. It's like it was made to drive in the snow. I currently live in AZ and commute in a Chevy Bolt. The Bolt makes me feel invisible and I love it. Plus it out-accelerates most cars on the road.

[@technodruid]

201hp is almost exactly 150kW, which given this is a South Korean brand (and electric vehicle) makes sense that it would have an oddly specific sounding HP and Torque value: 'Cause it's converted

[@JJ-yu]

Had an 07 FJ Cruiser (simulacra episode still lives rent free with me) and can attest that if you did not take your jacket off in winter you would experience an absolute oven with the heater blasted. It was amazing. I miss that truck. YOur videos make me want to get another early 2000's toyota truck as an all arounder, it will probably last forever.

[@Panhead49EL]

My friend in Italy has one and it caught fire. His Niro watched while Rome burned. Heyoooooo.

[@Green_Tea_Coffee]

Take this like, and GET OUT.

[@christianboyd4635]

5 straight minutes of heater talk, impressive Mr. Regular.

[@ReverendTed]

I've been getting really curious about the Polestar 2. Seeing more of them around lately as well.

[@domenik8339]

Polestar 2 was a video that your mom made to pay for your college.

[@LermaBean]

Considering it's a Volvo, they are expensive but with the fact that it feels like a Volvo and not a Tesla, I'm all for it.

[@domenik8339]

@@LermaBean You can say that again. Grand canyon sized panel gaps with a luxery price tag. American automotive failurism at its finest.

[@MiraAlCielo]

⁠they are killing themselves whith things just for for one market.

[@NateLeePhillips]

"I guess it really must be autumn , because it blows the Leaf away" Love the clever lyrics, Roman!

[@arfer]

Seems to need a bit more development in some areas. Bright reflections off the dash would drive me insane. As well as the trunk which could be a lot bigger if they didn't dick around with all those compartments.

[@compwiz101]

The more "modern" car interiors have me appreciating the simplicity and utility of the Honda Element's interior design. Every time I lean forward to roll the fan speed control up without ever looking on a cold morning I think about those shiny touchscreen interfaces...

[@southerncoyote]

It is really amazing how people can complain about battery mining and instantly forget about oil spills.

[@ileutur6863]

Two truths can exist simultaneously. This baffles the american mind

[@alan-sk7ky]

And at the same time as getting a free ride up the road aways, I assume Bri does it as a free thing for the AT walkers that is...

[@lsh3rd]

Or live 63 1/2 years not giving a shit, then all of a sudden becoming environmentalists.

[@robertkirchner7981]

Or complain about cobalt mining for batteries without knowing that it takes cobalt to refine unleaded gas.

[@robertkirchner7981]

@@alan-sk7ky I thought it was more of a side-hustle? Or maybe he does it to get material for his writing?

[@cschepers]

21:35 using those hand motions from now on when describing different charging methods. family had a '78 IH Scout II growing up, it needed an engine block heater to start below freezing, but the heater was so hot it warped the plastic floor mats. good stuff.

[@anthyman1]

Word to the wise about having to set to max defrost to get the "hottest" air; OEMs often do some whacky stuff with thermal modeling to predict what temperature you are, but it all falls apart if you take manual controp of the airflow. Try just leaving it in auto and letting it do it's thing, you might actually find yourself more comfortable even if it doesn't feel hotter at first. I've converted a few friends over to this by telling them to just not touch their HVAC unless they're still cold after 10-15 mins, and they usually aren't.

[@bwofficial1776]

Selecting defrost also turns on the AC compressor. I set my car to auto when I got it and I haven't touched the climate controls besides temperature and defrost.

[@seanbrenton55]

Agree with hvac controls comments. It’s a safety issue and we NEED an international standard on this. They had it mastered a long time ago: all slide switches to the right=full defrost. Same with 3 knobs. All 3 right= full defrost. I drove a ‘19 highlander this week, and the fan and selector buttons have minimal tactile distinction. Had to take my eyes off the road for every adjustment.

[@welshmunn]

Cool car. Im a big fan of what the Korean car makers are doing. The Kia EV6 GT is an absolute monster.

[@domnavarre4349]

I don’t know if Roman will see this but ‘blows the leaf away’ was impressive (and true)

[@ryaneichhorst2492]

Now review the car as a critique of the owner as you do other cars. Should be able to get a lot of mileage out of "buys a car to avoid conversations at the gas pump."

[@nickb1892]

I notice every Niro that I see now, thanks to Mr. Reg. First I noticed is one in the parking lot at work, it's metallic blue. You're marketing these cars, because I'm not sure I would have noticed them otherwise! Last note, only EV I've driven was a Nissan Leaf, being a porter detailer at a large Nissan Dealership in Ohio during 2015, I was just out of highschool. I remember being unsure that the car was on, gently applying the throttle, then gliding backward out of the parking spot in the lot! Keep on doing this beautiful art and your work, Mr. Regular, and Roman. I'm a huge fan, I adore you guys, I won't bother hiding it!

[@b22chris]

I’ve always pronounced it “Near-oh”. How is Kia saying we should say it? “Nie-row” seems odd

[@lsh3rd]

Saying a "i" by itself as a long "i" seems to be an American thing. Your pronunciation is more correct.

[@bwofficial1776]

I'm waiting for the Robert de Edition.

[@lsh3rd]

@@bwofficial1776 Ha! I might steal this.

[@GrandHuevotes]

You can just buy some vinyl wrap that imitates cloth (it’s fabric like) and wrap that interior piece. It’ll look way cleaner than those random cutouts of tape. Plus you can choose your own design.

[@TheVaultIsMine]

That was very nice of you to hitch that guy a lift, especially mid-video ^_^ This vid had quite the personal touch to it and for that, it's one of the best Monday uploads thus far!

[@Just_In_credible6]

His rant to the guy about being bothered at gas stations seemed very passive agressive though.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

@@Just_In_credible6 And deservedly so.

[@ileutur6863]

​@@Just_In_credible6 and necessary. Random people don't care about your politics

[@JollyGiant19]

@@Just_In_credible6 Please toaster bath y0urs3lf, gas time is quiet time

[@sqlevolicious]

@@Just_In_credible6 I'd hope so. People that make politics their personality need to fuck off.

[@LazerLord10]

my god... an EV with a traction control button and not a cellphone menu from 2017? Shocked!

[@super-kami-guru]

Why was that first burnout so funny!? 😂

[@HoratioHopkins]

re: trunk weirdness. Regular hybrid gets the spare tire. Plugin has the extra batteries there so you only have a little cubby on the top layer enough to hold the charger and jumper cables. As someone who has hauled stuff in mine, I appreciate the flat floor for loading. Highly recommend the cargo liner that goes up the back of the rear seats with the velcro

[@HoratioHopkins]

You can also get a class 2 hitch on the thing and it pulls around a small cargo trailer quite well

[@SundownMarkTwo]

8:28 On the topic of heaters, this is the one thing I miss about my Chrysler minivan. It was basically liquid fire the moment the engine got heated up, and it just dumped even more heat into the cabin when you so much as gently rolled into it. My Malibu doesn't get close, and my Subaru was truly pitiful.

[@willdowns1745]

My 03 odyssey is the same way

[@james2042]

I'll do you one better. my grand cherokee with a hemi will not only melt you in the cabin, but still needs the damn engine fan when theres literally ice all over the car. Also you can watch the ice melt off the hood. Hemi's make so much waste heat its criminal

[@blabla-sv4pm]

Mr Regular, I like that you made a video about YOUR new EV-car, without mentioning anything about range, efficiency (which are both excellent in this case BTW), I like that you avoided the bla bla about pros and cons about EV cars, which I've heared over and over, by people who are just to afraid to change their habits. I chose my Ioniq EV 3 years ago, because I couldn't stand bying petrol anymore for various reasons. I also like why you chose an EV. I didn't think about it, because I don't go to gas-stations anymore...

[@llort42]

No unsolicited political gas pump banter round' these parts. Sounds absolutely delightful.

[@JW--dc8ri]

Yeah I drive a lifted Tacoma and no one has had any gas discussions with me

[@Erikug2]

If you're having difficulties getting the charging started, yank the emergency connector release under the hood a couple times. Also the rpm reductor tends to fail on some specimens, a humming noice on hard acceleration and braking. I wish you luck with this one. Make sure you have all the software updates and recalls done. The coolant change every 2 years can get a bit pricey

[@thomosburn8740]

I have a 2019 Niro-EV, the vents are located differently (left and right of the center screen) and I get roasted by the car with the heat enabled within 2 minutes. I think the smaller center vents on your later car is the problem. My GF has a 2020 model and her vents (like yours) don't blast like the earlier ones do. To maximize your range you need to play with the regeneration level paddles behind the steering wheel constantly (which I now do without any thought). Any time you go down a hill, let the car coast, don't collect energy. My surface street range on a full charge is well over 300mi. I must admit: I think these cars are ugly & plain. I'd rather be in a convertible.

[@ec8107]

Or the smaller heat vents accompany a smaller heater element that allowed Kia to claim better winter range.

[@KeithJewell]

@@ec8107 Decent guess, but the range number they publish didn't change. Also I think the heat pump has the same capacity.

[@russianotter]

Congrats on being the first guy to make a Raycon ad that actually has me thinkin I should buy a pair. Had no idea that awareness mode existed, that might be perfect for when I'm riding the motorcycle

[@sqlevolicious]

FYI, most wireless ear buds have that feature

[@quillmaurer6563]

Agree on the "awareness mode" - can you switch that on and off inside the helmet? One of the challenges I have motorcycling - which I use as a daily vehicle - is that I like to wear earplugs while riding to prevent the wind noise making me go deaf. But when I need to talk to someone, I'm effectively deaf with them in. I can open my helmet (I have one of those flip-up modular ones), but I have to take the helmet off and pull out the earplugs to hear. What would be really cool would be to have them controlled by the helmet, so that when I have the helmet open they are in "awareness mode" and I can hear people I'm talking to, and go into noise-cancelling mode when I close the helmet for riding.

[@DrClaw77]

"that other electric car people like" lol

[@EdgarCorona]

18:32-19:08 Wow that was the longest and most perfectly succinct passive-aggressive "here's my opinion/go away/anyway-" I've ever seen in my life! I mean that in a good way...

[@venstoma]

Two of my neighbours have one, feels like a literal spaceship compared to our '08 Saab

[@samohta7090]

13:10 Thank you for talking about this topic. It is so annoying most new cars reflect the sunlight directly in the eyes of the driver.

[@robinheil]

When you get an EV to avoid awkward political rants at the gas pump, only to be accosted by strangers who are “just asking questions” 😂

[@ms_cartographer]

I avoid that with my 2nd gen Chevy Volt because I rarely have to fill up on gas, and because everyone thinks it's a Cruze.

[@Just_In_credible6]

That is so strange nobody ever talks to me when i put gas in my sportage.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

@@Just_In_credible6 Manufactured outrage, I'm guessing. Regular is his own worst enemy.

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

I get annoyed when someone assumes my politics by profiling me.

[@ileutur6863]

​@@12ealDealOfficial Nah Americans just aren't aware of how annoying their political talk is

[@gdlonborg]

Yours (Raycon) is the first in video promo I ever watched, appreciated, and gave serious consideration to buying the product. That means your pitch got past Mr adblock/no cable/ no pets/ no kids/ no plants/ no visitors almost autistic social isolation's affective filter.. which is super rare. Somehow, you cracked the code. I want Raycons, and it's not like they were created and pitched yesterday. I hope other products suit you, as you def have a knack for embedding the product in your context.

[@jakepelletier2955]

Nice! KIA's new electric vehicles have been looking really good

[@transamericanlife]

Hyundai and Kia stole all the best designers from Fiat Chrysler/Stallantis.

[@JK061996]

It certainly looks better than the new one

[@Neojhun]

​@@transamericanlife That's not what has been published. Specifically Luc Donckerwolke and SangYup Lee both having worked on Bentley models working for VAG. SangYup Lee designed the modern Chevy Camaro during his time at GM.

[@jareknowak8712]

They look even better for blind poeple.

[@anactualsandwich]

Contrasts. I Get it. After putting away my 03 Mach 1 at the end of a weekend, it is nice to just drive my base model Soul and not worry about tire ending pot holes or oil pan killing lumps in the road and just relax.

[@JL-sm6cg]

I have a plug-in hybrid version of the Niro (knee-row). It's my second Niro. I love the damn thing. However, I'm not yet keen on going full electric with one, not anything against electric cars, but I need to find out if my condo complex is ever going to put outlets in our carports to allow for it one day.

[@xxraver99xx]

I rented a Niro EV in Jeju Island South Korea . It handled the hills with no problem and I drove around the island for a couple of days on a single charge. The regen braking paddles are fun, you can slow the car down efficiently without needing to step on the brake pedal.

[@DFMurray]

I probably would have had someone matt vinyl wrap it rather then get stubborn grip tape glue all over the car lol

[@ebagmaiyup7436]

Kia master tech here (who happens to drive the exact same car). The heat is derived from using an inside condenser and using the high side of the AC to warm the car. So even when you think the ac is off, it's still functioning. Oh, and the heat is hotter and ac is colder in "normal" mode

[@jefft7085]

During Pennsylvania winters a valid conversation is how good or bad your car's heat is.

[@ChrisWEEZ]

Glad you’re enjoying the new camera car. I bought a 99 Limited last year and it’s been nice, definitely not as clean as yours but a lot cheaper. I have my phone mount in the exact same spot.

[@cafn8ed74]

If I'm ever able to choose my own slow moving EV sound, you can bet it will be a sample of the "Hot for Teacher" drum solo. Edit: Roman, nice outro song!

[@countryboy44555]

Your review of the 06’ F-150 was spot on for what I want for HVAC. How hard do I want it, how hot do I want it, and where do I want it.

[@KeithJewell]

I'm surprised you don't love the heater in the Niro EV. Ours will absolutely cook us out, though it does take a couple of minutes to get there.

[@scorinth]

Maybe it's because he leaves it in eco mode all the time? I don't know about this particular model, but a lot of EVs do play with the climate control system to preserve battery life when in eco.

[@james2042]

@@scorinth as someone who drives an ioniq ev (2020) and leaves it in eco mode, the heat fucking SUCKS I'll have to test out normal mode heat and see if it makes a difference

[@richardprice2741]

The way Mr. Regular is talking about every car driving on the road and acting as if they care about him and his Niro is exactly how I believe every EV driver acts on a daily basis. 😅

[@TrentFalkenrath]

Yeah! A Roman song at the end! Personally, I don't mind the idea of EVs, but in the place I live, they'd be basically useless because of the long range drives and extremely cold winters. If gas burning car are eventually phased out, I'm thinking my solution would be hydrogen fuel cells, but I'm not an engineer anymore, so who knows.

[@petrushka1611]

A Strong Bad t-shirt, an AvE term, and a reference to Technology Connections? You hit the trifecta!

[@rikkatheconure2395]

Saw a "boring electric cross over review" but then I saw the channel name and clicked anyway lol

[@kasferret]

lol i love the "he wanted to order" reference XD it's a little weird to me that Kia went so normal with the Niro when they made the EV6 that's got some of their more wild styling cues

[@trabertgraneau3323]

20:48 This really sounds like the inspiration to Windows XP startup. 😂😂

[@jf0314]

Congrats. Love my EV6. Even after almost a year, I still floor it whenever I can despite it not being that fast. Love that torque.

[@knifetex]

Best part of Mundee mornin’

[@ForeignMadeIt]

I got a 2020 as a rental and I’m impressed with its consistent 55mpg. Drives very good as well.

[@aadi8568]

Mpg in an EV?

[@robertkirchner7981]

@@aadi8568 It's also available as a hybrid.

[@quillmaurer6563]

All the comparisons between the Niro's vs. 4Runner's interior design and HVAC controls, is that a Japan vs. Korea thing, or an early 2000s vs 2020s thing? Back then all cars - even American ones - had controls designed for user-friendliness and simplicity, while now it's more about style and looks at the expense of practicality. All the buttons looking the same is harder to use, but looks better at first glance, more uniform and sleek. Same with all the driver-blinding shiny stuff. Just be glad it has physical buttons and knobs at all, many newer vehicles - especially Teslas that are all style-before-function - require everything be done on the touch screen, often buried in some menu. Huge distraction, almost can't drive that thing without a co-pilot/flight engineer. This stuff looks sleek and modern in the showroom, which entices people to buy it, the impracticality is the owner's problem once they're out the door, not the manufacturer's. There's also that the 4Runner was, in its time, designed as a more utilitarian machine, everything purely functional and not focused on style (don't feel the same is true for newer 4Runners). Likewise, the tiny rear window and poor rear visibility - that's an issue in most newer cars. Between all this - more "infotainment," drivers being more distracted in general, lousy visibility, and HVAC that requires taking eyes off the road, it feels like car designers are designing as if cars are self driving, even though they aren't. Also, the defogger-for-max-heat trick - the same is true in Teslas. All I can figure is EVs don't give much heat because that has to come from the battery, but defrost is seen as safety-critical - more important than comfort - so more juice is given to it when needed.

[@gnoxycat]

I'm glad you love your new EV. I would have never pressed that power button. Its busy work and I am not going to be a part of anymore. I like that you are having fun with it :D

[@stanimirpetrov1027]

How fitting for RCR your winter cap starting at 12:55 says "KUR" which in my country (Bulgaria) means "dick"

[@Vekurus]

It's not just Kia, my 2018 Camry HVAC controls are similar. Similar little silver bars to control things like fan speed, blah blah blah. I've grown used to it, but it's all crap compared to older cars. I knew exactly where everything was in my 07 Corolla. I knew exactly where everything was in my 2010 Challenger. This Camry, is taking me forever to relearn the muscle memory.