Automotive

Kia Niro EV hits the market in Korea

Using a 100-kW fast charger, the Kia Niro EV's battery pack can be charged to 80 percent in a claimed 54 minutes
Kia
Using a 100-kW fast charger, the Kia Niro EV's battery pack can be charged to 80 percent in a claimed 54 minutes
Kia

This May, Kia revealed basic specs for the production model of its all-electric Niro EV. With a tweak to its claimed battery range, the car is now available in Korea, with European and North American rollouts on the way.

Classified by Kia as a CUV (crossover utility vehicle), the front-wheel-drive Niro EV is powered by a 64-kWh lithium-polymer battery pack that can be charged to 80 percent in 54 minutes using a 100-kW fast charger.

Whereas the automaker previously claimed that one full charge would be good for a range of 450 km (280 miles), that figure has now been dropped to 385 km (239 miles). Budget-minded buyers can also opt for a smaller-capacity 39.2-kWh battery pack that has a reported range of 246 km (153 miles), which is slightly more than the previously-stated 240 km (149 miles).

In either case, the battery provides power to a 150-kW (204-ps) motor which produces 395 Nm of torque from a standstill, accelerating the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.8 seconds.

Available driver assistance features include Forward Collision Warning with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Intelligent Stop and Go, and Lane Following Assist – the latter is Level 2 autonomous, operating between 0 and 130 km/h (81 mph) to control acceleration, braking and steering based on the behavior of the vehicles in front of the car, using external sensors to maintain a safe distance.

Other features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that allows drivers to locate nearby charging stations, and to monitor the level of battery charge and remaining range; 5-spoke 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels; a regenerative braking system; and an interior "mood lighting" system that lets users illuminate the center console and shifter with their choice of white, grey, bronze, red, green or blue light.

South Korean sales of the Niro EV began last Thursday (July 19th), although pricing has not been announced. European availability should start at the end of the year, with a North American rollout taking place in the first quarter of 2019.

Source: Kia

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6 comments
Derek Howe
price?
S Michael
Need 500+ miles before I buy.
BrianK56
Base $29,000 Top 40,000
Brian Smith
@BrianK56 & Derek Howe. The prices BrianK listed are for the Plug in Hybrid version of the car not the all electric one.
@S Michael, If you can afford it the new Tesla Roadster will exceed your 500+ mile range requirement when it comes out but if you are not in a position to charge a car over night most every day than an EV is not a good fit for you in the first place.
Don Duncan
A long trip requires both range (about 500) + reasonable recharge time (under 1 hour). No BEV can do it. As a second car for short trips, I might consider this BEV if I generated my own power. I would have to run the numbers. Payback needs to be within 5 years.
ljaques
Very nice vehicle. I liked the specs and pics I saw in May. $29k is not too bad, but $40k is too much.
To the range wary out there, why do you need 500 miles? How often do you drive that? I have the need to drive 380mi each way, but that is for only one trip a year.