2023 Kia Niro EV

　　

2023 Kia Niro EV Review

byClint SimoneSenior Reviews Editor

　　Clint Simone has worked in the automotive industry since 2015. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Before joining zzdcar as a senior reviews editor, Clint contributed to Motor1.com and InsideEVs, evaluating mostly electric cars. Clint loves hot hatchbacks more than any other type of vehicle but secretly enjoys driving big trucks when he gets the chance. He would never admit to that.

　　, rating written byClint SimoneVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2023 Kira Niro EV is a fully electrified version of the brand's compact crossover, the Niro. It's less expensive than the South Korean automaker's larger EV6 without compromising much on the range or interior features.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Kia Niro EV Insights

Trim:Niro EV Wind

　　Wind 4dr SUV (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $39,550 MSRPWave 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $44,550 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　280 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 238 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　10 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　7.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: The Electrify America Kia Charge Pass is a charging agreement between Kia America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new Niro EV will receive 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network. Credits must be used within 3 years of vehicle purchase date. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$63/mo

　　Niro EV

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　This second-generation Niro is a much more refined product in the cabin, with improved tech and more comfort features on offer. The side-by-side 10.3-inch displays look great and have easy-to-use menus. Available features such as heated and ventilated front seats and the Harman Kardon sound system make the Niro feel upmarket. And when it comes to practicality, the crossover is now roomier with 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats.

　　With an EPA-estimated 253 miles available, the Niro squeezes plenty of distance from its relatively small battery pack. We also ran the Niro EV in our real-world range test and managed to make it 280 miles on a full charge. That's similar to the real-world results we measured from the Chevrolet Bolt and Volkswagen ID.4. Excitement is a bit lacking, partially because the Niro EV comes only with a 201-horsepower electric motor. There's no option for a dual-motor setup like some rival EVs offer, but Kia would likely point you to its bigger EV6 if performance is a priority.

　　Overall, we're impressed by the redesigned 2023 Niro EV. It's a great choice among compact electric vehicles including the Bolt, ID.4 and Hyundai Kona Electric. All of these EVs offer excellent value for the money, but the Niro stands out even more with a great list of features and long warranty to go with it. Check our Expert Rating below for the Niro's complete evaluation from our test team.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Niro EV drive? The Niro EV feels zippy enough around town. The electric motor provides pleasing power when you need it, and the accelerator pedal never feels touchy or overly sensitive. In zzdcar' testing, the Niro EV accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a class-average 7.1 seconds. The brakes offer decent performance, with a nice, firm pedal and adjustable one-pedal driving, meaning you can use the regenerative braking to slow the car and rarely have to use the brake pedal.

　　The Niro EV isn't really sporty, though. The suspension is tuned more for comfort than sharp handling. It's composed and stable on the road, but the low levels of grip mean you won't be whipping around corners with much enthusiasm.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Niro EV? The Niro EV is quiet and comfortable, with little wind or road noise at highway speeds. The ride is compliant without being overly soft or floaty. It makes for a relaxed cabin. The front seats are well shaped and offer decent support, but we found the padding a bit firm. We wouldn't call it uncomfortable, but we hope the seats break in with some more use. The rear seat, too, is a bit firm and flat. Heated seats are standard for the front seats and available for the rear. Also optional is a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats.

　　The standard dual-zone automatic climate control works well, keeping the cabin at a comfortable temperature without blasting the fans the entire time. The vents are well placed, including those for rear passengers. The climate control panel is easy to reach, though you might have to take your eyes off the road to do more than adjust the temperature.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below