Kia Niro EV battery size a long way from its previous iteration, but its electric-only stats aren’t all that different from those of its best-selling competitor, the Nissan Leaf Plus. However, design and on-board tech, ride comfort and practicality have all taken a step forward, putting the Niro among the most capable EV family cars.
The Niro EV’s battery has been increased to 64.8 kWh (up from 64 kW) while the maximum charging power remains at 75 kW. There’s also an optional Battery Heating System that pre-warms the batteries when connected to a charging station, helping to improve range and performance in cold weather.
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Another big change is the adoption of a floating centre console, giving rear-seat occupants much more room for their feet. There are still two USB-C sockets and heating/cooling vents, but there’s now a generous 435L boot with the seats up and 1329L when they’re folded, as well as plenty of legroom.
All models come with what Kia calls the DriveWise bundle of driver-assistance systems. This consists of blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alerts, driver-attention warning, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.
Kia is also offering a Plug-in Hybrid Niro, which runs an efficient 1.6-liter four alongside the battery pack for an estimated combined total of 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. It can travel 53 miles on pure electric power and then switches to a combined gas/electric hybrid mode for the rest of the trip.