2019 Kia Niro EV | CarGurus Test Drive Review

Read about the new Kia Niro EV on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/t04Hm

The Kia Niro EV is vanilla. There are no flashy details on the outside, and just plain old practicality living on the inside. Still, with 239 miles of driving range, this electric car is likely to draw attention from EV enthusiasts. But how well does 239 miles translate to real-world driving convenience?

The answer, unfortunately, turns out to be “not too well.” During his week with the Niro EV, Cliff Atiyeh ran within a few percentage points shy of running out of juice. Certainly, New England’s frigid weather didn’t help, and Cliff was also disappointed with the local infrastructure’s ability to recharge his test car. On the bright side, the Niro EV’s 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet or torque did make for an enjoyable drive, but the car’s skinny tires and over-eager traction control meant that Cliff wasn’t able to put any of that power to its full use.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard on the Niro EV, and Kia’s UVO Connected Services offers a few nifty tricks, like the ability to send maintenance alerts to your smartphone. There’s 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, which expands to 53 cubes when you fold down the rear seat. In terms of safety, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have reviewed the Niro EV. However, the Niro Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid both received a Top Safety Pick+ designation by the IIHS.

Pricing on the Niro EV hasn’t been announced, but the mechanically identical Hyundai Kona EV costs $36,450. Federal tax credits can lower the price you’ll ultimately pay for a Niro EV, assuming you live in one of the twelve states where the car will be sold: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

For more information on the new 2019 Kia Niro EV, read Cliff’s full review on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/t04Hm

Presenter: Clifford Atiyeh
Cinematography: Venn Creative Media

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