Test drive: Kia Niro EV, a 100% electric vehicle with luxurious features

The Niro was one of Kia’s first environmentally friendly models. It was born in 2016 as a conventional hybrid model, before plug-in hybrid (2018) and pure electric (2019) variants were added. Last year the second generation appeared and the triple proposal was maintained with hybrid versions (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and 100% electric (EV).

The new version of the Niro EV is a pleasant update of the previous model, with a totally attractive exterior design, but still offering great autonomy. It is 4,195 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, 1,605 mm high and has a spacing of 2,600 mmwith a loading capacity of up to 315 litres.

The exterior styling is based on the Opposites United design philosophy, which can also be found on the new Sportage, placing a strong emphasis on delivering effective aerodynamics for an environmentally friendly car. Aggressive lighting and a stronger overall appearance give the new Niro EV more presence on the road.

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This vehicle is distinguished by its steel gray or black exterior finish, depending on the body color, as well as a bumper and Look Differentiated front, with closed grille and piano black accents. The charging input is located just below the logo.

Engine

The Niro EV has a engine that delivers 150 kW of power, which corresponds to 203 hp for reference, and 255 Nm of torqueand feeds a 65 kWh batterywhich can offer up to 460 km of autonomy for an additional charge (WLTP).

Connected to a Level 3 fast charger, the Niro EV can be charged from 10 to 80% in less than 45 minutes, with a maximum charging power of 85 kW. The 11 kW on-board charger takes less than seven hours. In addition, the Niro EV has normal driving modes, sport and an ecological and intelligent three-level regenerative braking system.

Security

In addition to front, side, curtain, knee airbags for the driver and central side airbags, the Niro EV has various assistance from the drive wise system, such as Driver Attention Alert, blind spot sensor with intervention, cross traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Forward Collision Assist when cornering, High Beam Assist, Intelligent Cruise Control with stop goamong other things.

Infotainment

Inside, the Niro uses many recycled materials and vegan upholstery. The design of the dashboard is characterized by the use of two screens within the same frame and oriented towards the driver. It has a 10.25″ information cluster and a touch radio of the same size, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. What is appreciated is that it is equipped with two USB type C ports for the rear passengers, as well as a USB port and wireless charging for mobile phones. The eco-leather seats are electric for both the driver and the front passenger and both areas also have automatic climate control. In addition, there is the sliding roof.

In short, the internal characteristics of the Niro are those of a high-end car.

Continuous!

MOTORS had the opportunity to test this vehicle for three days, from Monday to Wednesday. Using the Guayaquil traffic, good conclusions were drawn about the battery autonomy of the new Niro EV.

We receive the car with cargo full, to cover approximately 530 km in eco driving mode. We drive carefully, but not too carefully, we also had to try out the mode sport. In 85% of the test we used the iPedal, which is the highest energy recovery mode. This allows us to drive virtually without braking, since when the accelerator pedal is released, the energy charge is so aggressive that the car only brakes.

If you learn to use it properly and calculate distances in relation to speed, it is incredible how well it works and there is practically no need to touch the brake pedal, with the savings this brings it becomes necessary to put it in the city ​​to use.

The engine response, as always with an electric car, is strong, as 255 Nm of torque is available from the moment you touch the accelerator. This power makes it a vehicle that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds.

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There is three driving modes -eco, normal and sport- they speak for themselves. Eco mode softens throttle response slightly to increase efficiency. We almost always found it to be a perfectly comfortable way to drive; It’s not exciting, but that’s not what it’s intended for. In sport mode you get all the benefits of engine power but sacrifice battery autonomy.

On the sides of the steering wheel we find two paddles that allow you to select the desired level of regeneration, which we like because it gives you easy control at all times. The highest level is i-Pedal, while there are three other regeneration levels that you can configure to your liking. This means that you can turn off the regeneration with a few clicks as soon as you enter the highway and drive without delay, which is more suitable for highway driving. We tested this system on the Perimeter route and it responded efficiently.

The adaptive cruise control works well, with lane keeping assistance and steering assistance, which means level 2 autonomy. However, lane keeping is a bit tricky around town, often warning you and sometimes attempting to correct your driving line; If you are not going on a long trip, it is advisable to turn it off.

Our test lasted about 250 km, so we didn’t have to charge the battery. And the system indicated that consumption in our best pure city moments (where it is most efficient) was 15.3 kWh/100 km. In the end we still had a range of 223 km.

In short, it is an ideal vehicle because of its spacious interior, it has good comfort and connectivity equipment, it offers a high level of safety, it is very easy to drive, it invites daily use and it offers a good battery. lifespan, allowing travel of up to 450 km without having to worry about recharging. (JO)