Used Kia Niro EV 2022-present review

How do you cope with winning an Oscar at the beginning of your career? It's a niche predicament, we know, but it's a bit like one the Kia Niro EV knows all too well.

You see, we dubbed its predecessor, the 2019-2022 Kia e-Niro, our What Car? Car of the Year back in 2019. Being the electric version of first Niro ever produced, what a way to make your debut. However, where do you go next? Well, that's where this latest Niro EV comes in, arriving in 2022 as the model's follow-up performance.

Performance & Range: All versions have a 201bhp electric motor that drive the front wheels. Power is fed by a 64.8kWh (usable capacity) battery.

Acceleration is surprisingly sprightly, with the Niro EV sprinting from 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds in our tests. That’s a fair bit quicker than a Skoda Enyaq and much faster than a Peugeot e-2008.

In fact, the Niro EV is powerful enough that its front wheels can struggle for traction if you’re too aggressive with the accelerator pedal. It gets worse if the road is wet. Generally, though, it's smooth and easy to drive.

Officially, the Niro EV can cover 285 miles between charges, but you likely won't get that far in real life. In our real-world range test, a 4 trim model managed 253 miles. That's impressive – even if the Niro EV's real range is merely on par with its e-Niro predecessor – and further than the Vauxhall Mokka-e and the entry-level VW ID 3 can travel.

An increasing number of rivals (the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, for instance) are now offering 300-mile-plus official ranges, too.

Ride & Handling: Ride comfort has clearly been prioritised over sporty handling. The relatively soft suspension means that, at faster speeds, you float along with just some gentle side-to-side sway. The Niro EV deals with beaten up urban backstreets pretty well, proving slightly more settled than the Smart #1.

It’s also composed and confidence inspiring on a twisty road, even if calling it ‘fun’ would be a stretch (it's no patch on the lower-riding Cupra Born), but by electric SUV standards it grips well and its accurate steering allows you to position the car where you want it.

Interior & Practicality: The Niro EV's interior takes its inspiration from the larger Kia EV6. That’s largely a good thing, because it means the design looks smart and modern, and the materials used feel relatively upmarket. It’s certainly plusher inside than the BYD Atto 3 and VW ID 3.

There’s plenty of space. Tall people sitting in the outer rear seats will enjoy more space than in an e-2008, and won’t find their knees cramped against the front seats or their heads grazing the roof lining. The larger Enyaq provides a bit more head and leg room for exceptionally tall folk, though.

The Niro EV’s boot is surprisingly big, swallowing seven carry-on suitcases in our tests. Interestingly, there’s more luggage space than in a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Kia Niro and a short family holiday will prove no problem at all.

What's more, there's a tiny storage compartment under its bonnet, so, overall, the Niro EV is a far better load-lugger than the Smart #1. However, again, the Enyaq beats it here with an even bigger boot. All Niro EV trim levels come with a height-adjustable boot floor, although there's no ski-hatch like there is in the #1.

Trims & Equipment: The entry-level 2 model isn't exactly dripping with creature comforts, either; you get all of the basics, including dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control, but have make do with a smaller (8.0in) infotainment screen and miss out on heated seats.

To get things such as heated seats and wireless phone-charging, you'll need to go for 3 trim – but even then you'll have to pay a fair bit extra if you want a heat pump for more efficient warming of the interior in cooler temperatures.

You don't even get a heat pump as standard-from-new with range-topping 4 trim, although you get lots of luxuries, including a sunroof, an electric tailgate, heated and ventilated seats in the front, heated seats in the rear and a heated steering wheel.

Interested in buying a used Kia Niro EV? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

You can buy a used Kia Niro EV for around £23,000. For the money, expect a 2023 model sporting the entry-level 2 trim. The 3 demands around £27,000, while 4 goes for around £30,000.

As of writing, nearly new Niro EVs are available for upwards of £27,000. This is a good saving on the price of a new one.

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Charging: Perhaps the largest let-down about the Niro EV is how long it takes to charge up. It can accept a maximum of only 72kW of charging power, meaning a 10-80% top-up takes at least 43 mins – and that’s in ideal conditions.

For context, a 10-80% charge in the #1 can theoretically take as little as 27min, and even the Skoda Enyaq 80, which has a much larger battery, can cover off a 10-80% charge in less than half an hour.

A full 0-100% charge from a 7kW home wallbox in the Niro EV takes around 10hr 30min.

Insurance and servicing: The 2 trim falls into insurance group 28, while trims 3 and 4 belong to group 29. That's roughly average for an electric car of its type, but you'll find similar petrol, diesel and hybrid alternatives will likely be cheaper to insure. For instance, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Niros all belong to insurance groups in the low 20s.

For two services of a 2023 Niro EV, we were quoted £279 via Kia.

Reliability

The Kia Niro EV, like its e-Niro predecessor, has exceptional reliability, as noted in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey. Owners are particularly satisfied with the trouble-free performance of the electric battery and motor.

While there have been a few mentions of minor electrical issues, notably with the infotainment system, Kia's dealer network has been highly effective in addressing any concerns. Dealers are praised for their prompt, efficient service and excellent communication, significantly reducing inconvenience for owners. Kia's warranty also proved a highlight.

Discover more about used Kia Niro EV reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

With just the one battery and power output available, there's no debate there.

We'd stick with the entry-level 2 trim, unless you fancy its added luxuries (such as wireless phone charging and heated seats) and have a spare £4000 or so to spend. As we've gone over, 2 gets all the basics, including dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control.

Our favourite Kia Niro EV: 64.8kWh 2

While its design takes inspiration from SUVs, the Niro EV isn't the beast that the Skoda Enyaq is. You can pick up a 2021 example for around £20,000 – you'll need around £26,000 if you'd like more than 300 miles of range. Being a larger car, the Enyaq offers more interior space than the Niro EV, too.

If range tops your priorities list, then an easy recommendation is the Tesla Model 3, specifically the Long Range version. Officially, it'll go 389 miles before running out of juice. It's also sharp to drive, packed with tech and pretty practical (for a saloon car). The price? Well, you can pick up a decent 2021 one for around £24,000.

It's also worth taking a look at the 2019-2022 Kia e-Niro, because, while it's not quite as sharp and modern-looking as the Niro EV, it's cheaper to buy and the 64kWh version can go just as far on a single charge. Around £16,000 will net you a decent 2021 one.

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Interested in buying a used Kia Niro EV? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.