2022 Kia Niro EV Expert Review
Reviewed by Kelly Lin
Kia offers three versions of the Niro hatchback, and the greenest one is the Niro EV. Sharing its electric drivetrain with the Hyundai Kona Electric, this model features strong electric driving range. It competes against other mainstream electric cars such as the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf Plus.
What's New
- Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Standard rear-occupant alert
- Remote start function will preheat or pre-cool the cabin
- DriveWise suite adds leading vehicle departure alert, highway driving assist, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control
What We Think
Ever hear the phrase "looks aren't everything?" Well, the same can be said for personality. Although the Niro isn't thrilling to drive, the small hatchback is practical, offering plenty of rear headroom and legroom even for taller passengers. It comes standard with a nice suite of driver assist features, too. In past reviews, we noted the lane following and lane keeping assists do a great job keeping the vehicle centered in its lane even through turns with the adaptive cruise control activated.
Our staffers had mixed opinions about the driving experience, with some complaining about unsatisfying brakes and steering. The Niro suffers from too much road and tire noise on imperfect pavement as well. Others liked the Niro's handling balance, and our road test editor praised the car's stability at high speeds.
For any electric vehicle, the big question revolves around range. The Niro EV can travel 239 miles on a charge, which should be enough to keep range anxiety at bay. That said, some rivals can travel farther distances, including the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. When confronted with this fact, plus the Niro EV's price of more than $45,000 for the top trim (before incentives), the little Kia becomes less appealing.
Performance and Range
The Niro EV comes with an electric motor good for 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque. We clocked the little hatch going from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, making it slightly quicker than the Nissan Leaf Plus (6.5 seconds).
Range is EPA-rated at 239 miles on a full charge. That's less than the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric (258 miles) and Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (263 miles), but more than the Nissan Leaf Plus (226 miles).
Recharging takes about 9 hours and 35 minutes with a Level 2 charger. A 50 kW DC fast charger can replenish the battery to an 80 percent charge in an hour and 15 minutes, while a 100 kW unit cuts that time down to an hour.
Safety Ratings and Features
From the NHTSA, the Niro EV earns a five-star overall safety rating, the highest possible score. Although the EV model hasn't been specifically evaluated by the IIHS, the Hybrid and PHEV models both receive the top Good score in all six crashworthiness tests.
The Niro EV comes with a host of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane following assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Driver attention warning with lead vehicle departure alert is also standard, while highway drive assist and a navigation-based adaptive cruise control system are available.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
On paper, the Niro EV offers slightly less legroom and cargo space than the traditional hybrid Niro. However, both models feel spacious inside.
Cargo space (behind first/second row):
2022 Niro EV: 53.0/18.5 cubic feet
2022 Niro Hybrid: 54.5/19.4 cubic feet
Legroom (first/second rows):
2022 Niro EV: 41.7/36.0 inches
2022 Niro Hybrid: 41.7/37.4 inches
Technology
The Niro EV comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation is available, but it trades wireless smartphone connectivity for a wired setup.
Trim Levels
The Niro EV is available in two trims: EX and EX Premium. Prices start at more than $40,200 for the base model and more than $45,800 for the EX Premium.
EX: smart key with push-button start, heated front seats, cloth and artificial leather seating, 10-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8.0-inch touchscreen, four-speaker sound system with two tweeters
EX Premium: rear LED combination lamps, a power tilt and slide sunroof, artificial leather seats, adjustable interior mood lighting, ventilated front seats, 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless phone charging, 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
The Next Generation of Kia Electric Vehicles
For 2023, a new generation of Niro EV goes on sale. It retains its familiar hatchback form factor but goes in a new direction with its exterior and interior styling. Although performance takes a slight hit, driving range gets an appreciable increase. All told the new Niro EV is a big improvement over its predecessor. Kia will launch seven new dedicated battery electric vehicles globally by 2026.
