Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Kia Niro EV Proves That Range Is No Longer the Issue

The push for electric vehicles is real, regardless of whether buyers and enthusiasts are willing to accept an automotive future without internal combustion engines. Emissions regulations, a rapidly decreasing supply of oil, and the ever-present need to get vehicles farther using less fuel paints a comprehensive picture showing why EVs are the future. Automakers don’t want to move toward electrified vehicles; they’re being forced to. But that doesn’t mean we have to begrudgingly accept our fates.

Since roughly the 1830s, companies have been looking into using electricity as the main fuel of propulsion for transportation, though it is only recently that electric cars have taken off. Much of this is thanks to Tesla and the automaker’s need to make cars more than just cars. But if you’re honest with yourself, and your accountant, you don’t need a Tesla to get an EV with usable range. The great thing about competition among automakers is that they’re all working on coming out with the best product, meaning you can search elsewhere for your electrified fix.

Related Videos

The main problem with electric cars, and one that Tesla only has seemingly managed to fix, is range. Filling up an electric car is far more time-consuming and frustrating than refueling a vehicle with a gas- or diesel-powered machine. Let me tell you, range anxiety exists, and it’s an awful feeling, which is why range should be, and usually is, the number one factor when making the switch to an electric car.

Joel Patel/The Manual

With 239 miles of real-world range thanks to a 64-kWh battery pack, the 2019 Kia Niro EV makes an excellent case for itself as a daily electric vehicle. It also holds an ace up its sleeve thanks to its unmissable subcompact SUV body. Right off the bat, the Niro EV fixes two issues once held against electric vehicles: Practicality and insufficient range. But perhaps the most alluring part of Kia’s electric vehicle is its value.

Sneaking in at under $40k, the Niro EV is slightly more expensive than rivals, but Kia’s value game is, and always has been, strong. So, you get a healthy amount of features that include smartphone compatibility for both Apple and Android users, automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen, and all of the latest driver-assist features.

Go with the EX Premium trim, which was our test vehicle for a week, and you’ll find yourself with all the features your heart desires. An additional $5,500 nets you a banging Harman Kardon audio system, heated and ventilated seats, a larger touchscreen, and a wireless charging pad. Value is something that’s distributed parsimoniously in the world of EVs, but Kia’s battery-powered Niro has it in spades.

Just like the exterior that hides its electrified nature, the interior is much the same. Just a touch of blue here, and some reworked gauges there. Hop into the cabin and you won’t have to go through an EV 101: Beginner’s Guide to Getting Used to Your EV course to figure your way around the car. Fancy? Absolutely not. Cutting-edge? Only if your last car was from the ’90s. Sturdy and well-built are better ways to describe the Niro EV’s interior. It’s noticeably quiet, as well — one of the major upsides of the electrified powertrain.

That same level of mainstream recognizability best describes the Niro EV’s performance. The 201-horsepower electric motor may sound modest, but the immediate torque delivery from a stoplight gives the sensation of much more pep. Light steering, a non-linear brake pedal, and additional heft from the electric powertrain stop this EV from competing with the sharpest electric tools around a corner. Despite having a Sport mode. But this was never meant to be a canyon carver.

Instead, the Niro EV is aimed more directly toward urbanites, like my wife. She has a commute that spans 2.5 miles through city congestion. Most of it happens at speeds that make suburban neighborhood sign postings of 25 mph look like racetrack speeds. But this is where EVs shine.

Joel Patel/The Manual

Put the Niro EV into Eco+ mode (one of four available), and you’ll be able to cover miles in the city without using any juice. Regen is automatically set to its highest setting and, fair warning, feels quite strong. It takes a while to get used to it, and if you’re the type to get nauseous easily, try a lower level of regen before going all in. Top speed is limited to 60 mph, but hey, good luck hitting that between stop signs that are 20 feet apart.

Other EVs boast one-pedal driving capability, like Chevrolet with the Bolt EV, allowing you to drive without ever having to touch the brake pedal. Kia makes no claim for this with the Niro EV and that’s a good thing, because the paddles are tiresome to use. The left paddle, the one to manually engage regeneration, frustratingly, won’t hold the vehicle to a stop, either.

In a week of driving, the Niro EV shined as a daily commuter, road tripper on a 200-mile trip to spend a weekend with the in-laws, and single-family vehicle. The complaints with the electric vehicle are far and few between. The main dilemma we faced was finding a charger. The majority of shoppers don’t know about electric vehicles – the Niro EV was the first time my wife had been in an EV. So when we did find a charging station, we found non-electric cars blocking vital chargers. Finding an open one became something of a cult thing, you strike up a conversation with a fellow EV owner to find secret charging spots.

Pricing has come down, range has gone up, but the growth of charging stations remains somewhat stagnant. That’s simply unacceptable given the big push toward electric cars that is upon us.

The Niro EV isn’t a special electric car because it has an astonishing range or because it offers neck-snapping performance. Instead, it’s the electric car that’s the easiest to acclimate to — the EV that requires the smallest amount of adjustment. That in itself is enough to merit a purchase.

Good luck finding one, though. For everything the Niro EV has going for it, Kia’s certainly holding the vehicle back by limiting its sale to only 12 states. If it weren’t for that, this would be the ideal EV for the majority of people. It’s the electric vehicle for regular Joes that want all of the benefits of an EV without having to compromise. Or you could just dip into the 401k.

Editors' Recommendations

BMW just made a critical (and expensive!) change to its M series X5 and X6
BMW's X5 M and X6 M: Hope you’re ready for the electrified future, because it’s arrived
2024 BMW X5 M and X6 M Competition parked in front of a glass building in the desert with mountains in the back.

After seeing the changes that BMW made for the 2024 X5 and X6 midsize SUVs, we were expecting to see similar changes for the high-performance M variants. As we expected, the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition arrive with similar changes that include updated exterior designs and new tech features. More importantly, the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition mark a new era for BMW’s M-badged vehicles, as they’re the first to come with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that supplements the V8.
Let’s start with the SUVs’ engines. Both come with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that’s heavily revised compared to the outgoing models. The S68 is rated at 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system consists of an electric motor that’s integrated into the 8-speed automatic transmission’s housing. It adds 12 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The 48-volt system also acts as a starter generator for the SUVs.

Previous

Read more
Iconic Meyers Manx buggy gets first-ever Remastered Kit for auto enthusiasts
The iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy has been updated, but you’ll still need to source major components on your own
Meyers Manx Remastered Kit front end angle parked on the beach in front of water.

When most people think about a buggy, there’s a good chance they’re envisioning a Meyers Manx. The odd, frog-looking machine was one of the original DIY kits when it was introduced in the ‘60s and gave enthusiasts the ability to build a funky machine that could travel across sand better than a hermit crab. Now, the Meyers Manx has returned for a new generation of enthusiasts with some modern tweaks thanks to renowned automotive designer Freeman Thomas.
There’s some good news for enthusiasts that like the way the original Manx dune buggy looks – the design of the new kit essentially looks just like the original one. That was Thomas’ intention from the beginning, as the designer claims that the goal with the “Remastered program was to preserve [founder] Bruce Meyers’ unmistakable design while incorporating modern touches that make full assembly accessible to more people.”

The new Meyers Manx Remastered Kit utilizes 3D scanning that’s 100% digital to ensure that the fiberglass panels fit seamlessly together. The kit also has a few modern touches that will make the vehicle easier to assemble for DIYers who want to complete the build in their garage, like a removable dash panel and integrated wiring tubes. The best feature that really showcases how modernized the Manx Remastered Kit is compared to the original one is the addition of a locking rear trunk. That’s right. You now have a small place to store goodies that will be safe from thieves you might run into while off-roading on the beach.
Buyers interested in the new remastered kit have 46 different metal flake gel-coat colors and 18 solid gel-coat color schemes to choose from. Metal flake paint jobs cost an extra $1,000, while getting your body kit protected from the sun with a UV coat costs $800. Meyers Manx is currently accepting deposits for the Remastered Kit, that’s priced at $5,995. You can put down 50% to get your name in the hat and get your build going as quickly as possible.

Read more
BMW’s new design facility in Santa Monica will mean great things for you, too
After 50 years in Thousand Oaks, BMW’s Designworks has moved to Santa Monica
One of the office spaces in the BMW Designerworks studio in Santa Monica, California.

You don’t have to be an artist to notice that automotive design has changed dramatically over the past few decades. While every decade sees automobile designers take inspiration from outside the automotive industry, new-age vehicles are blazing their own paths for automotive designs. In order to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of automotive design, BMW recently moved its innovative Designworks division to Santa Monica, California.
At first glance, the move might be confusing. For the past 50 years, Designworks has been located in Thousand Oaks and has worked out of a 70,000 square-foot facility. The new studio in Santa Monica has just 16,000 square feet of space. While the change in location may seem like a business deal gone bad, the change will help Designworks really flex its muscles as an innovative design studio. That should mean more stirring designs for consumers.

Previous

Read more