Dave VanderWerp of Car and Driver was
definitely on to something when he said that in his opinion, our esteemed Niro
EV came out with perhaps not near as much anticipation as the Chevy Bolt and
without the illustrious star appeal of “anything Tesla.” It's our addition to
the lineup that is an electric-only crossover, and Dave also states here that
it is a thoroughly impressive engineering effort that is painting Kia as the daunting
dark horse in electric-vehicle prowess.
With the EPA mile rating situated at a very
substantial 239 miles, it also offers up more back-seat room and nearly 25
percent more cargo space than the Model 3. Whenever customers come to talk to
us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis
about the potential of buying an all-electric car, they are usually very savvy
individuals who are great at the all-important task of stretching their
valuable dollar. The Niro's price tag is situated at an attractive $10,000 less
than that of the small Tesla sedan, one reason why Dave claims it is an “EV
that the masses should be lined up to buy.”
The Niro
comes in two feature-heavy trim levels: the EX and EX Premium. Among included
standard features are passive entry with push-button start, Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto functionality, automatic climate control, and a slew of driver
aids such as adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering assist, and
blind-spot warning. Stepping up to the Premium trim adds LED head and taillights,
a sunroof, leather front seats that are heated and ventilated, an 8.0-inch
center touchscreen instead of the standard 7.0-inch model, and the
eccentrically excellent sounds of the Harmon/Kardon stereo.
After a lengthy test drive, Dave ranked the
driving experience as “serene,” and great at quelling the wind noise that is
hard to avoid during the winter. The electrical hardware provided minimal
whine, and everything inside feels solid and built with longstanding expertise.
The Niro
is tuned to be more comfortable and have a bit less sporty of a stance, and the
brakes possess the quick and protective response expected from any current
offering. After comparing it in detail to the Tesla Model 3, the final verdict
from the Car And Driver troupe was that the powertrain has a
mature tone that “brings on the power in a more progressive manner,” and the
group was happy to see range estimates peaking out at a bit higher than the
239-mile stated figure, which may have been helped along by a very optimal 60-degree
temperature outside.
Ask us about the optional cold-weather package,
which includes heated steering wheel plus battery heater and heat pump to
further comfort the cabin. Also of great interest is the standard 100-kW DC
fast-charging capability, quicker than both the Nissan Leaf and the Bolt EV. If
hooked up to a 100 kW onboard charger, you can get your pack up to 80 percent
in just an hour. As the future of automobiles appears to be embracing
electrification with no slowdown in sight, 2019 may be the perfect year for
your family or business to verify what volt-powered victory over fuel
consumption feels like!
