Very soon, electric fleets will characterize
nearly every auto brand in existence. Amazing as it is, we even are seeing
advancements such as an electrically-powered eCopo Camaro, boasting horsepower
in the 700-range, and dominating the drag strip while running silent. Yahoo
featured a great video story this week about our Niro EV, and addressed
its history and finer points. It lays out a bit of history, and shows how
Tesla's first big seller in the electric domain was the model S, while Chevy
focused on their electric Bolt.
Since the sedan market is not doing so great right
now, the next generation of electric cars will absolutely have a high focus on
crossover SUV's, one area where Kia is proudly poised and ready. Editor Roberto
Baldwin laments on camera that the first time he drove the Niro last year, he
was impressed with the zero-to-sixty time right off the bat. While he thought
the Niro was a “fantastic crossover”, he also deemed the Niro EV “undoubtedly
even better”. The EV is quicker off the line than its hybrid sibling, and
brandishes an impressive 239-mile range per charge, putting to rest any anxiety
a daily commuter would have about running out of juice.
Roberto also highlights how the regenerative
braking can be used during the drive to actually send more current back to the
battery itself, helping overall range. The video does a great job of showing
the legroom you'll enjoy during a test drive here at Jim Butler, and the 53 cubic feet of
storage in the back for any goods you need on the trip. The battery pack
actually lowers the Niro's center of gravity, allowing for a pleasant tight and
grippy feel while taking corners. Urban driving is where the Niro EV thrives, as
it's a snap to parallel park, and has plenty of power off the line to lead the
pack effortlessly after a stop light.
Even though it is stressed here that the Niro EV
may not necessarily be groundbreaking in it's design, we agree that it does a
phenomenal job of simply “not looking the electric part”. Many of our customers
that come to us interested in a hybrid or EV say that this is what they want to
see more of, and where we feel it really stands out ahead of the Chevy Volt. It
blends into everyday culture easily, and is not a loud, barking advertisement
of your choice to embrace electric. The interior of the Niro is fairly
no-nonsense, and everything is where you'd expect it to be while being easy to
reach from the driver's seat. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are
standard, and we guarantee that you'll feel great about cutting out trips to
the gas station while increasing the lifespan “in the positive” for the planet!
