KIA’s new Niro electric SUV: it’s a matter of choice

Published on 3 September, 2022

Overview

You’d be forgiven for being a bit confused with all the BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs, not to mention MHEVs, that are on the market.

Increasingly brands have multiple choices of ‘electrified’ models in their range.

That is the way of things as we change over to all new cars sold by 2030 being electric.

But people are still a little perplexed (well, those who contact me are anyway) with all the different ‘EV’ acronyms that are applied to cars with some electrical input. 

Double-charged: Electric car took so long to charge, the cost of killing time cost us an extra €16

Only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are totally reliant on electricity for their power. Often called EVs, they are powered solely by electric motor(s) and rechargeable battery pack. You can charge it at home or using the national network.

A plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, is equipped with a petrol engine, an electric motor and a special battery pack. The battery can be plugged in and charged like a fully electric car but critically, it doesn’t have the size or capacity of the pack on a BEV.

A hybrid electric vehicle, or HEV, has a petrol engine and an electric motor. Importantly, the battery can only be charged by the petrol engine. These cars are generally known as ‘hybrids’.

And then there is the ‘mild hybrid’ vehicle (MHEV) which uses a battery-powered electric motor to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Mild hybrids also use regenerative braking to charge the battery while driving. They don’t charge from an external power source and are not capable of electric-only driving.

I’ve been prompted to outline the different genres and their workings because I have just been testing two new KIA Niro arrivals. One is a Niro PHEV; the other a Niro BEV.

I have already reviewed the PHEV so I’ll steer clear of repetition. But I thought it would be instructive to undertake the tricky job of trying to come up with pros and cons for both.

It is a position many of us will face quite soon: go fully electric or take an extra step with a PHEV because of its perceived petrol engine ‘back-up’.

Visually there isn’t much difference between the PHEV and BEV Niro except for the front grille and a few touches here and there. The grille is a two-tone closed affair; there are different bumpers and ‘model specific’ 17ins alloys.

I think the BEV is marginally better looking with its front grille differentiation sharper than the PHEV.

The BEV is costlier: €43,550 (including government grant and VRT rebate), though not by as much as you might expect. Yes the K3 version of the PHEV costs from €38,500 but the spec in the BEV is similar to the K4 level on the plug-in and it starts from €41,500 so there is not such a big gap.

The BEV has a claimed 460km range which is excellent. But, after driving it, I’d say 420km is more realistic. I reckon that is a bit below the PHEV if you plug in regularly. Range goes out the door if you drive either model hard on the motorway, for example.

I’m in danger of overwhelming you with facts and figures here so I’ll just say the BEV felt quicker off the mark.

Both handled well, though if pushed, I think the all-electric version was that bit better on bends and over poorer surfaces. Both benefit from an improvement in suspension and steering feedback.

Topping up the BEV’s 64.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery from 10pc-80pc takes just 43 minutes with a suitable DC rapid charger.

Filling up the PHEV with petrol takes a couple of minutes (you can charge the battery element at your leisure at home or off the network). I thing that is a big win there for the PHEV on time spent ‘refuelling’.

The BEV, additionally, has a heat pump, battery heating/cooling system and Vehicle-to-Device (V2D) power supply.

Both cabins scored equally – they are basically much the same. As are the displays and fittings. As are some of the voice control glitches that turned a well-known Irish name into ‘London’.

That said, the cabin has become an area where KIA excel. The Niro may not be a head-turner outside but my goodness you feel cosseted inside, though I’d have liked a little more room at the back.

The special 17ins alloys on the BEV, I think, beat the PHEV because there was less cabin noise (you notice it even more in the near-silence of an electric powertrain). That’s a plus for the all-electric version.

So which would I buy? It’s a tough one because I feel there are different customers for each. A BEV might not suit someone down the country whereas a PHEV might. Vice versa for a city dweller.

But if I had to choose I’d go for the BEV.  Why not? It is made for the real-world journey into the electric future.

Factfile

KIA Niro BEV. €43,550. 64.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery.

A big spread of safety and driver assist technologies (Lane Keep Assist, Lane Follow Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Blind-spot Collision Avoidance); shift by wire (rotary dial for drive, reverse and park), electric adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, driver’s heads-up display, driver display screen, central touchscreen, wireless phone charger.

Apple Car Play, Android Auto with voice control, dual-zone automatic air con.

Double-charged: Electric car took so long to charge, the cost of killing time cost us an extra €16