Review: Covering 460km on a single charge, Kia's Niro EV offers low running costs to offset its high price tag

Published on 16 October, 2022

Overview

The choice in electric cars has never been better and sales are rising month on month. Battery-powered cars now account for one in five new cars bought. Yet despite the number of electric cars on our roads motorists regularly cite price, range and battery life as issues of concern.

The purchase price of electric cars is higher than a similarly sized petrol or diesel car; and the gap, while narrowing, is still significant. However price is only one factor, so to compare properly the cost of an electric car with alternatives you need to work out the total cost of ownership.

Kia Ireland compared the fuel costs of a battery electric car (EV), a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and an ICE (petrol or diesel) car based on a motorist with an annual mileage of 18,000km. The EV cost €1,080 a year to fuel, the PHEV €1,368 and the ICE €2,168. So it’s twice as expensive to power an ICE car than an EV — this was based on petrol/diesel at a cost of €2.20 a litre and consumption at 5.5l/100km. Electricity was calculated at a cost of 26c a unit, but in many cases home owners running an EV would be using a night-rate electricity tariff so they could potentially make even more savings.

Our test car this week, the all-electric Kia Niro EV, is priced from €43,550; there is also PHEV version that starts from €38,500.

The smart styling of the Niro EV is distinguished from the PHEV model by a two-tone grille, distinctive bumper and 17-inch alloys.

Inside, everything looks modern, smart and welcoming. A digital display screen integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment features in one package and comes with sharp graphics and a nicely intuitive layout. There’s also plenty of space inside the Niro EV, from the 475-litre boot to the improved head and legroom.

The Niro EV is ideal for drivers who regularly make long trips, as you can cover 460km on a single charge. Topping up the 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery from 10pc to 80pc takes just 43 minutes with a rapid charger, while charging at home on a standard charger will take around 10 hours.

On the road it’s smooth rather than sporty but that’s exactly what most buyers will want. It’s comfortable, refined and silent. It’s also crammed with safety features.

Niro EV buyers get a very well-equipped car with a host of goodies as standard, including a heat pump and a vehicle-to-device (V2D) power supply so you can power home appliances and electronic devices directly from your car.

However the Kia is a pricey option when compared to rivals including Volkswagen’s ID.3 (€40,587 ); Peugeot e-2008 (€35,135); Hyundai Kona (€32,495) and Skoda Enyaq (€43,586).

The launch of the Niro EV is likely to see Kia again climbing the EV best-seller ranks. It’s well-equipped, practical and has an impressive range. On the downside it’s not a huge improvement on the previous version and it enters a more competitive market than before, but without doubt it’s a car that will appeal to families looking for safe, comfortable and range-anxiety-free motoring.

Star rating: 4/5