ELECTRIC FOUNDATION

Kia’s debut EV has impressive range and surprising grunt but families on a tight budget may baulk at the price tag DAVID McCOWEN

THIS IS KIA’S FIRST ELECTRIC CAR

Most manufacturers are working on electric cars (if they don’t offer one already), and this is Kia’s first crack at an EV locally. It arrives in the form of a compact SUV, the body style preferred by thousands of new-car customers. The Niro name is new here, but not overseas, where the car has been on sale since 2018.

Though Kia is new to battery-powered machines, key hardware is shared with Hyundai’s Kona Electric and the Niro is backed by a seven-year warranty that should bring peace of mind.

THE TECH ISN’T CHEAP

Priced from $70,990 drive-away in Niro Sport trim as tested here, the Niro costs almost twice as much as an equivalent petrol model. That’s normal for an electric car, particularly one with impressive hardware.

The Niro has a big 64kWh battery and powerful 150kW/395Nm electric motor that drives the front wheels.

Standard kit includes 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, faux-leather trim, LED lights and a 10.25-inch touchscreen linked to a JBL stereo, satnav and smartphone mirroring.

THIS IS A PRACTICAL PICK

Kia claims the Niro is good for 455 kilometres of driving, which is far more than rival electric cars such as the Mazda MX-30 (200km), Mini Electric (233km), BMW i3 (285km) or MG ZS EV (263km).

We tested two examples and found the Niro’s real-world range is just as impressive as its claim, thanks to an efficient electric motor and software that isn’t overly optimistic. That’s great because it’s less likely to leave you stranded.

Charging the Niro from zero to 80 per cent at 50kW DC public chargers takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. That drops to 54 minutes at 100kW fast-chargers. Topping up at home requires more than 24 hours for a full charge unless you spend about $2000 on a wall box that will get the job done overnight.

IT’S DECENT TO DRIVE

As with all electric cars, the Niro is a quiet and smooth performer. It has a near-silent motor and a single-speed transmission that deliver seamless acceleration.

Its swift throttle responses and effortless thrust rivals turbocharged hot hatches.

The Niro is relaxed to drive, with softer suspension than we’ve come to expect from Kia. It’s comfortable on the open road but a little roly-poly in the bends, though there is plenty of grip thanks to premium tyres.

IT MIGHT BE WORTH WAITING, THOUGH

We wouldn’t rush out to buy the Niro. It looks and feels dated compared to segment leaders such as Tesla’s Model 3, which is by far the best electric car available for this sort of money – it’s faster, smarter and better to drive. That may change when the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 arrive. Built from the ground up as dedicated electric cars, they promise superior tech, performance and packaging to the Niro for a similar price.