Kia Niro Review: A bold and brilliant electric car for the family

This electric SUV breathes life into the historic Niro name

Kia’s electric lineup is getting seriously competitive, and the Niro might just be the pick of the bunch.

That’s quite the statement when you consider the Sportage has been Kia’s UK bestseller for years – and for good reason. But following the Niro’s recent facelift, improved efficiency and all-round solid performance, you have to wonder how long the Sportage can hold onto the crown.

This Niro is a far cry from the original e-Niro that launched back in 2016. It slots into a competitive sector alongside the Peugeot e-2008, Renault Megane E-Tech and even the Volkswagen ID.3. 

Promising style, efficiency and everyday practicality, we’ve been testing the Niro 4 and this is how we got on.

What did we drive?

• Model: Niro EV 150kW 4 64kWh 5dr
• Power: Electric (201hp)
• Battery: 64.8 kWh lithium-ion
• Range: Up to 285 miles (WLTP Comb)
• Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 7.8 seconds
• Colour: Orange Flame
• OTR: £37,335
• Warranty: 7 years/100,000 miles
• Price of the model driven: £43,765

*Prices correct at the time of publication

Exterior

Design is subjective, but we'd argue the Niro has made one of the boldest design transformations in its segment.

Put it next to the old e-Niro and the difference is stark. The new Niro looks modern and futuristic, while the previous generation suddenly feels quite dated – despite only getting updated badging in 2021.

The big bulging headlights are no more, and the Niro is now far more rounded, and box-like in shape - complemented beautifully in the Orange Flame colour, with contrasting black roof rails and finishes to the body.

The new look adds stance and presence that simply wasn’t there with the e-Niro, continuing Kia’s impressive offering in the electric market.

Interior

The higher driving position gives the cabin a spacious feel. Visibility ahead is great and the Niro offers fantastic space for a family vehicle.

Being the '4' (the top trim level), our Niro featured a sunroof, and this added plenty of natural light to what was already a light and airy cabin.

In the back, boot space is competitive at 475 litres. Because of the boxy shape of the Niro, the rear opening is generously wide and there’s only a marginal load lip to contend with, making it a practical space.

The Niro beats rivals like the Megane E-Tech for boot space (440 litres), but if you do need a car lease that offers more space, you will have to consider the likes of the Enyaq (585 litres) or Tesla Model Y (854 litres).

The rest of the storage in the cabin, like the glovebox, is a reasonable size, but the door bins aren't worth writing home about – there's enough room for a small bottle and that's about it.

Head and legroom is generous, even for taller passengers, so this isn't a family car you'll find yourself outgrowing anytime soon.

High quality materials throughout the interior give the Niro a premium feel, without the premium price tag.

Drive

The Niro offers a composed and assured drive that was hugely popular with the Carparison crew – always a good sign.

It didn't excel in any single area, but it was solid across the board. From power output to steering and comfort levels, it scored a consistent 7/10 in every category.

That may sound like a backhanded compliment, but once you add it all up, the Niro was excellent in almost everything it did.

At just over 200 horsepower, it has all the power you'll ever need for a vehicle of this size. The combination of smooth handling and instant torque means it's a nice, light drive around town, but handles motorway driving perfectly fine too.

During our time with the vehicle, we were averaging 3.8 miles per kWh, which translates to a real-world range of around 250 miles. We're confident this could be increased comfortably into the 4 mile per kWh region over a longer period driving the car in real-world conditions.

You have the option of customisable regenerative braking. The brakes did feel noticeably 'grabby' and heavy, even when the regenerative braking was set to auto, but this could be lowered to suit your preference.

There also 750KG of towing capacity on the all-electric Niro (1,300KG on hybrid variants) for any caravan holidays you might’ve planned.

Technology

The infotainment system in the Kia Niro is as reliable as the rest of the vehicle.

The 10.25-inch screen isn’t as advanced as a Tesla Model Y, but it’s straightforward to use and offers a sharp, responsive display.

The system is split into clear submenus with everything clearly labelled, and you have plenty of options to choose between shortcut buttons and the touchscreen.

You're not short of connectivity options either, including a USB and USB-C in the front, wireless charging and a 12V socket. For passengers in the rear, there are a further two USB-C ports mounted to the side of the front seats.

Safety

The Kia Niro scored five stars during its Euro NCAP safety tests, with a 91% score for adult occupants and an 84% score for child occupants.

It’s comes well-equipped with safety features as standard, including smart cruise control and a host of driver assists like rear parking sensors and collision avoidance.

Model lines & equipment

The Niro comes in three different trim levels. And to make it easy for you, they’re simply called 2, 3 and 4. But what’s included in those trim levels? Let’s dive in:

2 - from £37,295*

• 17” Alloy Wheels
• 8” Touchscreen Display
• 10.25” Supervision Cluster
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Cloth Upholstery
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Rear Parking Sensors
• 11kW On Board Charging
• Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go
• Towing Pack

3 - from £39,545*

(In addition to/replacement of 2)

• 17” Alloy Wheels
• Cloth & Artificial Leather Upholstery
• Driver Lumbar Support
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Heated Front Seats & Steering Wheel
• Integrated 10.25” TFT LCD Cluster w 10.25” Touchscreen Navigation
• Rear Privacy Glass
• Vehicle-to-Device

4 - from £42,295*

(In addition to/replacement of 3)

• 17” Alloy Wheels
• Heated Front & Rear Outer Seats
• Head-Up Display
• Power Opening Tailgate
• Premium Relaxation Passenger Seat
• Remote Smart Parking Assist
• Sunroof
• Vegan Leather Upholstery

*Prices correct at time of publication.

Are there any downsides?

The Kia Niro is an impressive all-rounder, but it's not perfect. The door bins are disappointingly small, offering just enough space for a small bottle and little else – frustrating for longer journeys.

The brakes felt noticeably 'grabby' and heavy, even with regenerative braking set to auto, though this can be adjusted to suit your preference.

While the real-world range of around 250 miles is decent, it falls short of the claimed 285 miles (WLTP Comb). Rivals like the SKODA Enyaq offer significantly more range (339 miles WLTP Comb) at a similar price point.

The infotainment system, while reliable and user-friendly, isn't as advanced as what you'll find in other cars in its class.

If maximum boot space is a priority, the Enyaq (585 litres) offer considerably more than the Niro's 475 litres.

What’s the verdict?

The Niro is one of the most well-rounded electric SUVs that we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing.

It didn't excel in one area, but instead, Kia have created a family-friendly electric SUV that’s as practical as it’s efficient.

The technology is reliable, the interior quality matches many of its premium rivals, and there’s very little that let the Niro down. Not only that, it looks the part too.

With the EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, and EV9 already under their belt, Kia remains one of the manufacturers to watch in the electric space.