Kia’s first ever all-electric crossover is now officially on sale in its home country. The Kia Niro EV that was first premiered at the 2017 Paris Motor Show, boasts a pure electric driving range of up to 450 km on a single charge, making it one of the most capable electric vehicles (EV) on sale.
The Niro EV is Kia’s second mass-market battery-powered crossover after the Soul EV to go on sale globally. Its only competitors (in the all-electric crossover category) are the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace, both of which compete in the premium market space.
Propulsion is handled by an electric motor to give the front wheels 204 hp and 395 Nm of torque from standstill, allowing the Niro EV to sprint to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. The electric motor is juiced by a high-capacity 64-kWh lithium-polymer battery pack that promises 450 km of driving range on a full charge.
Plugged into a 100-kW fast charger, the battery pack can be recharged to 80 per cent capacity in under one hour. Alternatively, Kia also offers a smaller 39.2-kWh capacity battery pack with a range of up to 300 km from a single charge.
With the battery pack strategically located down low in the car’s body, the Niro EV boasts a centre gravity more akin to that of a saloon or hatchback despite its crossover body style. Kia believes that the drivers will enjoy high stability and driving engagement on winding roads.
Kia’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems also makes its debut on the Niro EV, bundling Forward Collision Warning with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Intelligent Stop & Go, and Lane Following Assist (LFA). LFA allows for semi-autonomous driving of speeds between 0 and 130 km/h.
The Niro EV was penned at Kia’s design centres in California, USA and Namyang, Korea, incorporating the practicality and appeal of a crossover with an emotive aerodynamic body. Taking a “Clean and High-Tech” design concept, the Niro EV features design cues such as Tiger-Nose grille, arrowhead-shaped LED daytime running lights, light-blue trim highlights and five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels with a two-tone diamond cut finish.
Inside you’ll find Kia’s first ‘dial’-style shift knob, 7.0-inch touchscreen HMI infotainment, six-colour ambient lighting and 451 litres of boot space.
IMAGE GALLERY
Kia Niro EV
