Dinamikjaya Motors, the official distributor for Kia in Malaysia today launched the 2023 Kia Niro EV, the second fully-electric vehicle (EV) in its lineup after the Kia EV6. Launched in a single variant only, the Kia Niro EV is fully imported (CBU) from South Korea and fetches a price of RM256,668 (OTR without insurance).
Looking to renew your car insurance? Check out MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa for an instant 10% rebate, cashback, and many more if you renew online.
Size-wise, the Kia Niro EV is about the size of a Toyota Corolla Cross. The Kia Niro EV measures 4,420 mm long, 1,825 mm wide, and 1,570 mm tall. Its wheelbase measures 2,720 mm long which is a bit longer than the usual C-segment SUV.
Unmistakably a Kia with its ‘tiger nose’ front end, the Kia Niro sports Dual LED projector headlights up front. What stands out about the Kia Niro EV’s exterior styling would be the unique cladding design which not quite covers the entire car and is matched with the rear quarter panel.
RELATED: Kia Picanto facelift unveiled with EV9-like front end, retains 5-speed manual
Standard exterior features on the single-variant Kia Niro EV for Malaysia include:
- Dual LED Projector Headlamps
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
- Front fog lights
- Rear fog lights
- Heated side view mirrors
- Front Sunroof
- Smart-Powered Tailgate
- Roof rails
- Ventilated disc brakes (front)
- Solid disc brakes (rear)
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Front & rear parking sensors
RELATED: Kia EV9 specs revealed – over 541km range, V2L, L3 autonomous driving
As for propulsion, the Kia Niro EV gets a single-motor setup that drives the front wheels only. The permanent magnet synchronous motor outputs a maximum of 201 hp and 255 Nm. The full technical details of the Kia Niro EV are as such:
- Drive: Single-motor front-wheel drive (FWD)
- Transmission: 1-speed e-shift
- Maximum power output: 201 hp
- Maximum torque: 255 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: 7.8 seconds
- Top speed: 167 km/h
As for the battery and charging capabilities of the Kia Niro EV, it isn’t quite as advanced as the Kia EV6. Its range is a decent 460 km (WLTP), thanks to a 64.8-kWh battery pack. An interesting thing about the Kia Niro EV is its vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature that supplies up to 3.6kW of power.
- Battery capacity: 64.8 kWh
- Range (WLTP): 460 km
- Max. AC charging rate: 11 kW
- AC charging time (11 kW, 10-100%): 6 hr 20 min
- Max. DC charging rate: 80 kW
- DC charging time (80 kW, 10-80%): 49 min
- V2L max. rate: 3.6 kW
RELATED: Kia Concept EV5 unveiled: Swivelling seats, Polestar-inspired taillights?
Inside, the Kia Niro EV feels quite similar to the Kia EV6 despite not being built on the same platform. The HVAC controls, steering wheel, and gear selector are all quite similar. A twin 10.25-inch display takes centre stage in the cabin, with one functioning as the main head unit and the other as the instrument cluster. Standard interior features of the Kia Niro EV include:
- 10.25-inch head unit
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- 8 speakers
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Multi-function steering wheel
- Tilt & Telescopic steering adjustment
- Seat heating and ventilation
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Rear air-conditioning vents
- Wireless mobile phone charger
- 3 USB-C ports
- Metal foot pedals
- Power-adjustable 1st-row seats with lumbar adjustment
- Leatherette upholstery
For safety, the Kia Niro EV6 is well-equipped with advanced safety technologies. This includes:
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
- Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go
Included in the price of the Kia Niro EV is a 5-year/150,00 km manufacturer warranty, and an 8-year/160,000 km high-voltage battery warranty.
RELATED: All-new 2023 Kia Sorento launched in Malaysia – 6/7-seater SUV from RM211k
GALLERY
