Launched in July 2023, The Kia Niro EV goes up against the likes of the Mazda MX-30 in Malaysia in terms of size, but more traditional doors. Available in a single variant only, the Kia Niro EV fetches a price of RM258,668, on the road without insurance.
At the front, the Kia Niro EV gets a rather futuristic look with separated diamond-patterned embossed panels and satin chrome strips to go along with it. Unlike most electric vehicles (EVs) with completely sealed-off front fascia, the Niro EV still retains a small grille at the bottom section of the bumper.
The Niro EV gets a pair of techy-looking automatic dual LED projector headlights with DRLs and LED foglamps at the lower sections of the front grille. Right in the middle of the front bumper lies the flap to the charging port. Upon opening the flap, a nifty battery level indicator is placed conveniently beside the charging port.
Because there’s no engine at the front, there is a small storage compartment under the front hood. The storage space should be able to fit an average-sized backpack or laptop bag.
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On the sides, the Niro EV gets a traditional SUV silhouette with a dual-tone paint job. Contrasting gloss black elements are found on the side blades on the C-pillars, wheel arches, and door panel claddings. The side blades here are not only for show but actually serve aerodynamic purposes. Look closely and you will find vents between the side blades and the body.
Besides the gloss black side blades on the car, the side mirrors get unique-looking indicator lights integrated on to the side mirrors. Completing the look of the car is a set of dual-tone 17-inch alloy wheels.
From the back, the brake lights look vertical and super slim, since it is integrated into the side blades. The lower section of the rear bumper also gets gloss black surrounds that mirror the front. Found at the rear are also a pair of “U-shaped” reverse lights and rear foglights.
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Powering the Kia Niro EV is a single electric motor driving the front wheels only. It produces 201 hp and 255 Nm which which translates to a top speed of 167 km/h. With a 64.8 kWh battery pack, the Niro EV is capable of travelling up to 460 km (WLTP).
Charging the Niro EV from 10-100% with an 11 kW AC charger will take up to 6 hours and 20 minutes. As for DC charging, the Niro EV can take a maximum of 80 kW and will only take 49 minutes to charge from 10-80%.
Inside, the Niro EV gets an almost identical interior to the Kia EV6. It features a near-identical dashboard design, driver’s and infotainment displays, a 2-spoke steering wheel, and a rotary gear selector. The centre console features a Type-A USB port, a Type-C USB port, a 12V port, and a wireless charging pad for all your charging needs. The Niro EV also gets Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity as standard.
Wrapped in leatherette upholstery, both the front seats get ventilation and heating functions while the passenger seat comes available with the Premium Relaxation function.
As for the rear amenities, rear passengers get individual Type-C USB ports placed conveniently on the sides of the front seats, air cond vents at the back, and aeroplane-style seatback pockets.
Moving to the boot, the rear bench in the Niro EV supports 60:40 split to ease the carrying of large furniture. The boot also has an underfloor storage to store the on-board charger that comes with it.
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Safety features of the Kia Niro EV include:
- Electronic stability control (ESC)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
- 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 (FCA)
- Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
To recap, the Kia Niro EV is priced at RM258,668, on the road without insurance. Included in the price are a 5-year/150,000 km manufacturer warranty and an 8-year/160,000 km warranty for the battery pack.
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