The all-electric SUV Kia Niro EV has celebrated its premiere in the city of Busan, South Korea. The vehicle had already been exhibited at the 2018 Jeju EV Expo, but it wasn’t until now that the company finally disclosed its features and specifications.
As it turns out, the Kia Niro EV uses a single electric engine manufacturer-rated at 204 hp (152 kW) and 395 Nm (291 lb·ft) of torque. It needs almost 8 seconds to reach standard acceleration (100 km/h or 60 mph). Packing a 64 kWh traction battery buried in the bottom of the trunk compartment, it offers a driving range of 380 km (235 mi). The above may seem OK, but keep in mind that charging the battery from zero to 80% takes an hour even with the best charging station available. Your other option is a smaller 39 kWh battery, which comes with around 240 km (150 mi) driving range.
The dimensions of the Korean SUV are virtually identical to those of the Volkswagen Tiguan. In fact, both the length and the wheelbase are the same, but the Korean newcomer is 110 mm (4.3”) less tall.
The standard equipment list looks really good. There is lane control, emergency brake and even adaptive cruise control, among other things.
The environment-friendly Kia Niro has a hybrid-powered sibling that debuted two years ago. Compared to that one, the EV features new headlights, front bumper, radiator grille, seat upholstery, air intake trimming and automatic transmission with a rotary knob in place of the traditional gear stick.
Photo: autoweek.nl