Kia Niro EV GT-Line review: pricey SUV misses the mark

There’s a growing debate as to whether hybrids or full electric vehicles are the key to reducing emissions as quickly as possible. One maker is leaving the choice up to buyers.

Kia is letting buyers decide between hybrid and electric power with its new Niro family SUV. We chose the entry-level EV, which isn’t cheap in top-spec GT-Line guise? Our testers rate it.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

IAIN: Sober, sensible, practical and very efficient.

JULES: You’re none of those, so you must mean our test Kia Niro electric

SUV.

IAIN: Exactly. Kia sells three EVs, and this Niro’s the quiet achiever while its sporty EV6 and extrovert seven-seat EV9 steal headlines.

JULES: It looks distinctive with weird skinny lights and slabs of contrast colour down its side. Funky, I’d say.

The Kia Niro EV GT-Line is expensive, even for an EV. Picture: Supplied.

IAIN: Its EV credentials are solid. 460km range is anxiety-banishing, while public DC charging gives a 10-80 per cent battery charge in about 45 minutes.

JULES: It’s more large hatchback than small SUV, but well sized for family life with heaps of cabin space.

IAIN: But boy it’s expensive. Our range-topping GT-Line is about $76,000 drive-away. At least that qualifies for the fringe benefits tax exemption with a novated lease, if you qualify.

JULES: What rivals it at this price?

IAIN: Lots. The excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5; Tesla Model Y; Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Electric. Similar-sized Chinese offerings – BYD and MG for example – costs less than $50,000.

The cabin is well presented and comfortable. Picture: Supplied.

THE LIVING SPACE

JULES: I reckon Kia’s cabin quality betters every other mainstream brand. The Niro’s tech and finish are excellent.

IAIN: The two 10.25-inch screens merge behind a single panel, fake leather seats feel prestige and there’s a sliding sunroof.

JULES: The LCD touchscreen panel switching between infotainment and climate control is very cool.

IAIN: It feels roomy, most plastics are soft touch and storage is massive for the kids’ tsunami of stuff.

JULES: But the rear seats should slide on runners for better practicality. And the front headrests are all shades of weird.

IAIN: They look like ET’s head coated in grey plastic. No idea why.

The Kia’s cabin can be pre-heated or cooled via an app. Picture: Supplied.

THE COMMUTE

JULES: Kia’s Connect app can preheat or pre-cool the cabin before driving. I love that.

IAIN: Such a boon for we Queenslanders in summer. I set aircon to 20C just before leaving work and I’m greeted by a fridge instead of a sauna.

JULES: But where’s the head-pinning performance?

IAIN: It’s not one of those EVs. With 150kW and 255Nm, it prioritises relaxed driving over supercar acceleration.

JULES: That’s boring.

IAIN: It knows the target market. There’s a single motor, it’s front wheel-drive and is calibrated to minimise wheel spin and torque steer, where the steering wheel tugs at your hands when you accelerate.

JULES: It’s zippy enough in town and easy to drive. It cruises smoothly on the highway and there are excellent Harman Kardon sounds, a massive head-up display and radar cruise. I’m happy.

IAIN: But there’s noticeable tyre and wind noise at speed. And while I appreciate heated and ventilated seats, no memory function is criminal at this price.

JULES: It is a hassle as your seating position’s on the floor while mine’s on the ceiling.

There’s noticeable tyre and wind noise at speed. Picture: Supplied.

THE SHOPPING

IAIN: It has a good sized boot. At 475 litres it’s larger than a Mazda CX-5’s. But no giant

“frunk” storage under the bonnet, only room for the charge cable here.

JULES: I’m surprised, at $70k, there’s no 360-degree camera to help with parking.

SUNDAY RUN

IAIN: It’s an EV short on driving thrills: it takes 7.8 seconds to reach 100km/h. The $71,900 Tesla Model 3 AWD takes just 4.4 seconds and has massive 629km range.

JULES: And the Tesla charges faster. Those stats don’t help the Kia’s cause.

IAIN: True, but there are many who don’t want a Tesla. The Niro at least shows decent handling and good grip; steering weight’s solid and, in Sport mode, is fun to squirt through corners.

JULES: It’s easy to live with, but not what I’d call fun.

IAIN: Our energy use was 14.8kWh/100km. That’s below Kia’s quoted 16.2kWh/100km. Key for an EV, the range was trustworthy. And for me, 460km is ample.

JULES: Some EVs slow noticeably when you take the foot off the accelerator but this isn’t too harsh. You can choose from four settings for the regenerative braking.

IAIN: The Niro’s so efficient I left it off. This way it drives more like a “normal” car.

The Niro lacks the spark of other similarly priced EVs. Picture: Supplied.

THE FAMILY

JULES: Unlike a Tesla or Polestar, the kids can’t play video games on the Niro’s screen.

IAIN: Good. It’s a car. Not an Xbox.

JULES: Spoilsport. The kids do have rear air vents and USB-C ports, plus impressive space.

IAIN: There are two Vehicle to Load (V2L) points – one for the rear seat and one external – to charge things like laptops, coffee machines or e-bikes.

JULES: The safety kit’s impressive, including emergency stopping for cars, pedestrians and cyclists, even at junctions.

IAIN: Purchase price aside, the running costs are cheap. A five-year service plan’s only $1351, warranty’s seven years, and charging can be free with solar.

JULES: I used a 50kW public charger while shopping. In 74 minutes it went from nearly empty to 392km and cost $15.

The Niro can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in about 45 minutes on a public charger. Picture: Supplied.

THE VERDICT

IAIN: It’s an excellent EV but feels $10,000 too expensive. Lovely to live with, but for near similar money I’d buy a Kia EV6 Air or 2WD Hyundai Ioniq 5.

JULES: That’s tough competition, and me and the kids would prefer a cheaper, faster and smarter Tesla Model Y.

KIA NIRO GT-LINE

PRICE About $76,000 drive-away (too much)

WARRANTY AND SERVICING 7 years/unlimited km warranty (excellent), $1351 for 5 years/75,000km plan (good)

MOTOR Single front, 150kW/255Nm (average)

SAFETY Seven airbags, advanced auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot avoidance, rear cross-traffic avoidance, radar cruise control, safe exit warning, speed limit assist, lead vehicle departure alert (very good)

THIRST 16.2kWh/100km (very good)

SPARE Repair kit (poor)

BOOT 475 litres/1419 litres (very good)