To make use of the current conditions for buying electric cars in the UK, just last week Hyundai announced delivery within days for UK customers who purchase an electric Hyundai model. Now the South Korean automotive giant’s brand Kia is offering a cheaper model of the Kia e-Niro with more trim options.
Until now, the Kia e-Niro has only been offered in one high-spec trim level and with one battery option. Currently, Kia has managed to drop the price of the e-Niro by using a smaller battery and offer an entry-level trim, 2. This has enabled the company to provide the emission-free vehicle for £29,595 after the government’s £3,000 plug-in car grant (PiCG) has been deducted.
The new 39 kWh battery and 100 kW drive option for the Kia e-Niro is the same one used by the Hyundai Ioniq Electric. This gives the e-Niro a range of up to 180 miles (about 290 kilometres). With this option, Kia says that the e-Niro can also do up to 251 miles (about 403 kilometres) in slower city driving, but that the SUV styling of the Niro does make the range slightly lower than the Ioniq. This version can be recharged up to 80 per cent in just under an hour with a 100kW public charger. The 39kWh e-Niro takes 9.5 seconds to hit 0-62mph (100 km/h) on the way to a 96mph (about 154 km/h) top speed.
The new entry-level trim 2 still has a digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, automatic air conditioning, among other features including an eight-inch touchscreen. The trim 3 options include extra standard equipment including heated seats, leather upholstery and a larger touchscreen with the top trim 4 includes things like a sliding sunroof and heated rear seats. What is new in this trim class is the three-phase 11kW AC charger.
