After debuting last November, the 2019 Kia Niro EV is finally out. And it’s a little more expensive than we thought it might be. Kia’s online configurator reveals the electric car will have a higher starting price than the related Hyundai Kona Electric.
The Niro EV starts at $39,495. That’s $1,500 more than a base Kona Electric. These prices don’t take into account a federal tax credit of $7,500 available for both models.
The Kia is also more expensive than the Nissan Leaf Plus, which is priced at $37,445 before the $7,500 credit. The Chevrolet Bolt starts at $37,495, but is only eligible for a credit of $3,750 at this time since GM has crested 200,000 EV sales.
Back to the Niro EV: the base EX trim comes decently equipped. Standard features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth/artificial leather seats, and an array of safety features such as forward collision avoidance assist, forward collision warning, driver attention warning, blind spot collision warning, lane change assist, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist.
Step up to the EX Premium, and you’ll upgrade to an 8.0-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless phone charger, power sunroof, and navigation. Prices start at $44,995. If buyers opt for the $1,000 Launch Edition package, they’ll also receive LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking distance warning, and a few other goodies.
The Niro EV makes 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque from its electric motor, matching the output of the Kona Electric. Range is a respectable 239 miles, very close to the 238-mile range offered by the Bolt and far above the 226-mile range of the Leaf Plus. But the Kona Electric creams the competition at 258 miles. The new electric Kia Soul, expected to debut this year, is only rated to travel 243 miles on a charge.
But the Niro EV does have redeeming qualities. One of our biggest complaints about the Kona Electric has to do with its cramped backseat. The Niro EV offers 2.6 inches more rear legroom than the Kona, and is larger overall in every exterior dimension. Just looking at them, you might not realize Kia’s EV crossover is 8.2 inches longer than the Hyundai with the same drivetrain. Curiously, though, the Niro EV grants you less cargo volume at 18.5 cubic feet versus 19.2 for the Kona.
Source: Kia
The post The 2019 Kia Niro EV Gets a Surprising Starting Price appeared first on Motortrend.
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