Kia has been in the industry since 1974, originally making small trucks and moving on to produce cars, vans, and SUVs. Now in the 21st century, the Kia EV has made its debut, really setting the stage for Kia’s future. While Kia offers several cars with alternative fuel options, the Niro EV is its most impressive all-electric model. The Niro EV is proof that electric cars are not lesser than their gas-powered variants.
The Niro EV is great because it allows accessible charging, it has a long driving range, and it’s compatible with affordable at-home chargers. The Niro EV works with over 60,000 public charging outlets and counting across the country, and the Niro’s tech allows you to locate the nearest charging station with ease. Let’s take a closer look at the 2020 Niro EV and find out why it’s one of the best electric models yet.
What’s Its Performance Like?
Many drivers are concerned with performance when it comes to electric models. The Niro EV is proof that high horsepower and fuel efficiency can be friends. In fact, the 2020 Niro EV produces up to 201 horsepower and a max torque of 291 lb-ft. This is all while maintaining a 239-mile driving range when it’s fully charged. Plus, you can kick it into Sport Mode if you want to sacrifice some of the battery’s juice to really get a feel for the Niro EV’s power.
If you’re worried about maintaining battery life, rest assured that this model’s Regenerative Self-Charging capabilities will keep you on the highway even longer. In short, this means that when you brake, energy is stored, helping to maintain your battery life. And more good news is that cold weather doesn’t affect the Niro EV’s battery. This model includes a battery heater, along with a heat pump, so that the battery won’t overwork itself. Moreover, the Niro’s battery is DC Fast-Charging compatible, meaning that you can get up to an 80% charge in around an hour. The Niro EV proves itself powerful yet fuel-efficient. After years of having to choose between fuel efficiency and power/acceleration, the Niro EV provides the perfect balance of both.
What Tech Features Does This Model Have?
The Niro EV is a modern model all around. Not only does it run off of electricity, but this model is also packed full of tech features. For example, you’ll get remote features that allow you to control your Niro EV via your smartphone. From here, you can access your charging schedules, remotely start your vehicle, adjust the heat or AC, and much more. For reference, charging schedule modifications are available for anyone with an at-home charger. You can plug in your Niro EV and remotely choose when it needs to start charging, even when you’re not home. If you go out with a friend and forget to start charging your car, you won’t have to panic. The Niro EV can be charged from anywhere at any time, as long as it’s plugged in.
You’ll also get a “find my car” feature with the Niro EV. Your parking location will be marked, and if you get lost, you can simply check your phone’s map to find your Niro’s location. Similarly, the Niro EV offers a “points of interest” feature, which is fantastic for planning ahead. If you’re going out of town for the weekend, you can enter some places you want to visit, giving you quick and easy access to directions when you hit the road.
Finally, your Niro EV is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. So not only can you use remote commands via your smartphone, but you can also control your Niro EV via voice commands. Using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can charge your car, start it, play a song, and much more. Moreover, you have the choice to get a 10.25-inch customizable touchscreen which includes Apple CarPlay Android Auto for music streaming, voice-commanded navigation, and Dynamic Parking Guidance. You’ll also have the option to get interior mood lighting. Overall, the Niro EV is a tech-savvy model, and we haven’t even touched on its safety features yet.
Driver Assist Features You Won’t Want To Miss
While most modern vehicles include driver assist features, the Niro EV comes with a less common feature that acts as an extra pair of eyes. This feature is called “Driver Attention Warning.” You can’t just drift off into dreamland with driver attention warning on the clock. It monitors your actions, and it can tell if your attention is on something other than the road. When this happens, you’ll receive an alert to remind you to focus on driving and not your phone or your kids distracting you.
You’ll also get all the fun driver assist features, such as Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. The Niro EV also comes with Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, which is both convenient and safe, adjusting your speed automatically when cruise control is on so you won’t rear-end anyone. As you can see, the Kia puts safety first here with the 2020 Niro EV.
What’s The Difference Between the EX Trim and the EX Premium Trim?
The starting MSRP for the EX trim is $39,090, and the EX Premium starts at $44,590. So, what is that cost difference for? Both models come with many of the same specs; 201 horsepower, 291 lb-ft of torque, an estimated 239-mile driving range, 53 cubic feet of cargo, standard Kia DriveWise Assist Technology, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto capabilities. But the EX Premium trim takes this all a step further.
On the EX Premium Niro EV, you’ll get a power sunroof, wireless smart device charging, synthetic leather seating trim with blue accents, ventilated front seats, adjustable mood lighting, parking distance warning, and premium surround sound speakers with a subwoofer. You’ll also get that 10.25-inch touchscreen standard, whereas the EX trim comes with a smaller 8-inch screen. There’s no performance difference here, but rather, you’re getting a lot more tech and convenience features with the EX Premium Niro EV. If these bonuses don’t matter to you, though, then the EX still offers everything you could need.
What Does the Niro EV Look Like?
While EV vehicles haven’t always been the most aesthetically appealing, the Niro EV is quite the sporty model. This crossover EV comes in 7 different exterior colors with some standout options like Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, and Gravity Blue. The 2020 Kia Niro also comes with standard 17-inch Alloy wheels, chrome side window trim, black body-side moldings with black wheel well trim, deep-tinted glass, roof rack rails, and LED brake lights. This model includes heated side mirrors that power fold and include turn signal indicators, which are also body-colored along with the front and rear bumpers. The Niro EV is sporty by default. You don’t have to purchase add-ons or extra packages to receive all these aesthetic benefits.
Why Choose Kia Over Other EV Brands?
There are many different EV vehicles out there, so why those the Kia Niro? Affordability is one of the main reasons you’ll want to choose Kia. Typically, you have to purchase higher trims if you want tech and safety benefits, but that’s not the case with Kia models. As you saw earlier, even the lowest Niro EV trim still comes with a safety suite, entertainment features such as music streaming, and an infotainment center. Kia is known for producing models with more standard features than the average brand. Base-level trims still include handy benefits such as USB ports, steering wheel controls, SiriusXM Radio capability, and much more.
Moreover, Kia provides the best warranties of any brand. Rather than having to pay extra to get extended warranty options, Kia includes longer warranties in your initial purchase. When you buy your Niro EV, you’ll get a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. If you had any doubts about the Kia Niro EV, we hope that we’ve helped put them to rest. If you want to check out the 2020 Kia Niro EV, then come visit Parkway Family Kia.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
*Based on Sales from January 2022 to January 2023.