2021 Kia Niro EV release date

Discussion in 'Kia Niro' started by bubzki, Jan 21, 2021.

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  1. bubzki

    bubzki Member

    Hi all, my 2019 Niro EV is likely to be repurchased as a lemon by the manufacturer due to the faulty motor situation. I'm considering getting another Niro EV, but I just looked and I only see 2020 models for sale. Does anyone else find it odd that we're still waiting for MY2021 cars and we're already almost a month into the year? I presume no major changes to the 2021s since the E-GMP is around the corner. But I wonder if options, etc. might shake up a bit?
     
    Domenick likes this.
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  3. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    I believe both Kia and Hyundai's new model year starts middle of the calendar year, so I would expect to start seeing info about 2021MY stuff coming out in the next few months. They are not like other car companies and release new models aligned with the calendar year.

    I am a bit surprised, however, given your bad luck with your current Niro that you'd buy another. I am curious as to why you are thinking about it? To be clear: I am not jeering or calling you out, just want to know the thought process behind the decision. I have had 4 cars bought back under lemon law the past 2 years. One of them was a Kia, but it was an entirely different model than the Niro.

    Two models I am keeping my eye on right now: Mustang Mach-E and the ID.4.
     
    Domenick likes this.
  4. bubzki

    bubzki Member

    Ha, fair point. I'm at least considering another one because still only affordable hatch option with heat pump plus I have winter tires set, roof rack, floor mats, and trailer hitch parts so this saves some effort. The car itself is decent if a bit boring so it's really a Kia customer service and PR issue more than the car itself.
     
    navguy12 likes this.
  5. marshall

    marshall Well-Known Member

    The 2021 Kona EV is out, but not the 2020 Kia Niro EV.
     
  6. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    I stand corrected. Perhaps some models are released at different times.

    Fair enough. I don't like some things about the Niro, either, but it's comfortable, has reasonable space, has an okay ride and is a reasonably efficient EV. It checks most of the boxes for me, but I would like RWD or AWD instead of FWD.
     
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  8. bubzki

    bubzki Member

    The FWD torque steer and overall traction is atrocious, but ironically gives the car most of its otherwise bland character. Good tires really help I've found.
     
  9. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    Yeah, I've been trying to figure that out. I have determined that FWD EVs are the worst possible drivetrain combination due to their high torque output. RWD EV would probably be the best because regenerative brakes on the front axle also act as a reverse torque steer. RWD won't have regenerative braking on the front axle, but AWD EVs would and they, too, would be susceptible to the reverse torque steer effect. Thus, I believe RWD EVs is the best setup.
     
  10. bubzki

    bubzki Member

    You can knock me over with a feather if Kia manages to switch the current Niro to RWD for 2021 :D
     
    Shark likes this.
  11. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    Agreed. I was not suggesting that the Niro become an RWD EV. The Niro was never designed from the ground-up to be an EV. An electric motor and battery were pinned on otherwise ICE Niro. I was just sharing my experience. The previous vehicle I owned was an Audi eTron, which is AWD. While torque steer under acceleration was basically not noticeable (it was every so slightly present), I observed a reverse torque-steer effect where the vehicle would pull to the right under regenerative braking. If using the friction only brakes, there was no pull. That's why I am intrigued with the Mach-E. I'd be interested in the extended range, RWD variant, which also has the largest range (305 miles according to EPA).
     
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  13. bubzki

    bubzki Member

    Yep I know just having fun. Mach E would likely top my list if they offered the thing with a Heat Pump for US. ID.4 would be up there too but I want a wagon, not an SUV look.
     
  14. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    Yeah, I don't get why these companies think that a resistive heater is going to be more efficient than a heat pump. I admit that there are many people smarter than me that understand this stuff way better, but what I do know is that heat pumps ARE more efficient at generating heat by a factor of 2-3x. The reason is that it pulls heat energy from the air instead of trying to heat the air directly. That being said, perhaps VW and Ford will move to a heat pump eventually. Even Tesla is moving that direction with the 2021 M3.

    If you get the cold weather package in the Niro, which adds a heat pump (you know this), the Niro also retains the resistive heating element inside the HVAC system. I can definitely tell when the resistive heater is engaged. I suppose it is used to help provide immediate heat and then there is a transition to the heat pump to conserve energy.
     
  15. I think I read that the '21 will come out in the fall.
     
  16. CodysEv

    CodysEv New Member

    Ooh, Faulty motor, Please elaborate? What model and hoe many miles?


    Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
     
  17. Hedge

    Hedge Member

    See tapping noise thread on the forum.
     
  18. Roy_H

    Roy_H Active Member

    Heat pumps work best in cool weather, and become more inefficient as temperature drops. At some point (10 or 20 deg below freezing) they stop working altogether. That is why all heat pump systems also have a resistive heater to handle really cold situations.
     
  19. I was ready to buy a Soul EV in 2019 and would have if the 64KW version had been available. Of the three variants, I liked it better than the Kona and Niro: better space utilization and more room in the driver's seat. I thought the Niro was a bit cramped and, as a passenger in a friend's Niro hybrid, found it extremely uncomfortable on a 2-hour ride. The Kona seemed peppy and tolerable but not available then in deluxe trim, and the dealers wouldn't sell at list price.

    FWIW, I drove everything then on the market (what else? BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Clarity variants and Prius Prime) before settling on a Model 3. It's not for everybody, certainly not if you need the hatch or if heat pump issues make or break your deal... and I didn't like the interface until I got used to it, which took about two weeks. With that said, however, it blows my mind every single time I get into it, and it's fun to drive even to the post office, never mind out on the road. For the other considerations, I'm planning to get a Model Y once they've fixed the manufacturing QA problems, which have not been a problem on the Model 3, although I'll check out the Mustang and VW before signing anything. The new Lucid looks interesting, but I don't have that kind of money.

    The value proposition on all of these is interesting. My "standard range plus" (240 mile range) cost less than $40K before taxes and still had some tax rebates ($1,875, not $7,500); tricked-out versions of the Kona and Leaf were about $5K more than that but with a larger rebate, so the purchase price was fairly close, but I believe the Tesla will be worth more at the end of five years. The last time I checked, you could still buy a "basic" Model 3, on the phone or in person but not online, for around $35K, with the range limited by software to 220 miles.

    Of course, this is just my $0.02 based on personal experience. YMMV.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2021
    navguy12 likes this.
  20. Guy Tower

    Guy Tower New Member

    I bot my 2020 Kia Niro EV by mid December 2020, and so far very satisfied with the performance. I basically drive in Regen 2 mode everywhere I go. It's a comfortable car, silent, with an impressive sudden acceleration when needed. I keep track daily of the battery % and range, compared to odometer, so far it's all in sync. I had a Kia Niro EX before, that's why I stuck with the same brand, and the price was right.
     
  21. Nesh

    Nesh New Member

    I'm considering model Y myself. I love the kia for what it does and cheaper too. But like you said @GringoViejo , the value at the end of 5 years seems way better for Tesla and you get to use supercharger for rare road trips.
     
    navguy12 likes this.
  22. I found the answer was to lift more weights at the gym and have a bigger bowl of porridge at breakfast... :D;)
     
    navguy12 likes this.
  23. blue_door

    blue_door Member

    It's the torque steer I don't like. It's been a long time since I've had a FWD vehicle and I remember now why I didn't like FWD: torque steer. I don't like constantly correcting the steering wheel if I push the throttle and the road is the slightest bit uneven.
     

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