Sandy Munro gets a Niro to review
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I bought a new 2019 Kia Niro Ev EX Premium with the cold weather pkg in NOV 2020. I use it to commute to work every day 142 miles . I cost me approximately 60 cents a day in electricity cost to drive 142 miles . I charge up on a level 2 charger at home . I have over 30k miles on it and have had no trouble with the car with the exception on the AC compressor inverter assy, which failed at approx 16k . Kia replaced this of course at no charge and I have had no trouble since . I watched the Sandy Munro reviews of this car and If I was a rich old Tesla loving motor head I would probably dismiss this car also . However , I'm just an average working man with a long commute and this car is a good fit for me . Think about how much it would cost to drive a 30mpg vehicle over 710 miles a week .
I had a choice between a Model Y and a Kia Niro. I test drove both. I opted for the Niro. It just felt all-around better built. The ride was smoother and less sporty.
Sure, you can't beat the sex appeal of a Tesla, but I try not to let the perception of others distract me from my own needs, and my needs, having owned numerous cars in the last two decades, is having something that is solid and high quality.
That's what you get with the Niro. Solid. Quality. Sure, a bit antiquated, but not in the ways that frustrate you (e.g. tactile buttons).
Sure, you can't beat the sex appeal of a Tesla, but I try not to let the perception of others distract me from my own needs, and my needs, having owned numerous cars in the last two decades, is having something that is solid and high quality.
That's what you get with the Niro. Solid. Quality. Sure, a bit antiquated, but not in the ways that frustrate you (e.g. tactile buttons).
jeff_h
Member
My experience is similar to yours, except for the AC compressor as mine has been perfect since I got it in Jan 2020. I also have a similar long commute of 144 miles on weekdays then wherever on weekends, and while 2020 was really easy miles year due to Covid teleworking now it's back to the long commute each day, so now I have 53k miles and it's been great.
David T in Silicon Valley
Active Member
It actually has more cargo room in than the Model 3. I took mine for two weeks in Colorado including backpacking gear for two and my son had an extra backpack with him too! We did use the backseat some, but still...
I thought Mr. Munro's review was reasonably accurate and positive overall. He likes the mold line, the simplicity of the controls, the comfort and some little addons. He is disappointed that the rear hatch does not lift automatically, that the use of volume under the rear floor is a bit inefficient (I agree. That top Styrofoam insert sis a bit lame. but again, who cares?) that the controls are not newer style, and the thinks the rear cargo is less roomy than a model 3 (I beg to differ on that, but he did not actually measure).
His biggest disappointment is the lack of storage in a frunk. He accurately points out that in a situation like this where they took an ICE/Hybrid design and shoehorned an electric powertrain into it, you don't get an optimal result. He is dead on correct there.
The Niro is a great car. I LOVE mine and it definitely has some shortcomings as an ICE design converted to EV. To me those shortcomings are trivial. I think Mr. Munro gets hung up on stuff that just doesn't matter to me, but they do to him so we are different. He is entitled to his opinion.
I think it is a fine review.
I thought Mr. Munro's review was reasonably accurate and positive overall. He likes the mold line, the simplicity of the controls, the comfort and some little addons. He is disappointed that the rear hatch does not lift automatically, that the use of volume under the rear floor is a bit inefficient (I agree. That top Styrofoam insert sis a bit lame. but again, who cares?) that the controls are not newer style, and the thinks the rear cargo is less roomy than a model 3 (I beg to differ on that, but he did not actually measure).
His biggest disappointment is the lack of storage in a frunk. He accurately points out that in a situation like this where they took an ICE/Hybrid design and shoehorned an electric powertrain into it, you don't get an optimal result. He is dead on correct there.
The Niro is a great car. I LOVE mine and it definitely has some shortcomings as an ICE design converted to EV. To me those shortcomings are trivial. I think Mr. Munro gets hung up on stuff that just doesn't matter to me, but they do to him so we are different. He is entitled to his opinion.
I think it is a fine review.
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solarjk
Member
The big things for Sandy are fit and finish, weight and efficiency. Niro, ID-3, and Model 3 are about the same weight. at 90 km/hr Model three uses 118 watts per km, Niro does 131, ID-3 uses 162 For Range the Niro does 311 miles, ID-3 289 miles and Model 3 does 275. Thank you bjorn for all your road tests.
When I bought mine with incentives it cost $ 29,500 and the Model 3 was $ 36,000 with incentives. how good a deal it was will not be know till trade in time.
Over 31,000 miles in Vermont, the Niro has averaged 4.23 miles per kilowatt hour
at least Sandy thinks the the Niro is better than the ID-4, and the Polestar is in a different price point anyway. Drove the Mach-E and liked it better than the ID-4 I am still one the fence about my next EV
kia has been pretty tight with details with the EV-6 Given the 328 mile range on the two wheel drive and a 77.4 Kw battery, it appear that the EV-6 will be about 13.4% more efficient than the Niro inspire of weighing 350 Kg more. Maybe better aero. Kia can still screw it up by pricing the EV-6 too high, because Tesla still has better tech and superchargers. Strange that the only cars built in the us, do not get tax credits.
When I bought mine with incentives it cost $ 29,500 and the Model 3 was $ 36,000 with incentives. how good a deal it was will not be know till trade in time.
Over 31,000 miles in Vermont, the Niro has averaged 4.23 miles per kilowatt hour
at least Sandy thinks the the Niro is better than the ID-4, and the Polestar is in a different price point anyway. Drove the Mach-E and liked it better than the ID-4 I am still one the fence about my next EV
kia has been pretty tight with details with the EV-6 Given the 328 mile range on the two wheel drive and a 77.4 Kw battery, it appear that the EV-6 will be about 13.4% more efficient than the Niro inspire of weighing 350 Kg more. Maybe better aero. Kia can still screw it up by pricing the EV-6 too high, because Tesla still has better tech and superchargers. Strange that the only cars built in the us, do not get tax credits.