Thinking of buying an eNiro

clivech

New Member
Hello everyone:
I'm the current owner of a 2014 Nissan Leaf. It's been reliable enough, but the range is laughable. I can manage less than 40 miles at this time of year with the heater on! So I'm in the market for a used EV. Which? magazine recommended the Niro above all others during the years I can afford (2018-22), so it's my top choice. But I want to know what the main faults are that owners have had to deal with, particularly once the vehicle is more than 4 years old. Would anyone like to pitch in? What should I look for? What have been the main causes of problems? Are there any reasons not to buy one of this age? Many thanks to all who contribute.
 
I have a 2022 Niro EV that I bought new in October 2021, so mine is over four years old. It has relatively low mileage for a four-year-old car, about 34,000 miles. (I'm retired, and I was still somewhat in "pandemic mode" the first year I had it.)

I have very few complaints. I have taken it on a number of longer road trips up and down the east cost of the U.S. I wish its battery range were bigger, but I think my chief complaint is with the lack of fast-charging infrastructure rather than the car's capabilities. In warm weather at 100% charge, the guess-o-meter tends to display about 300 miles, but I generally count on driving much less than that on a charge when out on the open road. At my age, I need to stop for a biology break every 120-150 miles or so anyway, so it's not the car's fault that I can't drive for hours and hours. (I don't really take that 300-mile figure very seriously.)

I had one issue last summer that I had to have fixed at the dealer that does my (infrequent) service: For awhile it was tough to get the charge port door to pop open. The dealer ordered some part and replaced it, and that problem has not recurred. From surfing the various EV and Kia forums, I don't think that's something that I've ever seen anyone else talk about.

My wife just mentioned the "silver strip" issue. On the dashboard, there is a silver-colored trim strip that can cause a glare at certain times of the year in the early afternoon, if you're headed in the right/wrong direction with respect to the sun. I have seen a lot of people mention that in forums. It's a relatively minor annoyance, but folks have devised various fixes for it (involving matte-finish tape and such). I've never felt a need to do anything about it, but your mileage may vary.

In summary, I have to say the 2022 Niro EV is one of my favorites among cars I've owned, if not the outright winner. In the past 20 years or so I've driven a series of Toyota Priuses, and my wife currently drives a plug-in Prius Prime. Range is nice with the ICE engine on the Prius, but she agrees with me that the Niro EV is the nicer car.

I'd say go for it!
 
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I have a 2022 Niro EV that I bought new in October 2021, so mine is over four years old. It has relatively low mileage for a four-year-old car, about 34,000 miles. (I'm retired, and I was still somewhat in "pandemic mode" the first year I had it.)

I have very few complaints. I have taken it on a number of longer road trips up and down the east cost of the U.S. I wish its battery range were bigger, but I think my chief complaint is with the lack of fast-charging infrastructure rather than the car's capabilities. In warm weather at 100% charge, the guess-o-meter tends to display about 300 miles, but I generally count on driving much less than that on a charge when out on the open road. At my age, I need to stop for a biology break every 120-150 miles or so anyway, so it's not the car's fault that I can't drive for hours and hours. (I don't really take that 300-mile figure very seriously.)

I had one issue last summer that I had to have fixed at the dealer that does my (infrequent) service: For awhile it was tough to get the charge port door to pop open. The dealer ordered some part and replaced it, and that problem has not recurred. From surfing the various EV and Kia forums, I don't think that's something that I've ever seen anyone else talk about.

My wife just mentioned the "silver strip" issue. On the dashboard, there is a silver-colored trim strip that can cause a glare at certain times of the year n the early afternoon, if you're headed in the right/wrong direction with respect to the sun. I have seen a lot of people mention that in forums. It's a relatively minor annoyance, but folks have devised various fixes for it (involving matte-finish tape and such). I've never felt a need to do anything about it, but your mileage may vary.

In summary, I have to say the 2022 Niro EV is one of my favorites among cars I've owned, if not the outright winner. In the past 20 years or so I've driven a series of Toyota Priuses, and my wife currently drives a plug-in Prius Prime. Range is nice with the ICE engine on the Prius, but she agrees with me that the Niro EV is the nicer car.

I'd say go for it!
Thanks so much, shepdave! This is really useful. I too am retired and only driving about 6,000 a year (although it would be more if I could drive more than 60 miles without charging up!). I'm glad you and your wife like it so much and that it drives well. I haven't test driven one yet, and buying used doesn't give you much opportunity to do so. I can get a 2021 in the UK with reasonable mileage (under 50k) for about £13,500 ($17,500), which is probably a lot more than you'd pay in the States, but cars are generally more expensive over here. Thanks again for your input and the time you put into passing it on.
 
Almost exactly a year ago, I bought a used 2021 e-Niro with 32,000 km on the clock (I'm from Europe, so I measure metrically, but e-Niros in Poland and America weren't much different). I was a little worried about a problem with the reduction gear and engine bearings, but so far, I haven't heard any distinctive noises. Right after buying it, I changed the transmission fluid and coolant, just to be on the safe side. I've driven about 12,000 km this year, so I'll change the fluid again in the spring. The only real issue I encountered involved replacing the 12V battery, which isn't surprising in a 4-year-old car that had been sitting at the dealership for over 2 years. Also, like the previous commenter, I'm having trouble with the charging port door sticking, but I have my own solution: I press the button on the remote with one hand and tap firmly on the locking pin with the other. It works flawlessly, though it may look a bit odd. This problem only occurs occasionally, and I'd like to have it fixed during the service. Another minor issue is the noisy central locking button on the driver's door armrest. On poor roads, it makes a rather loud clattering sound; it's clearly not very precise. Other than that, the car performs excellently, is comfortable, and well-equipped for its model year and market segment. If I'm missing anything, it's a heat pump (unfortunately, I couldn't find one on the market at the moment), and an electric tailgate release would be nice. The high-beam assist is rather sluggish, much like the phone app, but it's good that it's there at all. Now, during periods of severe frost, I bless the heated seats and steering wheel. A heated windshield would be nice. The car is reasonably fuel-efficient, but not as much as its twin, the Hyundai Kona electric, but long trips lose some of their appeal due to the relatively low maximum DC charging power of 77 kW. Well, this model was designed around 2016, which was quite a lot back then. When I bought it, I carefully inspected the chassis for corrosion, and while Korean brands, like Japanese ones, aren't exactly stellar in this regard, this particular example was completely free of corrosion, neither on suspension components, bolts, sheet metal edges, etc. Which was a pleasant surprise. What can I say? It's no coincidence that the KIA e-Niro from this series is probably the most recommended used electric car. It's well-equipped, quite fuel-efficient, dynamic enough, and at the same time, comfortable enough. The leather interior looks really good, and the multimedia is functional, though it requires learning the complicated and not always intuitive menu system. Acceleration is consistently good, with the exception of a limited top speed of 167 km/h, but driving that fast on the highway is pointless anyway, given the rapidly diminishing range. The high torque when starting off places significant demands on the drive axle tires, so dynamic starts from traffic lights often result in spinning, especially on wet or loose surfaces. Adjustable regenerative braking allows for almost One Pedal Driving, with the left paddle on the steering wheel providing the final stop. You can also "coast" by disabling recuperation. An automatic recuperation control setting is also available – something for everyone. The cruise control, lane-keeping, and following distance systems work efficiently, although regulations require keeping your hands on the steering wheel and periodic steering wheel movements. Capacitive sensors would be useful for this feature. In short, you get a lot for relatively little money, not much less than buying much newer models from other brands. For everyday driving around town with the occasional longer trip, it's the perfect car.
 
Thanks, Tomek, for your very detailed and valuable response. I’m in the UK, so probably looking at the same Euro specs. When you say you were a little worried about a problem with the reduction gear and engine bearings, was this something your car had already suffered, or was it something you were told could be a problem with the model? In other words, is it something I should look out for as I start to test drive these cars? The rest all sounds pretty manageable, and the range will seem like a godsend after the Leaf! Although our charging infrastructure in the UK is pretty deplorable. Anyway, I’m definitely going to be looking out for one in the coming weeks, preferably under 50k miles. Thanks again!
 
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