Kia has revealed UK pricing and specification details for the new Kia Niro EV and Niro PHEV and opened order books for the second-generation model.

Both variants are available in ‘2’, ‘3’ or ‘4’ grades, with a price difference of £2,750 between each trim level for all three three levels. The Niro EV – formerly known as the eNiro – starts from £34,995 for the base ‘2’ model, £37,745 for the mid-range ‘3’ grade, and rises to £40,495 for the top-spec ‘4’ model.

Niro Plug-in Hybrid models are priced from £32,775 for the ‘2’ grade, £35,525 for the ‘3’, and £38,275 for top-spec ‘4’ model.

All models are available in a choice of eight colours, with premium paint options charged at £595. Top-spec ‘4’ models come with an optional two-tone paint option for £150 when combined with the standard paint, or £745 when combined with premium paint option. This option allows customers to specify the C-pillar in contrasting Steel Grey or Black Pearl, depending on the chosen body colour. The Niro EV ‘4’ is also available with an exclusive lighter grey interior, Steel Grey body cladding, and White Pearl paint for £745 over the £40,495 base price.

Kia claims a driving range of 287 miles for the second-generation Niro EV

The new Niro is an important model in Kia’s new-look range, which is set to include 14 battery electric models by 2027. The Niro has become Kia’s second best-selling model in the UK since its launch in 2016, with more than 70,000 sold to-date. The fully electric e-Niro – introduced in 2018 – now accounts for 55 per cent of all Niro sales in the UK. During 2021 the e-Niro was also the second best-selling pure electric vehicle in the entire UK market.

Niro EV in detail

The new Niro EV features the same 64.8 kWh battery pack its predecessor and has a 201bhp electric motor driving the front wheels. To reduce its predecessor’s penchant for wheel spinning, torque has been reduced from 395Nm to 255Nm. Although Kia has yet to publish finalised WLTP figures, the brand is expecting the Niro EV to have a range of 287 miles. 

In terms of rapid charging, the Niro EV has slower maximum DC charge rate than its predecessor (72kW vs 77kW), but Kia claims that modifications to charging software means that it can charge at a higher base speed for longer than previously. This means that a charge from 10 to 80 per cent takes around 45 minutes – up to nine minutes quicker than the outgoing model. The new Niro EV also has a navigation-based conditioning system to pre-heat the battery when a charge point is selected as a destination. This helps shorten charge times and optimise battery performance.

Another new feature for the Niro EV (standard on 3 and 4 models) is Vehicle-to-Device (V2L) functionality with a three-pin plug socket as standard, along with the option of a heat pump. V2L made its debut on the Kia EV6 and means that any unused battery charge can be used to power external electrical appliances, thanks to the bi-directional ability of the car’s EV power pack.

The Niro EV also offers trailer-towing capabilities, with a braked towing capacity of 750kg, sufficient to haul a small trailer.

First UK customer deliveries are scheduled for autumn 2022.

Prices (as of April 2022)

Niro EV ‘2’ 64.8 kWh £34,995
Niro EV ‘3’ 64.8 kWh £37,745
Niro EV ‘4’ 64.8 kWh £40,495

Prices (as of April 2022)

Niro PHEV '2' £32,775
Niro PHEV ‘3’ £35,525
Niro PHEV ‘4’ £38,275