Launched: Kia Niro EV – Up to 460 KM Range, RM255,888

Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd, BAuto subsidiary and official Kia vehicles distributor and importer in Malaysia, unveiled its second EV offering today in the form of the new Kia Niro EV. This second-gen EV crossover arrives in just a single guise boasting quirky styling, high levels of kit, and respectable EV range.

2023 Kia Niro EV, featuring Kia's signature "Tiger Face" front look

Visually, the Niro EV stands as a stylish EV crossover with striking design touches that showcases Kia’s latest styling language. Up front lies Kia’s signature “Tiger Nose” front fascia, featuring a chrome bar that pairs up well with the aggressive LED headlights and faux front grille. Added boldness is exuded through the front skid plate sitting below the lower apron where the active air flap are too.

From the side, the Niro EV boasts the typical boxy crossover silhouette that features a wide C-pillar at the rear, as well as two-tone exterior finish with three main hues to choose from – Snow White Pearl, Mineral Blue, and Cityscape Green. Adding a sporty edge here are the sleek 17-inch wheels the Niro EV rides on.

In spite of its typical SUV silhouette, Kia claims the Niro EV boasts a slippery drag coefficient rate of just 0.29, thanks to the aforementioned air flap and sleek C-pillar design.

At the rear, the Niro EV sports boomerang-shaped LED taillights that run vertically on the aforementioned C-pillar. To match the rugged front fascia, the rear also comes with prominent lower bumper garnish with a skid plate attached.

On board, the Niro EV’s cabin is on-par with other modern EVs nowadays. It features a dual screen layout of two 10.25-inch screens – one for the touch infotainment, one for the digital driver’s display. The former supports both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and is complemented by a wireless charging pad. Should that not be enough, three USB-C ports and one 12-Volt socket complements which.

To keep things simple and minimalistic, Kia swaps the standard gear lever for a rotary-style selector, whereas dedicated controls for the climate control and infotainment are kept instead of being integrated into the infotainment screen. Elsewhere, the Niro EV is primed with premium amenities such as 64-colour ambient lighting system, textured trim finishes made from recycled materials, and black Leatherette upholstery.

Thanks to its bulkier facade, the Niro EVs cabin space is now roomier than before

Underpinning Kia’s third-gen K platform, the second-gen Niro EV is bulkier over its predecessor, measuring 4,420 MM long with a 2,720 MM wheelbase, and 1,825 MM wide. This grants the EV with a roomy cabin, as well as a sizable 475-litre boot that’s expandable to 1,392-litre with the rear seats folded down. Need more space? Then fret not, as the Niro EV also comes with a 20-litre frunk (front trunk) under the front bonnet.

In terms of powertrain, the Niro EV is powered by a single, front-mounted (FWD) electric motor that delivers 201 HP and 255 NM. This propels the Niro EV’s 1,757 KG heft and despatch 0-100 KM/H in 7.8 seconds towards a V-max of 167 KM/H.

The Niro EV charging port is located at the front part of the car

Said powertrain is juiced by a 64.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that grants the Niro EV with a maximum range of 460 KM (WLTP). Rapid recharging via 80 kW DC inputs takes just 49 minutes to attain 10% to 80% SoC. Via regular 11 kW AC charging input, full recharges take about 6 hours and 20 minutes instead.

The Niro EV supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, making it an ideal camping vehicle!

Aside from juicing up the motor, said batteries also support Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which effectively transforms the Niro EV into a giant moving power bank. The V2L functions supply up to 3.6 kW of power, enabling you to power small appliances, or serve as a back-up during power outages or emergencies.

On the safety front, the Niro EV is brimmed with a bevy of active driver assists (ADAS), including High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning, Lane Following Assist (LFA), and Smart Cruise Control (SCC).

Fully-imported (CBU) from South Korea, bookings for the Kia Niro EV are now open, priced at RM255,888  sans insurance. Included in said figure is a 5-year or 150,000 KM vehicle warranty, and a separate 8-year or 160,000 KM EV battery warranty. Bookings can be made via Kia Malaysia’s official website, or any authorised Kia dealerships nationwide.