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| The 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium. |
The 2019 Kia Niro EV may be just what you're looking for. It's a conventional compact crossover, about the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or a Honda CR-V. In fact, Kia sells the Niro as a gasoline-powered model---but they also have the Niro EV, which is all-electric.
The 2019 Kia Niro EV will go 239 miles on a single charge, and is DC fast-charging compatible, which means you can get an 80% charge in just under an hour.
In the trunk, there's also a charging cord you can use with 110v household current----but that's going to take quite a while longer.
Beyond the silent operation and never going to a gas pump again, the Kia Niro EV is exactly like driving a gasoline-powered Niro. It's roomy, comfortable and well-equipped.
The base price for the 2019 Kia Niro EV EX (before EV incentives and tax credits) is $38,500. Here's what's standard:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Cloth and artificial leather seat trim
- Automatic climate control with rear vents
- Seven-inch touchscreen
- Rear-view camera
- AM-FM radio
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Two USB ports
- Keyless entry and pushbutton start
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 60/40 split folding rear seats
- Blind spot detection
- Smart cruise control with stop & go
- Forward collision avoidance assist
- Lane-keeping assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane following assist
- Fog lights
- Auto on/off projection headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- Power folding heated outside mirrors with embedded turn signals
- Roof rails
- Rear spoiler
- Rear privacy glass
- Dark gray fender and rocker cladding
Our tester was the 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium. The base price goes to an even $44,000 and the following features are added:
- Power sunroof with sunshade
- Heated and ventilated leather front seats
- Power adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar
- Harman Kardon Premium audio system with subwoofer
- Navigation with eight-inch touchscreen
- Wireless phone charger
- Console mood lighting
- Parking distance warning-reverse
- LED interior lamps
- LED taillamps
- Driver side seatback pocket
- Deluxe scuff plates
And our tester also had extra-cost options:
- Cold Weather Package 2.0 (battery heater, heat pump): $1,080
- EX Premium Launch Edition (heated steering wheel, LED headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, park distance warning-forward and reverse, cargo cover): $1,000
- Cargo mat: $95
- Carpeted floor mats: $135
- Cargo net: $50
And there was a $200 credit for the deletion of Homelink and ventilated seats. So, with $995 inland freight and handling, the bottom line on the window sticker reads $47,155.
But let's dial it back to no extra-cost options. That's $44,995 with freight. The Chevy Bolt I reviewed back in January ended up at $43,510. A top-of-the-line Nissan Leaf Plus with no options is $43,475 with destination charges. And if you've done any Tesla shopping at all, you know how hard it is to keep a Model 3 under $50,000, much less $45,000. Again, all those prices are before any zero-emissions incentives.
That makes the 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium a major winner in our book. Competitive range, competitive price, in a package that is the right size.
