The 2023 Kia Niro EV is incredibly efficient and a great all-rounder

Enlarge / This is the second-generation Kia Niro EV, and it's a pretty cool little electric vehicle. Jonathan Gitlin

Last month we tested a great little hybrid, the 2023 Kia Niro. In fact, Kia offers this little sedan with three different efficient powertrains, and today we're looking at the all-electric version, the 2023 Kia Niro EV. Ditching the internal combustion engine and replacing it with a slab of lithium-ion cells bumps the price up slightly -- starting at $39,550, the Niro EV costs almost $11,000 more than the standard version. parallel hybrid - but on the upside you get a straight-up, small-sized electric car that's extremely efficient, especially on short journeys.

This Kia Niro EV is actually the second Niro EV we've tested - the first impressed us greatly when we reviewed it in 2020. The technical specifications of the battery-electric powertrain are actually very similar to those from the previous version. There is a 64.8 kWh lithium-ion traction battery between the axles, which powers a 201 hp (150 kW) electric motor that drives the front wheels.

Enlarge / The contrast panel on the C-pillar conceals an aeroblade, which is a channel that directs airflow to the rear of the car to reduce drag. Jonathan Gitlin

The all-electric powertrain adds some bulk to the Niro; its curb weight of 3,721 to 3,803 pounds (1,688 to 1,725 ​​kg) makes it almost 20 percent heavier than the parallel hybrid version. But in addition to having more power, the Niro EV produces a lot more torque - 188 lb-ft (255 Nm), in fact - so it feels a lot more piquant to drive.

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Niro EV at a combined fuel consumption of 3.4 miles/kWh (18.3 kWh/100 km) and a range of 253 miles (407 km), but in practice it should be possible to overcome this. On short trips around town, I regularly saw 4 miles/kWh (15.5 kWh/100 km) or better and an average of 3.8 miles/kWh (16.4 kWh/100 km) throughout. throughout the week we tested the Niro EV.

Charging isn't as fast as some of Kia's other EVs because this platform runs at 400V, not 800V like the larger and more expensive EV6. Therefore, you can expect to wait around 45 minutes for a 10-80% fast charge. It actually took me almost 42 minutes to charge to 80% (from an initial 48% state of charge), using an Electrify America charger that would not exceed 35kW. There's a built-in 11kW AC charger that helps the Niro EV get to 100% in less than seven hours from an AC power source.

Coincidentally, there was another Niro EV on charge when I went to recharge the electrons. Note that it has a body-color aeroblade. Jonathan Gitlin

Short trips in the Niro EV were extremely energy efficient.