2021 Kia Niro EV Review

July 13, 2021

Kia is making waves on the electric front with the all-electric 2021 Kia Niro EV. A long and low profile gives it a look that almost goes against the normal short and boxy silhouette of most crossovers. Available in gas-only and a plug-in-hybrid powertrain that maintains the same look and feel, the Niro EV is attractive, comes with a host of standard features, and includes a myriad of driver-assist tech. The 2021 Niro EV has an estimated range of 239 miles on one charge which is more than adequate for most drivers. Longer multi-day trips might be a little tough but they wouldn’t be undoable, they would just need to be planned out a little better. You’ll need to make sure you are stopping at a 100-kW fast charger if you are trying to make good time, the Niro EV can replenish almost 80% of its battery in about an hour. Of course, being all-electric means that you are able to take advantage or be eligible for federal and state tax rebates so between the tech, tax rebates, and overall style there is plenty to love about Kia’s all-electric vehicle.

Standout Features

Excellent standard features
Great looking exterior design
More distinguished than a lot of its rivals

What’s New for 2021

There are only a few changes that Kia made on the 2021 Niro EV lineup. All models now come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you can now program the AC or heater to start up when you use the remote-start, and the rear-occupant sensor ensures you don’t forget the little ones in the back seat.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, the Niro EV EX is going to give you the most bang for your buck. Yes, it’s the base model, but the EV is already inherently an upper trim of the Niro itself. The EX is $5k cheaper than the Niro EV EX Premium and the EX still comes loaded with standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, driver assists, and more. On top of all the standard features, you qualify for a $7,500 tax credit which is a HUGE money saver.

EX: Starting at $40,265
EX Premium: Starting at $45,825

Performance

The 2021 Niro EV sports a single electric motor that is able to produce 201 horsepower sent through the front wheels by a one-speed direct-drive transmission. This allows the Niro EV to accomplish a pretty good time of 6.5 seconds when doing the zero-to-60-mph run. The Niro EV is quicker than the Chevy Bolt EV and only a tenth of a second slower than Hyundai’s Kona Electric model. On the comfortability side of the drive, the Niro EV is much quieter on the road than the Bolt EV, Tesla Model Y, and the Kona Electric.

The 2021 Kia Niro EV is right in line with the rest of the electric vehicles on the road with its 64-kWh battery capacity. It beats the Leaf’s capacity, matches the Kona EV, and is just barely below the Bolt EV. The Niro EV achieves an estimated EPA-rated rand of 239 miles, which is average among similar models. The battery recharge time of the Niro EV depends on whether you are using a 120-volt or 240-volt connection. On the 240-volt charger, you can charge your Niro EV to 100% in about nine hours, but if you are in a real-time crunch then you can utilize the Niro’s DC fast-charge capability which charges it to about 80% in an hour with a 100-kW connection.

Interior & Tech

As we stated in the opening paragraph, the Niro EV EX comes well equipped despite being the “base level” trim. You have the standard power and heated front seats and a fantastic 7-inch digital driver display on the dash. If you decide to go premium you have features like a power sunroof, wireless charging, and ventilated front seats for those hotter days. One unfortunate detail is the excess of black plastic throughout the interior which is kind of an eyesore and gives it an almost cheap feeling when driving or riding along. The rear seats don’t fold flat but that doesn’t seem to inhibit the Niro EV’s storage capacity, but if you have the seats up and passengers in the back it could be a tight fit for all those involved.

On the tech front, you get a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, if you need something bigger then you’ll need to go with the Niro EV EX Premium to get the 10.3-inch display. The EX Premium also upgrades the speaker system with an 8-speaker Harman/Kardon system.

Safety and Driver-Assistance

The 2021 Kia Niro EV comes standard with all of Kia’s usual driver-assistance technology. Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety websites for more info on the Kia Niro EV’s crash ratings.

Key features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty

Kia’s warranty continues to outshine its rivals with its almost standard 10-year or 100k miles powertrain policy.

Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Hybrid components are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles

Conclusion

Overall, the 2021 Kia Niro EV is an all-electric vehicle that sits at the top in terms of quality and efficiency. The respectable horsepower and battery life put it ahead of the game of a lot of its competitors and the standard features both on the tech front and safety. If you are looking for an all-electric vehicle then the 2021 Kia Niro EV is definitely the buy for you.