Kia finally unveiled an electric Niro crossover at the 2018 Busan Auto show held in Korea last Thursday. The Niro EV, which will join the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, takes some of its styling cues from its concept that was revealed earlier this year at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show.
However, the production version of the Niro EV is not an exact copy of its concept. It’s more like a simplified version with none of the extravagant lights, bumpers, and shape. We get a sealed-off grille, brand-new pointy LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, and slightly more aerodynamic rims.
The interior is entirely different from the other Niro models. In the electric Niro crossover, the interior design is simplistic with blue color hints. There is a 7.0-inch infotainment system that sits elegantly on the dash and provides important information to the driver.
The vehicle is powered by a single motor attached to the front axle that expels 201 hp while being powered by either a 39.2 kW battery or a much larger 64-kilowatt per hour battery. The bigger 64 kW battery boasts a range of 280 miles on a full charge while the smaller 39.2 kW battery has only a 150 miles range. These mileage figures are not official since EPA hasn’t tested the EV Niro yet.
Kia hasn’t released the price details for the electric Niro crossover that does 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds. In Korean, it will be available very soon, while Europe might have to wait until the end of this year. We do not have any news when it will reach the GCC markets.