2024 Kia Niro EV Review and Test Drive

Stylish, comfortable, and efficient, the Niro EV is almost ideal for first-time EV buyers.

Perry Stern | 

Oct 23, 2024 | 6 min read

Perry Stern

Having driven all three variants of the 2024 Kia Niro — hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and full electric — my favorite is the Niro EV. Without sacrificing any of this compact crossover's family-friendly qualities, the electric version provides fun driving characteristics with impressive efficiency.

The 2024 Kia Niro EV comes in Wind and Wave trim levels, with base prices ranging from almost $41,000 to about $46,000. Those prices include the destination charge to ship the crossover from the Hwasung, Korea, assembly plant that builds it to your local dealership. Unfortunately, because Kia doesn't produce the Niro EV in North America, it's ineligible for a federal tax credit.

For this review, Kia gave me a 2024 Niro EV Wave for evaluation in southeastern Michigan. Options included extra-cost Snow White Pearl paint, a cargo mat, carpeted floor mats, and a cargo cover, bringing the total manufacturer's suggested retail price to $46,760, including the $1,375 destination charge.

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Is the 2024 Kia Niro EV a Good Electric Vehicle?

The Kia Niro is a right-sized crossover with good cargo space and a stylish interior featuring a curved display screen that adds a high-tech vibe. Make it electric, and it adds enjoyable driving characteristics to the mix. However, while the Niro EV has much to offer, it faces plenty of competition, especially from models that qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit, such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4.

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What's Different About the 2024 Kia Niro EV?

There is little visual difference between the hybrid, PHEV, and electric versions of the Niro. Aside from the solid grille with its stylish pattern and a charge-port door centered under the Kia logo, the Niro EV doesn't stand out as electric. It doesn't even say "EV" or "electric" anywhere on the vehicle.

Instead, it's what's underneath that sets the Niro EV apart from the rest of the lineup. An electric motor drives the front wheels, supplying 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. One of my favorite things about an EV is that the torque is available instantly, which gives this Niro variant its responsive performance. Kia says this electric crossover will reach 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, but it feels quicker.

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Another advantage of the electric drivetrain is that it doesn't use as much space as an internal-combustion powertrain, which frees up room under the hood. Kia makes use of this area by adding a covered storage bin to create a small frunk (front trunk). It's not large enough for luggage or groceries, but the space works to securely store a purse, small bag, or another item of similar size, keeping it completely out of sight.

Using its battery pack, the Niro EV can export power through an Onboard Power Generator, Kia's name for a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system. Plug an adapter into the Niro EV's charging port, and it can provide about as much energy as a typical household outlet. (There's an additional outlet under the back seat.) Kia says you can use the Onboard Power Generator to spend time on a laptop, charge an electric bike, or power a campsite.

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2024 Kia Niro EV Range and Charging

Driving range is typically one of the biggest concerns when considering the purchase of an electric car. While there are EVs that can go farther on a charge, the Niro EV's EPA-rated 253-mile range is more than sufficient for daily driving activities.

That's particularly true if you have a Level 2 home charger, which makes owning an electric vehicle much easier. After the Niro EV arrived, I used mine to recharge the battery from 70% to full, and it took about two hours and 15 minutes. Kia says it will take just over six hours to fully charge the Niro EV on a Level 2 charger, but it can get from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger in a much quicker 43 minutes.

Afterward, the trip computer said I could expect 232 miles of driving range, though to be fair to the Niro, previous drivers' behavior affected that number. During the evaluation, the Kia outperformed its official EPA efficiency rating of 29 kWh per 100 miles, averaging 30.3 kWh per 100 miles.

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On the Road With the 2024 Kia Niro EV

The Niro EV is my favorite version of the Niro because it's the most fun to drive. Instantly responsive to a driver's right foot, the Niro EV's smooth power, maneuverable size, good visibility, and quiet ride make it pleasurable in the city. And while it's not as quick as many electric vehicles, the Niro EV can move quickly when necessary, pushing occupants deeper into their seats.

In addition, it handled surprisingly well on my favorite winding roads north of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The steering provides good feedback, and the crossover feels confident in the corners. The Niro's battery pack is built into the floor, which lowers the center of gravity, making it feel more stable during quick maneuvers.

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That feeling of stability continued on the freeway as the Niro EV accelerated up to 70 mph. There was a bit of road noise — perhaps more noticeable with no engine sound — but it wasn't loud, and I could still carry on a quiet conversation.

I also tried out Kia's Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2), a standard feature on the Niro EV Wave. With the adaptive cruise control set to 70 mph, the system automatically engaged, using lane centering to keep the Niro on course. While HDA2 is not a hands-free system, it provides trustworthy assistance and eliminates some of the stress of driving in traffic.

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If there's a downside to the Niro EV, it is the dual-purpose set of controls on the dashboard. They're quite frustrating to use, especially while driving.

Located below the infotainment screen, those controls live on a panel featuring stereo volume and radio-tuning knobs as well as soft-touch controls for quick access to navigation, audio, and media functions. However, press a toggle, and the panel changes to show climate controls with the knobs repurposed to adjust the cabin temperature.

So what's the problem? It's easy to forget which set of controls is active at a given time. For example, you might want to turn up the music, but instead, you turn up the heat. Or you might want to cool the cabin, but you end up quieting the stereo to a whisper. The design confuses, then frustrates, then distracts, and I don't think it's a good idea.

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I could say that the 2024 Kia Niro EV is a great electric car — and I think it is — but vehicle shoppers seeking a comfortable, spacious, compact crossover SUV complete with high-tech safety and convenience features might determine that any of the Niro variants checks the essential boxes. While an EV isn't for everyone, if you can overlook the Niro EV's ineligibility for a tax credit, you might find it a satisfying alternative to other electric crossovers.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Perry Stern

I have loved cars and trucks since childhood, and that fascination with anything that drives is just as strong today. As a teenager, I knew I wanted to become an automotive journalist, and during the past three decades, I have driven, written about, and photographed all manner of automobiles ranging from affordable econocars to exotic supercars. With the idea that there is a perfect car, truck, or SUV for everyone, my goal is to help consumers determine the right one for their wants and needs.