2023 Kia Niro EV Values

Introduction - Find the best Kia deals!

The 2023 Kia Niro is the value-priced portion of the brand's one-two punch into the burgeoning electric-vehicle (EV) market. The recently introduced and more expensive Kia EV6 is the up-level battery-electric vehicle (BEV) offering, while Kia designed the Niro EV crossover to serve as the "entry-level" battery electric. Within a few years, Kia hopes that the majority of its sales will come from BEVs. The automaker has an ambitious launch schedule of new models worldwide, including the upcoming Kia EV9 SUV.

The all-new 2023 Kia Niro EV is the second-generation Niro BEV. It is part of a troika of brand-new Niros that includes a conventional hybrid (Niro HEV) and a plug-in hybrid (Niro PHEV.) While both history and Kia executives suggest that the low-priced hybrid version of the car will collect the vast majority of the sales, at least early in the new generation's life, there are also aggressive predictions for the Niro EV. Kia product planner Mark Savino said that he expects the Niro EV to capture about a quarter of the nameplate's total sales when production is normalized. He is also excited that the Niro EV will be available at Kia dealers in all 50 states from the start of sales.

Globally, Kia intends to move decisively toward an electric-vehicle future. In its Plan S—announced to the public in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was about to crash over the world—Kia called for the introduction of 25 battery-electric models by 2025, with a global annual sales target of half a million BEVs by 2026. The plan also called for Kia to achieve 6.6 percent of the global EV market share in 2025. While COVID-19-caused disruptions might have altered the plan somewhat, Kia still wants to become a major player in the electric-vehicle market. And North America is a key component in the strategy.

The first-generation Kia Niro EV was a stalking horse for the strategy. It, like the second-generation Niro, took the approach of electrifying a platform that also supports internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains. The Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 take a different path as Kia manufactures them on a purpose-built EV platform that will also provide the basis for other electric vehicles to come. With fuel prices at or near record levels in many areas of the country, the time might be right for expanded sales of the new-gen Kia Niro EV, even though it represents a high premium over the Niro Hybrid. A key goal of the electric-vehicle effort is to limit the production of carbon dioxide by motor vehicles in an effort to effect global climate change.

My opportunity to drive and evaluate the 2023 Kia Niro EV came at a manufacturer-sponsored driving event in northern San Diego Country, California. The event presented the chance to interview key Kia product planning personnel about the new small crossover.

2023 Kia Niro EV Price and Release Date - Find the best Kia deals!

Unlike the 2023 Niro Hybrid, which Kia offers in LX, EX, and SX trim levels, the 2023 Kia Niro EV has just two evocatively titled trims—Wind and Wave. At this writing, Kia has not yet set 2023 Niro EV pricing as it faces the fact that, in light of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, the vehicle will not qualify its buyers for the federal tax credit beginning in January 2023. Under the previous regulations, the vehicle's buyers would have received a maximum of $7,500 in tax credits.

Though Kia hasn't announced pricing, the automaker has confirmed that the new Niro EV will have a base price lower than the Kia EV6. The lowest-priced 2022 EV6 has a base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $41,400. Of course, since that model doesn't qualify for the tax incentive either, Kia might re-price it for 2023. The result could be a lower list price but a higher net cost—a byproduct of the loss of the incentive.

The Niro EV I tested was a heavily equipped Wave trim with niceties like a power-operated sunroof and heated, ventilated, and perforated "vegan leather" front seats. The Wave trim also includes 6-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound with a sub-woofer and 10.25-inch digital instrument infotainment displays. Based on 2022 model-year pricing, it has an estimated suggested retail price of about $45,000.

Independent Expert Opinion: Design, Comfort, and Utility - Find the best Kia deals!

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

The all-new 2023 Kia Niro EV design moves the hatchback/crossover in an angular direction with only mild references to the more expensive EV6. Though Kia bills both as crossovers, the Niro EV is a more upright crossover EV shape, while the EV6 is longer and lower. Kia says its "Opposites United" design philosophy inspired both designs, but the family resemblance between them is slim.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV is somewhat larger than the previous generation. The wheelbase is 0.8-inch longer than the 2022 Kia Niro, and the overall length is up by 2.5 inches. That, plus some clever interior "packaging," including revised seats, makes the passenger cabin roomy for a vehicle in its class. The luggage area size is also larger than the previous model. The cargo volume in the 2023 Niro EV is 22.8 cubic feet versus just 18.5 cubic feet in the previous model. The added cargo space puts the 2023 Niro EV on par with its Niro HEV brother. Total luggage capacity with the 60/40 second-row seats folded is a commodious 63.7 cubic feet.

While the new design has made the Niro EV more practical, it also has made it more attention-getting. Certainly, the most noticeable design feature on the test car was the "Aero Blade." Kia's intent was to improve aerodynamic flow across the car's sides and rear, with the feature covering the D-pillar. The Aero Blade doesn't engender much attention when it's the same color as the body. But painted in a contrasting color, it draws the eye. Whether you like it in a stand-out color or not is up to you. But there is no question it helps the Niro EV achieve an impressive 0.29 coefficient of drag.

Kia fashions the interior of the Niro EV with its presumably eco-friendly buyers in mind. Rather than filling it with genuine leather, Kia upholsters the seats in either vegan leather and cloth (Wind) or perforated vegan leather (Wave.) In the up-level Wave trim, the Niro has heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable 10 ways, and with two-way power lumbar support. A heated, vegan leather-wrapped steering wheel is also standard on the Wave. Heated outboard rear seats are optional on both Wind and Wave trims.

The slim-line front seats, which Kia builds on high-strength steel frames, improve rear-seat passenger space versus the previous-generation Niro EV. Rear legroom—the biggest beneficiary of the new seats—is up 2 inches. The Niro EV uses fabric made partly of eucalyptus leaves and a headliner made of recycled wallpaper (where do you get recycled wallpaper?) to enhance its environmentally friendly stance.

Compared with the much less expensive 2023 Niro Hybrid, the Niro EV carries a higher level of standard equipment. Both Wind and Wave trims have a 10.25-inch configurable instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated navigation. A Harman Kardon audio system is also standard on all 2023 Niro EVs.

With the two 10.25-inch screens positioned side-by-side under a sweeping dash hood, the Niro EV offers an array of pixels that would make most luxury vehicles proud. Under the touchscreen, the driver will find familiar buttons and knobs to control functions like climate control. The center console has a dial-type "gear" selector and an electric parking brake. All the controls are well-placed, well-labeled, and easy to use.

Independent Expert Opinion: Infotainment, Technology, and Safety - Find the best Kia deals!

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

Kia equips all 2023 Niro EVs with an impressive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In fact, the Niro EV's standard ADAS suite shames many luxury brands' offerings. Forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, lane-following assistance, and a driver monitoring system are standard across the Niro EV lineup. So are rear cross-traffic warning, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Wind trim has blind-spot warning with parallel exit alert; the Wave has the more sophisticated blind-spot warning assist with parallel exit warning. Both Niro EV trims have adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and navigation-based curve control. Highway Driving Assist is standard in the Wind version, while the Wave adds automatic lane-change functionality.

For those who find parking a challenge, the Niro EV has them covered. Reverse park distance warning is standard on the Wind trim. The Wave gets park distance warning front and rear, plus parking-collision avoidance rear and Remote Smart Parking Assist. That last item enables you to pull the Niro in and out of tight spaces from outside the vehicle.

Kia Niro EV buyers benefit from the brand's intuitive, easy-to-use infotainment system. The 10.25-inch touchscreen unit has satellite radio, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The only fly in the ointment is the fact that both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay require wired connections. Happily, USB connections aren't hard to find. The Niro EV has two USB-A ports and a USB-C port in the front console area. Two USB-A ports reside in the front seatbacks to service the rear-seat passengers.

Kia equips all 2023 Niro EVs with a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The head unit plays through 6 speakers in the Wind model. The Wave adds a subwoofer and external amplifier.

Standard Kia Connect connectivity, accessible in-car or through the Kia Access app, offers unique information designed for drivers of electric vehicles. The Niro EV also has over-the-air-update capability to ensure that maps and other infotainment systems automatically stay current. The infotainment system also includes 911 connect and roadside assistance. Niro owners can use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant smart speakers to control certain vehicle functions, among them charging and cabin pre-conditioning. A heat pump heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) system is optional and can offer improved efficiency.

Independent Expert Opinion: Driving the 2023 Kia Niro EV - Find the best Kia deals!

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

The Niro EV is the most powerful of the 2023 Niro lineup, which is promising. The Niro PHEV has 180 horsepower, and the HEV checks in with 139 hp. One might expect the Niro EV to be head-and-shoulders above the others in performance, but that's not the case. The Niro EV offers good performance and seamless acceleration, but its power must propel a vehicle with a 3,721-pound curb weight. The Niro HEV weighs just 3,071 pounds. The result is that the Niro EV and Niro HEV feel about the same in everyday driving. That's not a bad thing, because the Niro Hybrid offers reasonably sharp handling and quick steering. The Niro EV's suspension limits body lean, and there's no wallowing in corners. In a straight line, it is quicker than the less-expensive HEV.

All Niro EVs are front drive. Among the new EVs on the market, that's a rarity. Most of them are rear-drive in 2-wheel-drive form, and many have all-wheel-drive, dual-motor options. The Niro EV makes do with a single, 201-hp permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor to provide torque to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. The drivetrain offers 188 pound-feet of torque, which is in line with the HEV's 195 pound-feet. Kia says the 2023 Kia Niro EV will deliver 113 MPGe fuel-economy equivalent.

The Niro EV's electric motor draws power from a 64.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack operating at 358 volts. Kia equips the electric crossover with an 11-kW onboard charger. When connected to a Level 3 DC fast charger, Kia says the Niro EV can replenish to an 80-percent charge in less than 45 minutes, depending on the speed of the fast charger used. This is top-drawer charging performance. According to Kia, the 11-kW onboard charger helps recharge the Niro EV in under seven hours on a Level 2 (240-volt) charger. The automaker also says that the range on a full charge for the 2023 Niro EV is 253 miles. The optional heat pump and battery warmer can help preserve range in cold temperatures.

The 2023 Niro EV has multiple levels of regenerative braking to add efficiency by capturing energy that it would otherwise lose as heat in braking. The system can calculate the amount of regeneration required using radar and road gradient information, and it can allow the Niro EV to gather the maximum amount of energy from deceleration while bringing it to a complete stop. In practice, the Niro EV's regenerative brakes are among the least intrusive I've experienced.

Independent Expert Opinion of the 2023 Kia Niro EV - Find the best Kia deals!

The 2023 Kia Niro EV is the flagship of the Niro lineup. The HEV offers excellent fuel economy and a low purchase price. The PHEV allows buyers to dip their toes into full-electric driving without committing. But the Niro EV is the headline-getter. At what I expect will be a very competitive price, the vehicle offers buyers a roomy, comfortable, and versatile zero-emission vehicle. Filled with features, including a remarkable array of ADAS, the Niro EV is an interesting answer to the oft-asked question: where can I find an affordable EV?

No, the Niro EV isn't as affordable as the 2023 Niro HEV with its under-$28,000 price tag. But in the overall scheme of current EVs, it offers good range and quick charging times in a vehicle that Kia will likely price under that of the average car these days. That's a win.

Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and currently is the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, which is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.