Battery size: 39-64kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.41
Max charge rate: 80 kW
Range: 180 - 282 miles
Introduction and history
It might look a little staid compared to Kia’s latest range of EVs, but the Niro was really state-of-the-art when it was launched in 2019. The bigger battery version had a genuine 250 mile range and a price which was comparable to rivals which could only go half as far.
Added to that it had space for a small family and a decent level of equipment too.
The Niro was offered with three different powertrains and although they look very similar there are differences. The first is a hybrid, then there is a plug-in PHEV - both known as the Niro - and then the full electric e-Niro.
All were impressively efficient and were a hit with private buyers and businesses, with them becoming especially popular with taxi drivers. That is a great compliment to its reliability, but also means you need to look out for used examples which have mega mileages and the faint whiff of drunk students in the back seats.
These are the other things you need to look out for.
What’s the real-world range of a used Kia e-Niro?
The e-Niro was available with two battery options of either 39kWh or 64kWh. With the former, you could get up to 180 miles of electric range officially, but now it’s more likely to be 150 miles maximum with a 120 mile comfort zone.
The bigger battery has an official range of 282 miles, and would easily get 250 miles in the real world. That will have shrunk now, depending on the age and mileage, but it will still be enough to shame some brand new EVs.
That’s not just down to the battery but also the e-Niro’s built-in efficiency. Keep the car maintained and on the right tyres and it will reward you with more miles for every watt you put in.
How long will the battery on the Kia e-Niro last?
All EV batteries lose some capacity over years of use due to chemistry and charge cycles. This is normal, in the same way that engines wear over time. But the way the car has been driven, stored and charged will affect the battery state-of-health scores.
But the Kia e-Niro seems to be hardier than most. We did a scan of over 40 e-Niros for sale which had been independently tested for battery capacity, and the lowest we could find was a five year old car with just under 79,000 miles which still had 95% of its original capacity. That’s really strong. Some rivals would be below 90% at the same age and miles.
The State of Health (SOH) score will depend on how the car has been driven and charged of course, so try to find a car which has been checked or at least look at the range meter and work out what it would be when fully charged. It’s not perfect but should indicate a major issue.
How reliable is a used Kia e-Niro and what are the common problems?
One of the reasons the e-Niro is so often recommended as a used EV is because it has so few reported problems, even on the high-mileage versions.
The best known issue on early cars is a bearing noise from the reduction gearbox - that’s the transmission which takes the power from the motor to the wheels.
This sounds like a humming or whining, and is easy to mistake for a wheel bearing problem - but it will be more expensive to fix. It should be audible if you are test driving, so be wary of any seller who wants to demonstrate the stereo rather than letting you drive in silence.
On older models you might want to ask if the 12v battery has been replaced. It’s not an expensive fix, but these run the accessories and are essential to getting the car locked and started. A failure will cause inconvenience at the least.
There have also been reports of some infotainment glitches and charging faults, but these are often due to user error or faulty cables, so don’t rush to blame the car.
The only other issue is that the interior can easily start to look grubby and tatty, thanks to the piano black shiny trim, which is easily scratched and collects smears. The exterior paint is a little on the soft side too, so look out for chips and repairs.
Which is the best version to buy?
The e-Niro was launched in 2019, with four versions available. The oldest, predictably, are the First Editions, followed by the regular trim levels, labelled 2,3 and 4. Let’s hope they didn’t pay a creative agency to think of those. For several months the 4 was the only model available too, as Kia made the most of waiting lists for new cars (remember those?) and made hay by selling the most expensive models.
There are the two battery options too, but most of the cars will see be the bigger 64kWh version as it was by far the most popular. Buyers were willing to pay the extra for the more usable range, and the same is true in the used market. It is also faster, with 201bhp versus the 134bhp of the 39kWh. Unless insurance costs are an issue, it is a much more interesting drive.
The e-Niro had an update in 2020, but it was a subtle one to say the least, with LED headlights and a larger infotainment screen. The battery and motor technology remained unchanged.
Then in early 2022 there was another update, with small cosmetic tweaks including a new Kia logo. This was a few months before the car was replaced with the Niro EV. It looks similar but is almost totally new.
Overall, I reckon a post-2020 64kWh 3 is probably the sweet spot. In addition to the bigger battery and more powerful motor, it has heating for the seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and a better infotainment set up.
How long is the warranty?
Firstly, if you buy one of the latest versions you might still have some of the manufacturer's warranty left - the Kia is covered for seven years or 100,000 miles and it’s transferable to new owners. Make sure the servicing is up to date though, or Kia could try to wriggle out of a claim.
There is another catch too - the seven years is good for the car generally, but the high-voltage battery is covered by the same length warranty as the rest of the car. There isn't a separate, longer eight year battery guarantee as offered by almost every other manufacturer. Given the Kia’s reputation for longevity it shouldn’t be an issue, but it's worth bearing in mind as your car gets older.
What are the ownership and running costs of a Kia e-Niro?
One of the e-Niro's biggest strengths is its tiny running costs, especially compared to a petrol or diesel. Even the hybrids look expensive to keep going compared to the EV.
An e-Niro will typically return around four miles per kWh of electricity, making it as efficient as the latest modern rivals. Servicing is every two years of 20,000 miles and it is in insurance group 21 for the 39kWh models and 28 for the faster 64kWh. That’s a lot lower than a Tesla, and roughly the same as a Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen ID.3.
One area where you might spend more is on tyres. The 64kWh model's surprising power means front tyres can wear more quickly than in other EV and ICE-powered cars. They typically last 20,000 to 30,000 miles, but the rears last much longer.
It’s essential not to skimp on tyre quality too - good low-rolling-resistance rubber helps preserve the e-Niro’s efficiency.
What other cars should I consider?
The most obvious rival is the Hyundai Kona Electric, which has an almost identical drivetrain, funkier looks but less rear space. The warranty isn’t as generous in terms of time but has unlimited miles.
You might also want to check out Kia’s own Soul EV. It is squarer but much less conventional and has a bit of a cult following.
To match the Kia’s warranty you might consider the MG ZS EV. It is bigger and cheaper to buy but is less efficient and has a shorter range. The battery packs seem a little less hardy too.
It’s easy to forget a proper pioneer which was a top seller for years too - the Nissan Leaf. It has great tech and proven reliability, although the air-cooled batteries on early cars are showing their age now. They also have CHAdeMO connectors, which will make long distance driving a pain.
The Volkswagen ID.3 is also within the same budget sphere and looks far more interesting. But the early software issues and switchgear might put some buyers off.
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