This year we’ve welcomed a Kia e-Niro* to the Sims family fleet, and so far I’ve been pretty impressed.
I’ve been driving an EV as my daily run-around since 2012 and have tested a fair few models in that time. Having thoroughly researched the market I’ve opted for the Kia e-Niro 4+, which has a 64kWh Li-ion polymer battery and delivers 201 bhp.
Having had the car for six weeks now, the overriding thing that has impressed me so far is the car’s efficiency. It has a large battery, but how the car uses that energy is excellent. The heat pump seems very efficient, as is the motor and electronics. In terms of day-to-day driving, this means that you’re able to use it as you would an ICE vehicle – not compromising on speed or heating – without worrying about range.
For example, I recently drove from home to Heathrow, which is a 200-mile round trip. When I got to Heathrow I couldn’t charge, but that wasn’t an issue as I knew I’d be able to do the return journey without a problem. Having that peace of mind is really important for motorists.
It’s also really user friendly with a huge amount of technology. The user interface is good and has both a touchscreen and conventional buttons, which are easier to use while you’re on the move.
For me, one slight downside is that it’s front-wheel drive. This is a bit of a negative from a pure driving enjoyment point of view, and it’s quite easy to spin the front wheels when pulling off a roundabout. Also, the rapid charging capability isn’t optimum, but considering the car’s range and that I typically only charge overnight at home, these aren’t important factors for me personally.
For such a well kitted out car, the Kia e-Niro 4+ is well priced. As with all electric cars, the bigger the battery, the higher cost, but for such a battery size, this Kia is competitively priced.
I’ll keep you updated how I’m getting on during the ownership process.
*This is not a paid partnership – choosing the Kia e-Niro was a personal choice and investment. My opinions are my own and not influenced by a paid collaboration.
