New 2024 Kia Niro EV Horizon Review | Is This the Pick of the Range

This week on Buckle Up, Harry reviews the Kia Niro EV, Kia's popular midsize family crossover. This generation of Niro has big boots to fill, the previous iteration being the first mainstream car to really offer Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and full Electric powertrains. So that's the question, difficult second album or glorious return?
The Kia's main rivals are the VW ID.3, MG4, BYD Dolphin, Kia Soul EV, Hyundai Kona EV, Smart #1, Fiat 500 electric, Mini Electric, Cupra Born, ORA Funky Cat and Nissan Leaf, but it will also be up against both Piston and Hybrid rivals such as the VW Golf, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Peugeot 308, Citroën C4, Vauxhall Astra, Skoda Scala, Seat Leon, Fiat Tipo, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes Benz A Class and Audi A3.
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[@AhhGeeProductions]

I have the Horizon trim. It's basically the 3 trim minus leather seating for less £££ so a no brainer. I don't agree about long driving distance though - it can easily deliver you on a long range trip, especially as the charging speed is at it's highest (curve) when the car is around 15-30% - so getting it back up to 60-80% isn't taxing whilst having a break after a few hundred miles.
It's a different set up to the first gen / SoulEV - they have more instant power / slightly too much off the line. This is more subtle.
Finally, I have a HUGE drum kit that I take out in the NiroEV every other weekend - the car easily transports these with the seats down, it's a fantastic all rounder imo.

[@BuckleUpShow]

I get what you mean, but we have been spoiled by getting to test the cars on the EGMP platform which charge in half the time or less. I accept they're a fair bit more expensive. However, even the latest Stellantis ev's, VW ID.3 and MG4 all offer the same or more range and a faster charge for around the same money. Out of all the rivals I just mentioned I think the Kia still offers the best car for a family overall thanks to it's build quality and interior practically on top of still very commendable EV underpinnings

[@AhhGeeProductions]

@@BuckleUpShow It's a good review! I was waiting for someone to pick the Horizon :) Having been to the EV3 Launch a few weeks back, this will be the next HUGE milestone for Kia (maybe for the segment). Although just a bit smaller than the NiroEV for overall size / storage ability. What the EV3 does have (albeit on the 400v architecture) is far superior charging rates to the first gen Kia EV range.

[@brianiswrong]

Giving it the full woollard is always a classy way to start any review.

[@BuckleUpShow]

We're definitely the highest class car review outlet on the internet, why we haven't had a rolls Royce yet is beyond us

[@n1vca]

Charging is its weakest point, but in real life it charges up to 85KW/h not the 72 you mentioned and its charging curve over time has improved versus its pervious model.
But still it is a very slow charger, compared to many other EVs even at a similar price point. Only since it is still quite efficient, what counts is the amount of km or miles over time and there its not so bad after all.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Official figures suggest 84, the fastest I ever got was 72

[@n1vca]

@@BuckleUpShow Thats odd. Here in Germany we have plenty of different DC chargers and providers ... I wonder if some don't deliver the power they are supposed to or communicate differently? ... I also notice that while I was not sharing the charger and it was 300KW or more, I got different results ... sometimes it would not go past 80KW/h, sometimes straight to 85KW/h ... and then at 80% the charging management takes a break for 1 or 2 minutes with almost zero charge ... must recalibrating something internally?!? ... then it continues again ... very strange, but most cars from Hyundai group do that.
Most of the time I don't pay much attention to charging, I just use the time to get things done, plug in and walk away for groceries, shopping, restaurants.

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

I drove one of these here in France a few months back which was interesting having owned an e-Niro since 2019. I thought the ride was smoother, better sorted but not as cushioning as the new Kona which I also tried. Our e-Niro is now 5 and half years old with 107,000 km on the clock, it has been perfectly reliable with no squeaks or rattles...these seem to be well built cars that should last a long time, especially here where we never see potholes on main roads, unlike in the UK! Range loss?...subjectively none, the battery buffer is still giving me a full 64 kWh though there must be some degradation by now.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Kia knocked it out of the park basically straight away with the Niro, and their EVs have been strong since then

[@JasperBruceWright]

11:00 understatement of the century

[@BuckleUpShow]

Harry's soul yearns for the Kia Soul

[@n1vca]

The Soul is almost the same car only it has less current limitation, making the wheels spin more likely, but its not the tiniest bis faster ... 0-100 in 7.8 seconds - exact same only you can't drive like a noisy idiot anymore, only the Niro is slightly more refined, quieter and has a beautiful cockpit. But even the Niro EV I find is too loud for my taste, some more acoustical attenuation in the rear would be nice. That what my GF says after I ate bean soup😜. If I buy my Niro out of the lease, which is not 100% sure yet, want to test drive the EV3, first thing I will do is start sound dampening it.