Kia e-Niro EV gets 485km range
Battery-powered SUV gets better than expected range; can cover 615km in city driving but won't come to AustraliaKia has confirmed the pure-electric version of its Niro SUV is capable of covering 485km between recharges on Europe's strict WLTP test cycle.
On sale in European markets at the end of 2018, the battery-powered e-Niro is said to have an even more impressive WLTP-verified range of 615km in urban environments.
Set to be launched next month at the Paris motor show, the Korean car-maker's small electric SUV is said to take 54 minutes for an 80 per cent charge using a 100kW fast-charger.
Driven by a front-mounted electric motor that produces a punchy 150kW, Kia claims its zero-tailpipe-emission Niro is capable of hitting 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.
As well as the long-range version, the e-Niro will be offered with a smaller 39.2kWh battery that covers 312km between charges.
The cheaper battery-powered Niro also gets a smaller 100kW motor that sees the small Kia crossover hit the benchmark 100km/h in 9.8 seconds.
To help maximise its range, the Niro comes with regenerative braking, Coasting Guide Control (CGC) and Predictive Energy Control (PEC), both of which are linked to the sat-nav and alert the driver when they should be coasting to claw back more energy to charge the batteries.
Revealed as a concept early this year at the Consumer Electronic show in Las Vegas, the Kia Niro EV is unlikely to ever venture Down Under.
It's not completely ruled out, but the Niro range of SUVs is currently deemed out of reach due to concerns it would be too expensive if imported to Australia.
Instead, Kia Australia's first compact SUV will be an as-yet-unseen model to be revealed globally later this year and on sale here from late 2019.
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