Kia e-Niro: Thoughts after 1 year

Let me start by saying I hope you and your family are well and you're coping during this nightmare.

Today marks the 1st anniversary of getting our Kia e-Niro. What do we like and dislike about it and what will we do in a year when the lease expires?! All this and more of the usual inane ramblings.

Ah, also – a bit of a teaser for something coming soon!

Tweet me: @tillathenun

[mangoginger]

We bought the Kia EV Niro SX Touring when we went to the Vancouver BC International Auto Show March 19 2019 It arrived approx. 1 month later. Loved it and it had all the bells and whistles ( LED lights Apps UVO etc. The problem with the charge flap is the freezing winter and I had used WD40 which didn't work and had a very thin plastic the length of 3 inches and worked. When the weather warmed up -no more problems. Had no problems with the driver electric seats. I turned the power on and has to be in park and adjusted to where I sat and then press the SET button and no more problems. Had no 12 volt battery problems. Very glad I did my research and test drove other EV's at the car show. Good luck on finding yur next EV.

[ODCBastler]

Thank you for the review and the very nice way you report. It's a pleasure to watch you and you have the feeling you're telling your best friend all this.
Greatings from Germany
Martin

[gregpalmer]

We bought our E Niro in December 2019. We love it and it has all of the assorted little things that could be better that you mentioned. Our grocery store trips are 80 miles round trip. Electrify America is the charging system here that charges 10 times the retail price of electricity to charge on a long trip. Almost all of our charging is at home, but I hope someday the traveling charge rates make sense. Monroe Oregon USA

[kiae-nirodiaries]

Thanks Andrew, you are 1 month exactly behind me on e-Niro ownership. I agree on the lane keep assist, you can’t see the button from the driving position but switching it off is as you say ‘muscle memory’. Mine is the lesser of two models offered here in France, manual seats that we find quick and easy to adjust. Mine is a buy as I am retired so it has to be a long termer. I will continue to report out on the experience on Kia e-Niro Diaries.

[Luigi]

Well, I have been listening to this video attentively and I hear that the benefits outweighs all the small issues you pointed out. I drive the Kia Niro hybrid in the Pacific northwest in the USA, and I love the vehicle. My biggest concern has always been, reliability, range and comfort space included which the Niro allows. I am sure that possible Kia might introduce a better capacity battery for an even longer range and then some of the cost you mentioned will help reduce the need to stop and recharge it frequently. The Hybrid gives me 545 miles of range in the Summer and about 500 in winter. My seats isn't electric on the driver side but then I adjust it once and it stays put. So some of the nitpicking problems you mentioned are very small that can be lived with.

The scratching on the paint can happen with any vehicle that rubs tightly against a branch or shrub, it is unavoidable. The Kia Niro with the cargo box looks quite good, not too high and not too low? Tesla had many issues with their vehicles as well you can find many on YouTube. Hopefully they are improving it with each model. The Niro was designed for efficiency and I am sure some of the other manufacturers will catchup, they would not want to loose market share in the end. People will always want the next model and the next which helps drive business and cycle wealth around. It is good to have competition, and then electric stations will multiply and compete as well. Just like the petrol station have been doing for years. Cheers.

[AFlyingCookieLOL]

The Kia has a much more conservative EPA range than tesla's rating and even exceeds the base model 3. The Kona EV actually has a range that can actually hit 500km and thats with the same battery and motor. My soul ev has no issues with 450kms. Pain't is on the thinner side but still much better than the tesla panel gaps and paint issues. The X has so many issues I don't want it.
I like the E-Niro as well, the soul ev has a more space and headroom and the seats are really comfy and makes you lazy. Friends that have had Mercedes also love it! E-Niro is certainly a great car for the price.

[malleablemickey]

Same issue with charging flap! I have struggled all winter. Am about to book in for service, and the bloody thing is working perfectly! 😂😂

[philipsarell]

Hi Andrew, thanks for another interesting video. I have just taken delivery of my e-Niro 4 yesterday and love it. Its very fresh out of the box and I am slowly getting to grips with all the gadgets. I took your comments to heart and got a ceramic coating put on mine. Such an exciting car to drive. Just love it, and on the same day my DVLA renewal notice dropped through the letter box to remind me of another saving. In London the noose is tightening for ICE owners as the mayor will introduce more charges for them over the next 12 months.

[chrisp]

Hi Andrew,

I love your videos ...I too have recently bought a 4+ e Niro. The current (2022) model has a sunroof, memory/heated seats etc.
Mine replaced an older (and much cheaper) MG ZS EV., which was a nice car but had more niggles and 100 miles less range.
I've solved my 'lane assist issue' by inserting a very thin cable-tie..that jams the button it. It can we pulled out in an instant ...if required. 😀

[tonybriard]

I’ve had my Niro for 10 months now and I am very pleased with it. I agree about the rear seatbelts, they are very fiddly.

[jimvince]

Andrew
Glad to here your review I have had my Kia Enero 4 now for about 5 weeks now it’s fantastic only managed to have done 250 miles so far just want to get out and use it after waiting a year to get it.
The LED lights are great and the UVO app works well and the sound system and screen is really good.
Wish all of family well and let’s hope this lockdown is not to long best wishes to all.

[MrEV]

If you notice any weird things happening with the video at a couple of points, it’s either caused by my terrible rural broadband dropping out during the 8-hour upload or it’s a glitch in the Matrix. I think I'd rather it was the latter to be honest.

[highnamroberts]

We are in the UK also.Had ours just over a year and done 7000 plus miles. Mixture of long motorway runs and local. It claims an overall consumption of 4 miles per kwh. We have it on regen 2. Dont try to be economical. Had no issues and the car not seen the dealer since we got it. I dont understand what Ionity are trying to do. It is funded by several manufacturers and the EU so odd that they cannot compete with Tesla network. Perhaps they dont want it to be a success. As you say there are alternatives. Looking forward to your Italy video

[vorstag]

I don't have a big problem with my e-niro either, too. I only miss a 12V socket in the trunk

[aquissuk]

0:20 The early beginnings of a Star Trek transporter. It's amazing what people create whilst in lockdown.

[arrw]

Hi Andrew - thanks for the info re ionity - i hadnt realised they had increased their prices. We only go there en route to the chunnel anyway - as a rule- so no big deal. We mostly charge at home. I agree with all your findings after 1 year - exactly the same for us. I had the gear selector and the chrge door changed at the 1st service at 10, 000 miles under warranty - so all good now. Exactly the same problem with the paint under the "P" bubbling. Never seen anything like that on previous cars. Keep up the good work- looking forward to seeing your website

[alexdalgleish]

If they're struggling to build fast enough you're better off keeping. If it's a 23 month PCP dealer may overlook scratches as they want to sell you another. If you hand back to Kia Finance/or the Leasing Company if genuinely leased, and get an MG ZS electric for example you're at risk of a bill for a lot. Glad you like it.

[Sangve]

I had my charging port fixed this winter through warranty. Didn't take long and it's worked like a charm ever since.

[JuanCarlosHerediaMayer]

Hi Andrew, I just discovered your channel and begun to watch the most of your contents, thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. I'm using a Kona EV 39, 2 kwh (same system of e-Niro), and happy with it too. Keep it going. Regards from Madrid, Spain.

[gregory]

I've been on the fence for about 4 months on buying this car. I actually wanted to wait for the new model to get cheaper but the opposite happened, it got more expensive.

The things that stop me from buying it is the price, uncertainty about how battery capacity is going to be affected over time. Another small problem I have with electric cars in general is that so many people are buying them that we're starting to see people in line at public charging places and that's a big big problem I foresaw a long time ago. The reason I don't think it's that big of a problem for me is that I would plan on charging at the office and at home and to only keep public charging as an emergency alternative. Not only are there people in line waiting for their turn but the companies that service those are selling electricity at 50% profit and it starts becoming as expensive as a gas car.