Kia e-Niro 2020 specs: are the UK getting screwed over again?

If you've followed my videos since the beginning you'll know that I've been quite critical of the low-spec "First Edition" trim Kia palmed-off on the UK in 2019.

They're giving us more for the 2020 model year (they call it the "4" trim) but when you compare it to other markets, it's still a little sparse in areas.

I've compared this new spec to what lucky e-Niro drivers get in Netherlands and USA. Sorry if I've missed out your region - let me know if there's something missing in your region that we get in the UK (or vice versa).

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[kjhaz]

I love a comparative tabulation, so thanks for researching. Disappointing to see the narrow UK spec, especially the missing safety feature, but as we die from a collision, at least we'll be soothed by the interior mood lighting. Doh!

[ErikGeurts]

A Netherlands dealer told me that in our country the 11 KW on-board charge will be the default starting with the MY2020. They're still working on how to deal with this matter for customers who already ordered a car to be delivered next year at the time the price was still based on a 7.2 KW charger.


Also, a sun roof might sound like fun, but it turns out to make the car (any car, really) a lot warmer in spring, summer and autumn, even when the shade is closed on the inside, causing a lot of extra AC usage. And that's a shame if you end up not having the sun roof exposed all that often. So my personal preference would always be to not get a sun roof, enjoy a cooler car and longer range.

[brianboru]

There were two trim levels offered for the 2019 Niro EV in the USA; EX and EX premium, the latter costing $5, 000 more than the base EX. Kia designated the 12 states the car would be sold in as either a "cold weather" state or a "warm weather" state and equipped the cars for those states with either a cold weather battery warming package or a warm weather battery cooling package. You got what was designated for your state with no option to purchase the additional warming or cooling package. The base EX trim came standard with all the safety features, including smart cruise with stop and go, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, forward collision avoidance, etc. If you went with the EX Premium for $5, 000 more you got leather seats, a standard sized power sunroof, power driver's seat, auto dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, heated and ventilated front seats, Led headlamps, Harman Karman premium audio with 8 speakers, and an 8 inch infotainment screen. Both trim levels came with 1 year free UVO and Kia has told us we'll have to pay for UVO after the freebie year but hasn't advised how much it will cost. We leased the EX trim and love the car. It's our first EV and we didn't want to go all out on our first EV and figure there will be a lot more EV options in two years time when our current lease ends. We missed your videos when you were on holiday and are very happy to see you're back posting again. Thank you for the hard work and time you put into producing them.

[davidh]

Hi Andrew- thanks for an informative video. It’s surprising what KIA already offer on the Niro 4 hybrid that’s not on the e-Niro. This is copied and pasted from the KIA brochure:
• Heated Outer Rear Seats. • Ventilated Front Seats. • Electric Tilting & Sliding Sunroof.
• Driver Power Memory Adjustable Seat.
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) • Bi-Xenon Headlights.
My local dealer forecast that once the First Edition was sold out, KIA would introduce multi-choice options, (levels 2, 3 & 4) as they have for the hybrid. Since I would have found the Memory Adjustable Seat extremely handy I held back my order, waiting for the e-Niro 4. Seems like I’ve been waiting in vain.

[neilfrith]

Useful video brother! Thanx, in the uk we have been screwed on spec for years from electronics to cars bloody everything!

[hamshackleton]

Sun roof is great for back-seat passengers, but how often does the driver look up? Almost never! Rear usb, I imagine the wiring harness is identical, so all they have saved is the cost of the actual socket, then they have to make a blank to fill the hole!

[-jonesy]

Thanks for the update biggest frustration will be the lack of blind spot collision - the rest is nice but no major

[joshbacon]

The fact that Kia are able to get away with screwing us Brits over compared to the US and the Netherlands when it comes to e-Niro spec is amazing, and I’m not entirely sure that’s for the right reasons.

[kevind]

Problem with the USA's Premium trim is that, except for auto reviewers, it seemed not to be very available. Mostly we received an "intro" package, later than the UK and in very limited numbers that disappeared from dealers as soon as they arrived. Yes, in the USA, the battery heat pump option was part of a "Cold Weather" option (worked very well, too).

[wobby]

Two things that I would care about 1} blind spot warning. I have that on my Kona Electric 2} would like to have the 22 kWh 3 phase charging as there are a number of charge points about that are fast chargers that will push out more than 7 kWh. Sun roof, I’m not to fust about as my wife doesn’t like too much sun or wind and when raining, well! As the wiring harness will almost certainly be the same, I’d say it would be quite easy to add a rear USB port.

[mikehughes]

Also Memory Seats ! US & Netherlands have them but we don’t and they are not in the 4+.

[jonwetherell]

Blind spot feature may be unavailable in UK due to driving on the left.Just a guess

[billywiz]

Im no apologist for Kia but do remember there is £5, 749 VAT on the UK e-Niro compared with about £3, 500 in the states based on pre vat price of £28, 745. So Kia are working to a price point that they hope will not scare the horses, therefore we lose spec. Blame our EXTORTIONATE VAT rate. Other than that, the current e-Niro is a brilliant car for the money.

[be]

I'm waiting for Kia Niro EV (as it's called in "the states") model year 2020 to arrive. for the slight updates over the year 2019 model.. not sure when...

[jamesk]

Niro and Kona in the US have a total of five models between $ 36K and $ 46K plus a special model. Canada and GB have other options. Seems like a marketing exercise, or a group who can no make up their minds. So for me, the battery heater and heat pump decided that Niro was better. The extra $ 5 to 6k for the extra was too much for the the led, heated seat, and navigation Your comment about how the nav was rubbish warmed my heart. I use a better route planner

[dcvariousvids]

Harman Kardon speakers give a more precise sound, while still producing excellent mid range and good full base. JBL gives a more rounded mid range and excellent base. A bit like B&W Vision speakers, which give a rich high & mid range, while still producing tremendous but precise base, (I have a pair). I’ve also got JBL Aliens, which are similar to the Vision but have a sub woofer for a more overall sound, without going for quads or more. The Harman Kardons that you have, are very nearly the same as the JBL Aliens; but yours produce a slightly more precise, sweater sound.

However, there’s so many uncontrollable variables in a car/vehicle, even more so when the vehicle is moving. That hi-fi is just not possible. But a nice set of speakers can help. Fitting sound deadening materials to metal panelling could help too. But how much fuss & expense is it worth? When the roads are so bad and every other boy racer has an aftermarket un-silenced exhaust. In the end, accept you’re going to listen to radio or your playlist as background noise. If you really want to enjoy your music. Do so with no interruptions, on days when the neighbours aren’t in, aren’t mowing the lawn and when the kids are at someone else’s house.

[clansome]

I think the sunroof could have been offered as an option. Guess the problem is everyone wants it/no one wants it then they have a problem with delivery as it has to come a long way from Korea. Different for your Beemer or Merc (etc) which can be upgraded to your preference as it only has a relatively short distance to come.

[Isaac-uncn]

One quick comment - the 11 kW charging option won't come to the USA because the USA doesn't have 11 kW chargers anywhere.
Overall I find it startling that you guys in the UK don't get blind spot collision warning: that comes standard even on the lowest trim model of the Niro EV in the US.

Seems like the UK top spec car is priced like the EX Premium but only has half the extra features that US EX Premium has over EX (has good stereo & larger touch screen, but does not have ventilated seats or sunroof).

[TheMagdiragdag]

In NL we have an app, but not the UVO app with which you can precondition the car; that is for the 2020 model. The current app is very basic in NL and only shows some things, but it is not very reliable. The reason for a late introduction to the UVO app in Europe is according to Kia because of privacy laws with GDPR in the EU (They had to rewrite parts of the software).
- No USB power outlet in the rear, I think the top spec model in Germany will have the 230V power outlet (would love to have it, it is not even an option or retrofit)
- The battery heater is the heat-pump system and is standard in most countries. As far as I know it doesn't preheat when getting to a charger like the Mercedes EQC and Tesla's. Perhaps with the UVO app and navigating with that app it will know when you are about to arrive at a charger and start preheating the battery.

[gertbeelen]

Nice video thx. I have one on order in Belgium. Here we have must and more trims. And also an extra luxery pack, containing the ventilated and leather seats. So those will cost extra over the more edition. So also within Europe a lot of difference.