New Info on the 2020 Kia Niro EV

The Kia Niro EV took awhile to come to the North American market, but since the Niro EV came to the US , it’s continued to win awards. _ Popular Mechanics _ was quick to name the 2019 Kia Niro EV the Car of the Year, and during its initial overseas release, consumer magazine and website _ What Car? _ awarded the Kia Niro EV with the “Car of the Year Award”, making the Niro EV the first Korean car to win the prestigious award. Here we are in 2020, things are crazy, but the Kia Niro EV is still the green car to buy , even with its 2020 price hike.

Why the price hike? It’s unclear. Perhaps Kia Motors is worried COVID-19 will affect production and costs and wants to tip the scales a bit. Perhaps demand for alternative fuel vehicles and hybrids have grown over the years in the U.S. Hybrid vehicles and EVs are certainly more popular overseas, but regardless, the 2020 Kia Niro EV sees a price increase of $590 from the 2019 starting MSRP of $38,500 (plus destination fee). Although not yet available, this brings the starting MSRP for the 2020 Kia Niro EV to $39,090.

Despite this, the Kia Niro EV is still a worthy competitor in the alternative fuel vehicle market. With a miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 123 MPGe in the city, 102 MPGe on the highway, 112 MPGe combined, the Kia Niro EV has an efficiency rating of 30kWh/100mi. In total, the driving range is about 239 miles, give or take with regenerative braking at play. Plus, unlike its competitors, the Niro EV is eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit, so keep that in mind when looking at the increase in price. Also, be aware that the price hike is only for the base trim and high range EX Premium – all other trims are still safe.

Remember to calculate the costs, too. Owning an electric vehicle can be a costly endeavor at first, but they quickly pay for themselves. Electric vehicles don’t require a lot of maintenance, and that means they don’t need an oil change, spark plugs, fuel filter, catalytic-converter replacement, or an emissions inspection – something regular cars powered by an internal combustion engine can get fined for if idling unnecessarily, according to energy.gov. Plus, Kia Motors has a warranty that covers the battery for 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first), able to keep the powertrain running smoothly for a long time.

What other changes will come with the 2020 Kia Niro EV? Here’s hoping a few extra creature comforts to make up for the new price. Although Euro-spec models are the only ones currently online, there’s glimpses of a new 10.25-inch touch screen, new LED headlights, and a battery heating system for the U.S. Market version of the new Niro EV. With most automakers having released their 2020 models in late 2019, we should be getting more information about the 2020 Kia Niro EV any day now.

They say demand lowers supply but increases price when it comes to economy. Is the demand for electric vehicles really that strong in North America? Join the discussion on Miami Lakes Kia social media .

Photo Source/Copyright: insideevs.com

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