But the Chevy Bolt EV is still cheaper.
Kia, like the majority of car manufacturers, is on a path of global EV domination, and at the frontline is the all-new Kia Niro EV, the EV6, and the upcoming EV9. The Kia Niro EV is joined by its plug-in hybrid version, both of which are set to take the market by storm for the 2023 model year. Kia recently announced pricing for the plug-in hybrid model, which undercuts its rivals by a fair margin, and now it's time for the full-blooded EV. The Kia Niro EV goes up against competitors such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV, VW ID.4, and Toyota bZ4X, and with a starting price below $40,000, it's very attractive.
The new Kia Niro EV is available in two trims: Wind and Wave. The entry-level Wind starts with an MSRP of $39,450, excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,295. The base model comes with exterior features such as roof rails, heated side mirrors, rear privacy glass, 17-inch alloy wheels, and projector beam headlights with high beam assist and auto headlight control. On the inside, the Wind features a 10.25-inch instrument display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging, remote start, dual-zone auto climate control, a 10-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and ambient lighting.
The top-of-the-line Wave crosses the $40k barrier with a starting price of $44,450, excluding extra costs. The Wave does however come with a few notable extras that make it worth the additional cost. The exterior features LED headlights and fog lights, a sunroof, and a smart power tailgate. The interior features a seven-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a digital key, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a universal garage opener, LED interior lighting, perforated vegan leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Not too bad for under $45,000, but what of safety?
Both trim levels come with driver assistance tech such as blind-spot collision-avoidance assist-parallel exit, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, and navigation-based smart cruise control. The Wave adds features such as front park distance warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and junction crossing detection. Under the hood, you'll find a 201-horsepower permanent magnet synchronous motor that pushes 188 lb-ft of torque. The battery is 64.8 kWh in size, and the car features an 11 kW onboard charger. The estimated range is 253 miles. To sweeten the deal, Kia will also throw in 2,000 miles of free charging. With the Toyota bZ4X still in a spot of trouble, the Niro EV only needs to worry about challenging the cheaper Bolt EV, which starts at just $25,600, excluding extra costs.
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