Is the future of automobiles electric? Kia seems to be making some strides in that direction with their range of EVs and hybrids. While Kia has a wide selection of reliable and eco-friendly hybrid cars, today we’ll be looking at their three main electric vehicles: the Niro EV, the EV6, and the upcoming EV9 to see what they have to offer to the marketplace. The EV market is exploding, and Kia is doing their best to provide some next-level EV cars to Kia dealerships. To stand out in any market, you need something which sets you apart from the competition. I think Kia has a feature which achieves that goal.
The EV6 and EV9 both feature super speedy DC fast charging capability, utilizing 800-volt chargers. Many people consider the long recharge times to be the greatest downfall of EVs. You can fill up a gas tank in a matter of minutes, while most EVs take hours. Long road trips suddenly become virtually impossible, or require so many stops it makes them impractical, at best. This fast charging technology allows some Kia EVs to charge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes. That is a much more attractive charge time, making Kia EVs a great choice for those who enjoy taking on the open road.
The Classic Niro EV
The Niro EV first debuted in 2016, one of the earliest Kia EVs, though not the first. (That was the Soul EV, which is no longer offered.) As a crossover SUV, the Niro focuses primarily on easy driving and simple maneuvering due to its smaller size. Though a small SUV, it provides more interior room than a standard sedan, while it feels just about as fun to drive as a regular sedan, and as easy to park. Its cargo space of 63.7 cu. ft. is the best in its class. This makes it a great choice for those who need more space than a sedan, but still like many aspects of sedans. Basically, it is reminiscent of the station wagon in function, but with way more style in its form.
As an electric vehicle, the Kia Niro has some added benefits as well. The range is very respectable at about 250 miles per charge, which is more than enough for daily commutes and even some longer-distance errands as well. Since the current charging capabilities of the Niro don’t include the ultra-fast charge of the EV6 and EV9, it does take longer to charge, but can still get about 100 miles of range in 30 minutes. This makes it feasible for long distances, but not ideal. If you live in a northern climate, you’ll be happy to know that it has a solid heat pump. This allows for better battery performance in cold climates, since EVs often perform poorly in winter. The dual panoramic displays combine the instrument cluster and infotainment screens into a single connected screen, which makes finding your favorite media simple with the elegant design. Finally, the performance of the Niro is respectable with a 7.1 second 0-60 time. While it won’t be winning any drag races, it still allows for a fun driving experience.
The Compact EV6
The EV6 takes Kia’s EV performance to a new level. Similar to the Niro, it is a crossover SUV, but is a little smaller than the Niro. This makes it feel a bit more sporty, especially when you start looking at the performance features of the EV6 GT. The 576 horsepower engine allows the EV6 to achieve a very impressive 0-60 speed of 3.4 seconds, faster than many much higher end sports cars. The blazing acceleration and speed of the electric motors make for an exhilarating experience for the driver and passengers. The standard powertrain is no slouch, either, producing 225 horsepower in rear-wheel drive form and 320 horsepower with all-wheel drive.
The EV6 also has ultra-rapid charging, which allows you to charge from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes with the appropriate 800V DC fast charger. Suddenly, road trips don’t sound so bad with an EV. Most of the time, people’s main complaint about new electric vehicles is that if they want to go on a long road trip, the journey will have to take much longer than with a gas or hybrid car, because older EVs require hours and hours to charge a sufficient amoun. The new EV6 makes that significantly less of an issue.
The luxury and technology features make the EV6 fun as well. It also features the dual 12.3 inch panoramic displays to provide all the information and media at your fingertips in an attractive package. The augmented reality Head-Up display makes driving the EV6 feel as futuristic as it is. Certain vital information can now be displayed on your windshield in a non-distracting way, enabling you to keep an eye on your car’s stats without your eyes leaving the road. Combine all these features with the premium sound package and ambient lighting, and you have an incredibly powerful EV which is as beautiful as it is useful. Form and function have been brilliantly combined in the EV6.
The Family Sized EV9
While not yet released, we know enough about the EV9 to get a good idea of both the function it serves and the experience it offers. The EV9 is bigger than both the EV6 and the Niro, and provides seating for seven. Most families will have no trouble fitting all their children in the car, and even have room for some friends, too. If you’re thinking that makes it slow, though, think again. The EV9 can do 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, which is quite impressive for an SUV of this size. I guess you can thank the available 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque in the long-range all-wheel drive version. for that. (The standard rear-wheel drive version has 215 horsepower, while the long-range rear-wheel drive EV9 makes 201 horsepower. Both produce 258 lb-ft of torque.)
The EV9 provides many of the great features of the Niro and EV6, like the heat pump and the ultra-fast charging available on the EV6, as well as a few more features which set it apart. The larger size allows the EV9 to offer second row captain’s seats, which helps to eliminate the fights over who gets the front seat. The maximum cargo space of 81.9 cu. ft. is also significantly more than other two models, so the interior space feels quite roomy. It provides up to 7.8 inches of ground clearance, so driving on uneven roads or even some off-road driving is more feasible. With up to 5,000 lbs of towing capacity, hauling around your small camper suddenly becomes feasible. Overall, the EV9 offers a diverse collection of features which makes it a great choice for a lot of different drivers. It is going to be fun to see what it does when it officially hits the market.
The Future is Bright for Kia EVs
Kia has been making EVs for almost a decade, and their continual innovation has given today’s buyers several great EV options. From the petite and high-tech EV6, to the bigger and beefier EV9, Kia has electric vehicles for many types of drivers. While they may not be known as the most innovative EV company out there, Kia does have a history of producing some solid EVs, and their newest EVs show that they are continually improving their designs. Kia will be one to watch as the EV market continues to expand.
