Kia’s EV6 usually takes the spotlight, but the brand also sells a second fully electric crossover. The second-generation 2023 Niro EV gets bolder styling inside and out; its powertrain is largely unchanged, yet it still stacks up against today’s entry-level EVs.
The new Niro EV stands out in a crowded electric-SUV market. The rear-door “Aero Blade” trim is the detail most people notice first. It echoes the first-generation Audi R8 and adds visual drama. Kia says it also helps aerodynamics. If you dislike the contrast look, you can order the blade body-coloured.
Inside, the 2023 Niro EV feels roomy for the class, and materials step up from the previous car. Heated front seats are standard. The Preserve pack adds a heat pump and heated rear seats to help winter efficiency. Upholstery uses perforated bio-polyurethane leather derived from eucalyptus leaves; headlining uses recycled newspaper fibre.
Tech is generous for the money. Every version gets twin 10.3-inch screens—one for instruments, one for infotainment. Bluetooth audio and the infotainment layout are easy to live with. Heating and air conditioning share one row of physical buttons, toggled by a mode switch. It saves dash space and is quick to learn.
A single front motor drives the Niro EV. The driver can pick Eco, Normal, Sport or Snow. Normal is the default balance of range and response; Sport is the liveliest setting.
EPA-rated range is 407 km—22 km more than the 2022 Niro EV.
A liquid-cooled 64.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery charges from the grid and from regeneration. Regenerative braking turns kinetic energy into stored electricity when you lift off or brake; the instrument display shows energy flow to and from the battery and motor.
Drive Wise driver-assistance is standard. The list includes front, side, knee and curtain airbags, automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning, stability control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, remote smart parking assist, immobiliser, lane-departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
Kia pitches the 2023 Niro EV as a way to stop buying petrol, with 400+ km between charges and a sub-€40,724 entry price when the Rabla Plus scrappage scheme applies.
Practical and affordable. Quiet and smooth. Kia is fully committed to electrification across hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs—we have been impressed by each type in the range. The Niro EV 2023 is Kia’s most affordable battery-electric car.
Whether you like the new look depends largely on those C-pillar aero blades. They recall a first-gen Audi R8 and, to my eye, work just as well here—especially with the new headlight DRL signature and vertical tail-lamps. Order them body-coloured if you prefer a cleaner side profile. Kia also claims they manage airflow along the body to improve straight-line stability.
In short, the 2023 Kia Niro EV remains a strong choice if you want an accessible electric SUV with distinctive styling and solid official range. Book a test drive through Kia’s Romanian network if you want to judge the aero blades—and the rest—in person.
