Kia e-Niro 4+ 2021 electric car owner review

Kia e-Niro 4+ 2021 electric car owner review

Jesper drives a Kia e-Niro 4+ 2021 electric car.

This is Jesper’s second electric car, he’s owned the e-Niro from new and drives between 5,000-10,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 5,000-10,000 miles and he achieves 255 miles range from a full charge.

 

Rate your Kia e-Niro out of 5.

 

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Why did you choose the Kia e-Niro?

I have always loved cars and design is important to me, so slightly surprising I’m now in an e-Niro! Previously I have only owned European cars (BMW, VW and Volvo). I’m not a huge fan of the looks but the e-Niro ticked critical boxes for me as someone who doesn’t have off-street parking and charges using a cable gulley through the pavement. Namely, a big battery and brilliant efficiency (meaning less worrying about being able to park outside my house to charge) as well as a charge port at the front rather than side (meaning less chance of the cable being knocked by other cars or pedestrians).

 

I also liked all the extras that you get which for me makes it very good value for money e.g. heated and ventilated seats, electric driver seat, glass sunroof, full leather, 10 inch infotainment screen, fantastic self-driving abilities etc.

 

Kia e-Niro 4+ 2021 electric car owner review

 

Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this electric car.

1. Range and efficiency are incredible – can be around 300 miles in summer and over 200 on a cold motorway journey in winter!

2. Driving pleasure – it accelerates faster than official figures and handles surprisingly well for a crossover car

3. Practicality – it’s a perfect family car for us; good boot, loads of rear seat space etc.

4. In-car tech – long motorway journeys are a breeze with the self-driving tech and the infotainment is slick and responsive.

 

Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this electric car.

1. Charging speed on rapids – in winter it can struggle to get over 50kW and even in summer you only briefly see the 77kW advertised max (but the big battery means I don’t need to charge often)

2. Front wheel drive – there is too much torque to be FWD and it’s easy to make the wheels spin when accelerating hard from a stand still

3. Some hard plastics – whilst the inside is a lovely place to be there are hints that this isn’t a luxury car throughout

4. If I’m being picky, VESS – the artificial sound it makes doesn’t stop whilst stationary at traffic lights and the reversing ‘bongs’ are a little too loud.

 

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

None.

 

What are the standout tech features of your Kia e-Niro?

  • Fantastic 10in infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (although not wireless on the 4+)
  • The in-car sat nav is brilliant and matches Waze and Google using TomTom live traffic; using the in car sat nav also allows you to see your next instruction in the instrument binnacle.
  • Self-driving – on smart cruise control and lane follow assist you only need to loosely hold the steering wheel and the car will do the rest.

 

Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this Kia e-Niro.

‘Utility mode’ – one of those things most electric cars have that are a complete revelation. You can sit in your car with heating on, heated seats on and infotainment on running off the main traction battery. I do this in winter while my son is at football training!

 

What electric car are you interested in next and why?

Not certain, possibly the Cupra Born. I don’t want a big SUV and am hoping more non-SUV shaped EVs emerge.

 

What home charging unit do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?

I have an old ‘dumb’ charger (eVolt Basic) which was installed as part of cable gulley trials in Oxford so wouldn’t recommend it. I now have solar panels and am looking for a charger with solar integration.

 

Kia e-Niro 4+ 2021 electric car owner review

 

Rate your home charging unit out of 5.

 

What home electricity supplier & tariff do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?

Octopus Go with 4 hours cheap power between 00:30-04:30. 100% green supplier too and they are very innovative with a great app. Highly recommended.

 

Rate your electricity supplier out of 5.

 

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

  • InstaVolt – reliable, easy to pay but expensive
  • IONITY – same reasons but even more expensive!
  • Osprey – same as above but a bit more affordable.

 

List your top 3 favourite public charging networks (in order of preference).

  • InstaVolt
  • Osprey
  • IONITY.

 

Who do you insure your electric car with? Would you recommend them to others and why?

LV – never had to claim but highly recommended and have a dedicated EV product.

 

Rate your insurance provider out of 5.

 

Estimate how much money you save per month owning and running an electric car compared to a petrol/diesel car.

£150.

 

See other owner reviews here

 

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