Kia e-Niro electric crossover confirmed with 301-mile range

The long-range electric Kia will go on sale at the end of 2018

2019 Kia e-NiroThe new Kia e-Niro crossover already beats the just-revealed Audi E-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Jaguar I-Pace – for overall driving range, that is. Kia has just confirmed a driving range of up to 301 mile on a single charge, which no premium SUV can currently better.

Kia’s 301-mile figure is according to the new WLTP standard; in the same test, the Jaguar I-Pace will cover 292 miles, while both the Audi E-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC will do 249 miles.

The Kia e-Niro even beats the 280-mile NEDC figure Mercedes-Benz cheekily quoted; this test is being phased out in favour of the tougher WLTP test.

2019 Kia e-Niro

Kia achieves this official 300-mile range with a smaller, cheaper, faster-to-charge battery than its premium rivals. The 64kWh lithium ion unit is still a decent size though (and 24hWh bigger than a Nissan Leaf); Kia says it’s able to go further than some particularly thirsy petrol cars (supercar owners, it’s referencing you).

Capable of fast-charging with a 100kW unit, the battery will charge from flat to 80 percent charge in 54 minutes.

If you can’t stretch to the 64kWh battery, a cheaper Kia e-Niro will be offered, with a 39.2kWh unit. This will have a still-OK 193-mile WLTP range.

2019 Kia e-Niro

The 39.2kWh e-Niro won’t be as fast as its bigger brother though. It gets a 136hp electric motor, for 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds.

The pricier 64kWh e-Niro has a 204hp motor, which accelerates to 62mph in just 7.8 seconds. Both cars are covered by Kia’s 7-year, 100,000-mile warranty – and, yes, both battery pack and electric motor are included.

Kia will give the new e-Niro its European debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. Full prices and delivery dates will be confirmed towards the end of 2018.

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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