Yes…IF…and I know that’s a big IF…but if you work, like I do, in an office building with a handful of courtesy electric charging stations in the parking garage. BOOM…buying either an all-electric or a plug-in electric pretty much becomes a no-brainer.
And really, with the number of courtesy chargers available in shopping areas, a “free fill-up” is becoming more and more convenient daily.
Plus, you can always step up and install a Level II charger at home and still get a low-cost overnight “fill-up.” And for many, the 25 – 35 miles of range you’ll get from regular household 120V is all they need to face the next day.
In any case, the debate is over. Electric is the future. And if you’re ready to face the future now, KIA is ready for you with three plug-in electrics and two all-electric vehicles…their new EV6 and their still-newer re-designed ‘23 NIRO EV.
The NIRO is pretty much a sharpened and slightly larger version of the previous NIRO. The most noticeable feature on the early-release models is the diagonal grey strip on the rear. I think it makes the new NIRO stand out nicely without making it look silly. But hey…if you don’t like it, just hit “delete” on the order form.
As for size, the ’23 NIRO is two and a half inches longer and almost an inch wider…with most of the extra space showing up with just a little more wiggle-room in the interior…a little more than four inches more in rear hip-room, in fact.
And as for “GO,” the ’23 NIRO packs all the punch most of us will ever need. While 201 HP may not sound like overkill, it’ll get you to 60 in just 7.1 seconds and give you 253 miles of range.
KIA’s new NIRO comes in two trim levels….the WIND starting at just under 40K and the WAVE just five thousand higher. Roof rails, Sirius XM, a 10.25” display, blind spot alerts and auto emergency braking all come standard….as does an on-board power generator that can charge
your laptop or camping gear.
The WAVE gives you quite a few features for that additional five thousand….including a sunroof, Harman Kardon premium audio, evasive steering assist, a battery heater, LED headlamps with fog lights, power-folding mirrors, remote parking assist, heated steering, ventilated front seats, a heads-up display, a power front passenger seat, forward and rear parking warnings, and a digital key.
So…what is KIA’s new NIRO like to drive?
Around town, I found it to be an absolute delight. Agile, responsive, easy to park…all with a controlled but soft suspension that could shrug off all but the meanest of potholes.
But if all that is still not quite enough to put the NIRO on your list, know that every ’23 NIRO comes with 500 KW of Fuel-Charging credits…which is enough to cover your first 1,700 – 2,000 miles.
In short, when it comes to electric, I think you’ll find that KIA has done its homework and definitely checked off most of the boxes.
