Kia Niro EV Long Range

Overview

The 2022 Kia Niro EV Long Range was a cracking little electric crossover, perfect for families dipping their toes into the EV world. While this generation bowed out in 2022, it carved a niche as a super practical and efficient choice. Its key superpower? A solid 64 kWh battery delivering usable real-world range without a jaw-dropping price tag. You’ll find these on the used market, with an estimated price around $12,999 for this configuration, offering sensible electric motoring. It’s a no-fuss EV that gets the job done with quiet competence.

What's New for 2022?

For its farewell tour in 2022, the Niro EV Long Range got a bit of a tech glow-up and Kia’s sleek new badge. The big news inside for well-specced models was the 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment system, bringing navigation, Kia's UVO link telematics, and a thumping Harman Kardon premium stereo to the party. This made the already well-equipped Niro EV an even more compelling package, even as it prepared to pass the baton to its successor. It was a final polish on a well-loved formula.

Design & Exterior

The 2022 Kia Niro EV Long Range keeps things neat and tidy with its friendly crossover stance – less spaceship, more sensible runabout. It sported Kia's signature "tiger-nose" grille, cleverly closed off for EV duties, often highlighted with cool blue accents to shout about its electric heart. Riding typically on 17-inch alloys, its dimensions are city-friendly: 172.2 inches long, 71.1 inches wide, and 61.4 inches tall. It’s a design that’s aged gracefully, offering practicality without being shouty.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the 2022 Niro EV Long Range, and you'll find a cabin that's all about user-friendly vibes and decent quality. Passenger space is pretty good for five. Tech-wise, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto kept you connected. While an 8-inch screen featured on some, many Long Range models boasted the brilliant 10.25-inch touchscreen, often bundled with navigation and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. Cargo room is a strong suit: 18.5 cubic feet in the trunk, expanding to 53 cubic feet with seats folded. No frunk here, but the main boot is practical.

Performance & Driving Experience

The Niro EV Long Range packs a surprising punch! Its front-wheel-drive setup, powered by a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, churns out 150 kW and a meaty 291 lb-ft of torque. This translates to a brisk 0-60 mph dash in just 7.8 seconds – nippy enough for city sprints and confident highway merging up to its 104 mph top speed. It’s a smooth operator, offering a comfy ride and predictable handling. Regenerative braking is nicely integrated, with adjustable levels to suit your driving style.

Range, Battery & Charging

Juice-wise, the Niro EV Long Range boasts a 64 kWh usable battery pack. Green Cars Compare calculates a real-world range of around 234 miles, which is pretty solid for the daily grind and then some, sipping energy at about 3.66 mi/kWh. For top-ups, the standard 7.2 kW on-board AC charger will fill it from empty in roughly 9 hours. Hooked up to a DC fast charger via its CCS Type 1 port, it can accept up to 77 kW, getting you from 10-80% in under an hour under ideal conditions.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

While an official NHTSA rating for this specific 2022 trim isn't listed, the first-generation Niro generally performed well in safety tests, and its European counterpart achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. For 2022, the Niro EV Long Range typically came well-equipped with Kia's Drive Wise suite. This often included key systems like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Smart Cruise Control, providing valuable support on the road and enhancing driver confidence.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Kia offers impressive warranty coverage, and the 2022 Niro EV Long Range benefits from this. Owners are typically covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic limited warranty. Crucially for an EV, there's a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery pack and electric powertrain components, offering significant peace of mind. While complimentary maintenance isn't usually part of Kia's US package, the Niro EV is known for its general reliability, potentially leading to lower running costs over time compared to some internal combustion engine vehicles.