The Most Underrated Korean EV You Can Buy Today – Top Speed

The more affordable EV market is picking up in the U.S., with the Korean carmakers offering very good options in the EV6, and, of course, the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. The Japanese with the bZ4X and Solterra are in the mix, as is Volvo with its remarkable EX30. The American challengers are the Model 3 and the Chevy Equinox, not to forget the stunning Ford Mustang Mach-E.

But Korean brands are firmly embedded in US car culture, and many buyers would choose from there, even when moving to an EV. We take a look at a Korean EV that completely flies under the radar, and is certainly worth a second look.

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10 Things You Should Know About The Kia Niro EV

The 2023 Kia Niro EV is a vehicle that blends EV propulsion, practicality, and peace of mind, and here’s everything you need to know about it.

The 2025 Kia Niro EV Flies Under The Radar

The Kia Niro EV is the middle child of Korean EVs – quiet, unassuming, often overlooked, but surprisingly engaging once you get to know it. It is a subcompact SUV with fresh, good looks and a spacious interior considering the size of the car. The Niro can seat five comfortably, and it is rich in the features you expect from any Kia.

The Kia Niro is available as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and the EV under discussion here. Of the three, the EV has the spiciest performance, but you are not going to take it racing. The Kia Niro is, after all, a small, practical family crossover.

Often Overlooked Next To Flashier Siblings Like The EV6

Despite the Kia Niro EVs modern good looks and a distinctive two-tone color scheme, it is often overshadowed by other Korean EVs that are more glamorous, like the Kia EV6 with its 576 horsepower and 310-mile range, or the 2022 World Car of the Year Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV or Ioniq 6 sedan with its very long range and high power options, and which was World Car of the Year in 2023.

Offers Real-World Value Without Chasing Hype Or Gimmicks

The Kia Niro EV is a normal car, like most people would drive. It is an EV, which means it is more expensive to purchase than the Niro Hybrid, for example. It has FWD as opposed to AWD, but for most of us, two-wheel drive is the norm, not the exception.

Kia Niro EV Performance Specifications

The Niro EV does not have eye-watering acceleration like some EVs, nor does it have a remarkable range. This is simply a well-built, affordable EV that offers great energy efficiency, decent performance, and a practical range.

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Decent Driving Range And Everyday Versatility

We live in a world where EVs are fast becoming mainstream. But we expect so much of EVs because many of them can do spectacular things. One trim of the Rivian R1S has a range of 410 miles, while another has 1025 horsepower. The Volvo EX30 has more horsepower than a Porsche 911 Carrera, and a faster 0-60 mph time. BYD in China has just announced a fast charging time of 20-80 percent in five minutes. While these figures are amazing, most of us will be satisfied with an EV with decent performance and decent range.

Delivers Up To 253 Miles Of Range On A Full Charge

When most of us hear an EV has a range of 250 miles or so, our first reaction is that this is not enough. After all, most small ICE vehicles can go 400+ miles on a tank of gas. But let us put that range into perspective. How often do you have to fill up your gas car? Once a week? Every second week? The average American drives around 37 miles a day, while the average daily commute is around 12 miles one way. In a 400-mile gas car, you will have to refill with gas every 10 days, while with the Niro EV, you will have to recharge every 6.8 days.

A gas Kia Soul will cost you $2.70 to drive 25 miles, while the Kia Niro EV will cost you $1.12 to drive 25 miles. The Soul is a small, very efficient gas car and will save you $750 in fuel costs over five years, while the Niro EV will save you $5,250 over five years. The kicker is that most of us don’t really know how far 253 miles is. You can drive the Kia Niro from New York to Washington, DC, along I-95 S on one charge, and still have some juice left to look around. NY City to DC is 229 miles.

Compact Crossover Dimensions With A Spacious Cabin Feel

The Kia Niro EV is a subcompact crossover, a small car, but despite its dimensions, it has a surprisingly spacious interior.

Kia Niro Interior Dimensions

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Impressive Features At An Attainable Price

Kia is known for adding superb features as standard to its vehicles, and the Kia Niro is no exception. The Niro EV comes in two trim levels, the Wind (MSRP $39,600) and Wave ($44,600). While the Wave has several more luxurious features than those of the Wave, like an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system vs six-speaker sound for the lower trim, none of these affect the performance of either car in any way. Additionally, the lower Wind trim is so loaded with great features as standard that it would be hard to justify an extra $5,000 on the higher trim.

Under $40,000 With Heated Seats And More

Standard on the lower trim Wind, you will get a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, a six-way manual passenger’s seat, with both front seats heated. A heated steering wheel is optional on the Wind, standard for the Wave. The one feature that may open the wallet a bit wider is the power sunroof on the Wave, which is not available on the Wind.

Dual 10.25-Inch Screens And Standard Driver-Assistance Tech Included

Both trim levels come standard with dual 10.25-inch screens, one for infotainment and the other for instruments. Apple and Android connectivity is standard via Bluetooth, as is Sirius radio. Also standard is remote start, and remote vehicle cooling or heating via the Kia app. There are 17 driver-assist tech features on the Kia Niro EV, including auto emergency braking, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane keeping and following, navigation-based smart cruise control with stop and go, and highway driving assist.

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How The Niro Stacks Up Against The Competition

There are a couple of logical competitors for the Kia Niro EV among the two main Korean brands. The Hyundai Kona Electric SEL – the second trim – seems to be very close to, if not identical to, the Kia Niro EV. Whereas the two Kona trim levels have identical power, range, and most features, the other EVs from both Kia and Hyundai offer a range of trims, with a real entry-level followed by increasingly more advanced and expensive options.

The EV6 Light costs more and has less horsepower and range, while the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is even more expensive but has significantly more power and range. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE is slightly more expensive, has slightly more power, but massively longer range. So we will look at the Hyundai Kona Electric SEL and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE as Korean competitors to consider.

Buyers Are Flush With Options

Kia and Hyundai are sister companies, and always share platforms. Kia is normally slightly more expensive than Hyundai, but usually offers a somewhat more upmarket offering. That said, there is, performance and range-wise, not that much difference between the Niro EV and the Kona Electric. Both are crossovers, while the Ioniq 6 is a sleek sedan with a significantly longer range, but a higher price. Many buyers prefer the SUV/crossover format, while the sedan is still very popular in the U.S. If you prefer the crossover, look at the Niro and Kona, but if you are willing to pay more and like a sedan, the Ioniq 6 is worth a second look.