What is the best Kia electric car?
Kia is well-known for its reliable cars, including its electric vehicles – but which is the best electric Kia car you can buy?
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There are plenty of electric cars to choose from, but buying from Kia adds further appeal because it’s known for its high-quality interiors, solid build quality and seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
With the brand in the middle of updating its electric lineup (it wants to have 14 electric models by 2027), now has never been a better time to get an electric Kia.
Whether you’re after a budget-friendly set of wheels or something with a 300-mile range, the choice is growing.
Kia Soul EV
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The Soul is a boxy hatchback available in both petrol and diesel forms, but it's also been available in electric form since 2014.
The latest Kia Soul uses technology from the popular e-Niro crossover – including the large 64kWh battery – to make electric motoring affordable and practical.
Because it’s a Kia, you can find plenty of luxuries – including heated seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control – without having to pay the premium price tag for brands like BMW.
Earlier versions have smaller batteries and therefore shorter ranges, but they’re still compelling options and can be some of the cheapest used electric cars around.
Who should buy a Kia Soul EV electric vehicle?
The Kia Soul EV is an incredibly practical car. While many other cars have larger boots, its 315-litre space is accessed by a wide opening that makes loading bulky items reasonably easy.
Headroom and legroom are also exceptional, given its boxy shape.
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Kia e-Niro
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Kia and Hyundai are part of the same company, so when Hyundai launched its saloon-shaped IONIQ, Kia packaged the same batteries and motors into its e-Niro.
Like the IONIQ, it’s also available in regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms.
Given how popular crossovers are, all three versions of the Niro are sold in considerable numbers, so you’ll be able to find plenty of deals on used models.
The 64kWh version was also joined by a 39kWh model, which can do around 180 miles between charges.
An updated second-generation model went on sale in 2022 with a much slicker interior. The electric version was rebadged to Niro EV, and it's only available with a larger 64.8kWh battery.
What makes the Kia e-Niro one of the best Kia electric cars?
The Kia Niro strikes a perfect balance between head and heart – it takes the form of a very popular crossover and is usefully practical, but it’s also incredibly efficient whichever form you buy it in.
Kia EV6
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Much like Volkswagen entered a new era of electric cars when it dropped the e-Golf and e-Up in favour of its ID.-branded cars, Kia is busy launching a range of new EV-branded models.
The first – the EV6 – shares parts with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 but looks a lot sportier. Despite the long lines along the body, it makes for a great family car.
Like other similarly-sized EVs, it sits higher than a typical hatchback, which makes it a crossover, though you don’t sit as high as you would in the e-Niro or Niro EV.
Depending on whether you go for rear- or all-wheel-drive, and the optional heat pump that makes warming the cabin more efficient in the winter, Kia claims the 77.4kWh battery can do up to 328 miles.
There’s even a 585hp GT model, which can do 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds – the same as a Tesla Model Y Performance.
Is the EV6 the best used Kia electric car?
If you want the latest and greatest technology, you’ll want one of the manufacturer’s latest EV-branded cars.
Because the EV6 was the first, you can make considerable savings by buying used.
Kia hybrids
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Although Kia makes excellent electric cars, it also has a range of self-charging and plug-in hybrid models for buyers who are uncertain about going engine-free.
Its plug-in hybrid models can do 20-30 miles between charges, which means running around town could cost you pennies.
They also have the backup of a petrol engine when it comes to doing long trips, which saves time that an electric car driver would otherwise spend charging.
A lot of the brand’s success in the hybrid market comes from the Niro, but there are also hybrid versions of its Sportage and Sorento SUVs, and even the XCeed small crossover.
Is the Kia Niro PHEV the right electric car for you?
If a range of around 300 miles isn’t enough for you, then you may want to consider something like the Niro PHEV.
Company car drivers especially love that it can go from one end of the UK to the other with just a few short stops, but it’s also cheap to tax and can be cheap to run so long as you charge it regularly.)