Kia launches new e-Niro and e-Soul

James Brooks of Kia Motors with the new e-Niro and e-Soul 

Kia has launched two new electric vehicles to its line-up, the e-Niro and e-Soul, writes Trish Whelan.

This five-door, five-seat car completes the eco-friendly Niro crossover range alongside Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions of which over 250,000 units have sold globally since the Niro's introduction in 2016. To date, Europe has accounted for over 100,000 sales of the hybrid crossover.

New e-Niro 

The new e-Niro was the first fully electric crossover utility vehicle produced by the Korean car maker. It went on sale in some European countries at the end of last year. It is equipped with a high-capacity 64 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provides a driving range of up to 455 kms on a single charge (282 miles) on the WLTP combined cycle.

Plugged into a 100 kW fast charger, it takes just 42 minutes to recharge from 20pc to 80pc.

e-Niro interior.

Features include a range of dedicated EV in-car technologies, new safety features, and a stylish exterior and interior design.

Kia say it offers buyers a convincing alternative to compact crossovers powered by traditional petrol or diesel internal combustion engines and gives owners the opportunity to complete both long distance drives and daily commutes with zero emissions and very low running costs.

The physical transmission has been replaced with a new 'shift-by-wire' rotator dial drive selector which extends out from the base of the central arm rest. The pair of paddles behind the steering wheel let drivers choose between five levels of energy regeneration and the driver can chose from Eco, Normal and Dynamic modes.

An 8-inch touchscreen enables owners source nearby charging points and monitor the level of remaining charge and range.

At 4,375 mm in length, it offers more cargo space at 451 litres than many other plug-in and electric vehicles. This can extend to 1,405 litres with rear seats folded.

The Medium Range option is from €33,495, has a range of up to 289 on a full charge, VRT relief and grants up to €10,000, a grant up to €600 for a home charger, and no BIK for company car drivers. The Long Range version, priced from €37,495, has a range of up to 455 on a full charge and the same grants as with the Medium Range and no BIK for company car drivers.

The new e-Niro is produced at Kia's Hwasung manufacturing facility in Korea. It is covered by Kia's 7-year, 150,000km warranty as standard. The warranty also covers the battery pack and electric motor.

New e-Soul.

The funky new Kia e-Soul brings long-range, zero-emissions power to the urban crossover class.

The Kia Soul is back on sale in Ireland but this time as a high spec, high tech EV with a long range of 452kms (280 miles WLTP) on a single charge as standard.

Kia claims it is up to 30pc more energy efficient than Europe's current best-selling electric car.

Two trims are offered and just the long range (64kw/452km) powerplant. Both trim levels are generous and feature 10.25-inch touchscreen AV/Nav display and 7-inch supervision cluster and safety features including Lane Keep Assist, Smart Cruise Control and Front Collision Avoidance.

Additional features on the K2 include full leather trim, Harmon Kardon Sound System, Heads Up Display and Blind Spot Detection. The K2 comes on the market at €35,995 and the K3 at €37,495 - prices include VRT relief and government grants.

The long-range 64 kWh battery pack is paired with a 150 kW (204hp) electric motor making it 84pc more powerful than the outgoing Soul EV.

Electrified models accounted for one in eight Kia cars sold in Europe last year, up from one in 10 the previous year. This new car is expected to add significantly to that tally.

Every exterior panel is new yet the car stays true to its boxy origins. At 4,194mm long, it is 55mm longer than the car it replaces.

With maximum torque of 395Nm available from a standstill, the long range e-Soul can do 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

e-Soul interior.

E-Soul K2 Long Range prices are from €35,995 (VRT band A0 annual road tax: €120), the K3 L/R is from €37,995. Both battery packs can be recharged from 20pc up to 80pc capacity in 42 minutes from a 100 kW DC fast-charger.

On the WLTP urban cycle, energy consumption for the long-range version is 109Wh/km.

A Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast charger is fitted as standard to both models enabling shorter stops for charging.

Kia Motors Ireland say there is built up demand in the country for a wider range of EV vehicles to choose from and that public reaction for these new cars 'has been tremendous'.

"Already demand for 192 cars has exceeded demand and we are now seeking interest for 2020," commented Kia Motors Ireland Managing Director James Brooks. "We are also happy to offer customers the choice of a Plug In Hybrid variant of Niro and this choice will widened early next year with the arrival of the new xCeed PHEV."