The redesigned 2023 Kia Niro EV takes huge steps toward modernity and uniqueness with its fresh interior and exterior, but its 253-mile EPA-rated driving range and on-the-road fast-charging capability are modest, making it appear on paper as more of an around-town runabout versus a barrier-breaking, distance-driving EV. When I mentioned the idea to my colleagues of taking the Niro EV on a 570-mile round-trip journey, their reaction was, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Related: 2023 Kia Niro Review: More Personality, Still Practical
I don’t blame them; after all, we have a Tesla Model Y in the Cars.com long-term fleet with 326 miles of rated range and respectable fast-charging speeds that has logged thousands of road-trip miles with its long range and Tesla’s vast Supercharger fast-charging network. Still, I wanted to see what it’s like to road-trip an EV that, by the specs, isn’t the best candidate for long-distance driving to see whether the experience is passable or maybe even surprises and delights — especially because the Niro EV is so easy to live with thanks to its roomy interior (considering its small exterior) and pleasant driving manners.
Plus, the Niro EV starts around $40,000 with destination charge and is an affordable alternative to many expensive EVs, including the EV6 that’s the star EV in Kia’s lineup with 300-plus miles of range and impressive fast-charging capability, but for the 2023 model year starts at $49,795. Could the Niro EV be a reasonable all-around alternative to expensive EVs?
After all, this trip between the Chicago area and eastern Michigan was only 279 miles. How hard could it be?
EV Route Planning
The first obstacle was simply planning the route. Surprisingly, in-car trip planning that plots a route and charge stops within the vehicle’s navigation is still a relatively rare function of EVs. Part of the reason our Model Y is such a seamless road-tripper is because the car plots the route and charging stops for you, including estimating time charging and final time to destination. It does this job well, which eases range anxiety — but configured today, our Model Y is a $72,000 SUV.
The Niro has some limited trip-planning features, but it won’t plan a route to the extent of the Tesla. Instead, I tried the EV trip-planning mobile application, A Better Route Planner at the suggestion of Cars.com Editor-in-Chief (and Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner) Jennifer Newman. The app’s suggested route includes charging stops and times, and predicted a total of 4 hours, 51 minutes to the destination, including one 29-minute charge stop at a DC fast charger about 170 miles into the 279-mile drive. This route was the quickest arrival option and also took into consideration arriving at the final destination with a safety net of at least 10% battery charge.
Fast-Charging Experience
The trip was a 279-mile, 4.5-hour drive in normal conditions without stopping, which most gasoline-powered cars can do without breaking a sweat. The Niro EV’s 251 miles of estimated range at the start of the trip wasn’t going to make it all the way, and less efficient highway driving meant an achievable highway range of around 230 miles based on my observed efficiency.