The Kia Niro EV is raking in the kudos, receiving praise from across the press as well as new owners. But winning “Car of the Year” from Popular Mechanics magazine may be its biggest award yet.
The Kia Niro EV is a good reminder of how far the electric vehicle (EV) has come. From humble AC Propulsion conversions of Scion econoboxes to Tesla then-Motors’ wild Roadster to the Model 3 and Kia Niro EV, whole companies have come and gone, and the industry has changed massively.
Kia today presents a sub-$38,000 EV, which comes down to the low $30K range after federal incentives (if they apply to you). The Niro EV comes with many standard features that were the hottest new features on the market not long ago, including my favorite wireless cellphone charger.
Some of the many things that caught my eyes when reviewing the Niro EV were the quality of the car and the fit and finish. A decade ago, EVs were hastily put together. They weren’t known for their quality. Today’s Kia Niro EV or Hyundai Kona EV, though, make owning an EV a no-brainer. Many people commuting back and forth to work in a city could drive either car the entire week and recharge on weekends.
Kia Niro EV Wins Popular Mechanic Award
As far as Popular Mechanics choosing the Kia Niro EV for its award, Ezra Dyer, the automotive editor at Popular Mechanics, had the following to say:
“We picked the Niro EV for Car of the Year because it’s an electric car that would be appealing even if it weren’t electric. But it is electric, and it delivers the usual EV benefits without much in the way of EV sacrifices. It’s smooth, quick and quiet, with plenty of range and an affordable price. The Niro EV feels like a preview of the near future when cars like this are the norm. But right now it’s the exception.”
Michael Cole, COO and executive vice president at Kia, added:
“We’re thrilled by this award. When a publication with the storied reputation of Popular Mechanics selects your vehicle over the competition, it’s a momentous event. We’re proud of the Niro EV and its place in our fleet of all-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles At Kia we strive to provide the best vehicles possible and this reward validates our efforts.”
Another sign of how far the industry has come in regards to EVs is that Popular Mechanics praises the crossover Niro EV for its design, style, performance, and practicality. It also cites its comfort on highways for long road trips, of all things. It concludes its praises by writing about the Niro EV’s functionality as an everyday runabout vehicle.
Talk about a decade-long change coming to fruition. When an EV reaps such high praises from a car magazine, what else is there to say?
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