New Kia Niro EV (MY2023)

[Mr Hoops]

Went to a dealer presentation on the new Kia Niro EV (MY2023) last week and came away impressed.

Not so impressed, though, when I went to place an order for one at the weekend. It would appear that the customisation options promoted by Kia in all the PR burb do not apply to the UK.

It is quite dark inside so wanted the lighter medium grey interior - only to be told this only comes with the 'grey pack' which only comes with the Pearl White paint. Any other colour and you must have the black (Charcoal) interior. The third option, 'Petrol', is not even an option in the UK.

Surely the EV's are all made on the same line so why so limited a choice?

[TooLateForAName]

All I can think of would be the lhd/rhd thing. If they need to have the bits made in both and they dont expect the uk volume to be significant (concentrating on other regions?) then cutting down on variations might make sense.

[aestetix1]

Unfortunately this is the way Kia do things in the UK. They don't seem to have realized that the internet is a global network and people get to see the options available in other countries now.

Happened when they first released the eNiro in the UK too. Everyone saw the high spec versions at quite reasonable prices on YouTube, glowing reviews... And then the UK "First Edition" comes out with a smaller screen, worse software, no telematics at all and a number of other downgrades... For more money.

[Mr Hoops]

TooLateForAName said:

All I can think of would be the lhd/rhd thing

That was my thought if it was a regional issue, but KIA has confirmed that the Grey is available with the Pearl White exterior colour so they have clearly tooled the Grey spec for RHD.

I spoke with KIA UK yesterday and the media dept could not understand why either?

Regardless, we have placed the order, but I'll be pretty miffed if the Grey appears on the spec sheet in the next 6 months.

[ZesPak]

I've seen this "this interiour colour can't be specced with that exterior colour" so often, on BMW, Alfa, Volvo,...
I genuinely don't understand it.

[NS66]

It will sell either way regardless!!

As a Niro EV daily driver company car I am sure it will drive well. all Kia's seem to be screwed together well although I do dislike the look of the Niro it already looks bland and old fashioned to me. Hope they have got rid of all the noises - bongs when reversing - drives me mad,

When are they going to start making EV cars that you look at and go WOW!!