Electric Kia e-Niro First Edition costs £32,995 in the UK

The electric Kia e-Niro – Kia’s take on the Hyundai Kona Electric – costs £32,995 in the UK (after grant) for the 64kWh First Edition model.

Kia has had a few problems with the quoted range of the new e-Niro, discovering an error in WLTP testing means it can only actually manage 282 miles on a single charge, and not the 301 miles quoted. But it barely matters.

What matters is that, just like sister car the Hyundai Kona Electric, it delivers a range as good as many ICE cars – certainly from the 64kWh version – and the convenience, practicality and desirable package of a well-sorted crossover. And now we know, just like the Kona EV, it comes at a sensible price too.

Unlike Hyundai, Kia is initially offering only a First Edition models with the 64kWh battery and all the bells and whistles, but after EV grant it still only costs a very sensible £32,995.

In terms of styling the e-Niro is very close to the regular Niro, but gets a blank front, new 17” alloys, slightly different bumpers and a few colour highlights to set it apart. But they’re very small differences and it’s good to see an EV looking mainstream rather than odd.

The First Edition spec includes reversing camera and parking sensors, LED tail lights and running lights, electric windows, auto lights and wipers, Air Con, heated folding mirrors, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keep Assist, Hill Start, Adaptive Cruise and more.

The e-Niro also gets an 8” touchscreen with DAB, TomTom Live, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, JBL Sound and wireless phone charging as well as leather, heated front seats and steering wheel, stainless steel scuff plates and black high gloss trim.

The Kia e-Niro officially goes on sale in the UK on 1 April 2019, complete with Kia’s seven-year warranty.