In its 5-year plan (2022 – 2026), Kia Malaysia indicated that one of the models to be introduced this year would be the Kia Niro EV and on schedule, Dinamikjaya Motors, its distributor, today launched the new model and will start accepting orders. Although there is duty exemption for EVs, the Niro – imported from South Korea – has a rather high price of RM255,888 – and that’s without duties, which the government has excepted EVs from for a few years.
Customers get a 5-years manufacturer’s warranty (or maximum of 150,000 kms) for the vehicle but the battery pack has its own warranty that is up to 8 years (or maximum of 160,000 kms).
Like the original Hyundai Ioniq, the Niro was available with three different powertrains – petrol, hybrid (including PHEV) and battery electric – when the model line was introduced in 2016. The second generation no longer has a petrol engine option and only electrified powertrains (hybrid, PHEV and BEV) are offered.
Only BEV powertrain (for now?)
Dinamikjaya Motors is importing only the BEV version which has a 150 kW (201 ps)/255 Nm electric motor powered by a 64.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. A fully charged battery pack can provide a range of up to 460 kms and recharging from 10% to 80% is said to be within 43 minutes (with DC fast-charging). Using a normal power outlet at home would take around 27 hours to recharged fully from a 10% level.
Like most Kia EVs, the Niro has vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality which allows the battery pack to provide up to 3.6 kWh of electricity available to power external devices. However, an adapter cable is required. Incidentally, the designers have provided a storage area in the motor bay for cables and the charging point is located on the ‘grille’ area.
Eco-friendly interior
The Niro’s eco-friendly interior uses premium quality materials with textured surfaces. Recycled materials are used in various area around the cabin. The headliner is made from recycled wallpaper, while the seats are made from Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus leaves. Water-based BTX-free paint which is free from benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers is used on the door panels to minimise environmental impact and reduce waste.
The slim, contemporary seat design enhances roominess and adopts a high-tech lightweight seat mechanism. The headrests look unusual as the back cover incorporates a coat hanger, while the slim dimensions of the headrest helps to increase the feeling of space.
Two high-tech 10.25-inch high-definition digital display screens with sharp graphics provide all the necessary information for the driver and the displays can also be customised. On the centre console is a rotary electronic shift lever for easy selection of drive modes.
Can it sell at RM256,000?
Even with the retail price being duty-free, Kia still seems to be charging a rather high price for the Niro. According to Tan Sri Ben Yeoh, the introduction of the Niro is to see how the market responds to it first before a decision is made whether to assemble or not. Local assembly requires sufficient volume to justify the tooling investment and if the potential numbers are not good, then it would not be worthwhile assembling the Niro.
Granted, the brand’s quality has moved to a more premium level but it’s still a lot of money to pay for a small SUV. And with more players – especially from China – rushing into the Malaysian EV market, competition will become greater so Kia Malaysia probably needs to decide on a more competitive strategy if it wants to get to the 100,000 unit target by 2026.
