Cars

Kia grants e-Niro longest EV range for under £35k

Kia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro Kia e-Niro

CAR-MAKERS have been scrambling to realign the prices of their electric vehicles since the government's surprise announcement last month changing its plug-in grants, writes William Scholes.

The new system cuts the grant from £3,000 to £2,500 and lowers its cut-off point from £50,000 to £35,000.

This has seen manufacturers reduce the prices of cars in the mid- to high- £30k bracket so that they come under the £35k threshold and still benefit from the grant.

Another approach is that taken by Kia, which has just added a lower-priced version of its long range e-Niro to its line up.

Kia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro Kia e-Niro

Its combination of 64kWh battery and 201bhp motor was previously available only in higher trim levels, but by offering it in '2' trim, Kia has been able to price it at £34,945 before the grant is applied.

It makes the e-Niro the longest-range sub-£35k electric car on the market right now, with a notional maximum of 282 miles attainable on a full charge.

The e-Niro '2' Long Range can be ordered now, with customer deliveries due to start from July.

Kia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro Kia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro Kia e-Niro