Kia Niro EV review: reliability & safety rating

Kia's industry-best seven-year warranty and track record for reliability put its latest electric family car in good stead. The latest Niro has also received a four-star rating in Euro NCAP’s crash safety testing – the same as the old e-Niro – but when Kia’s DriveWise safety systems are active, that rating is upgraded to five stars. 

Kia Niro EV reliability & problems

While second-generation Niros haven’t been in the hands of owners long enough to get any reliability data or bring any problems to light, Kia’s performance in the 2022 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey should reassure potential buyers. The South Korean brand’s XCeed hatchback was ranked the best car to own by those who took part, while the Rio supermini and Sportage SUV came in third and sixth place respectively. Kia was also the third highest-rated brand overall in the same edition of the survey.

Safety

Standard safety kit on the Niro EV includes smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane-keeping assistance, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, front collision avoidance assistance and the usual assortment of ISOFIX points and airbags throughout the cabin. 

Upgrading to the higher 3 and 4 trim levels adds front parking sensors, blind-spot collision avoidance and remote parking capability which enables the car to autonomously move in and out of tight spaces. Top-spec models also come with highway driving assistance that helps maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle in front, while also helping with lane changes.