I got my Kona in two days. Try that with a Nero. For an elderly couple, the Kona does us fine. Kona looks better, drives nice. Edmunds and Car and Driver gave thumbs up to the Kona, that speaks volumes. It is the North American SUV of the year. Grand kids do fine in the back. In traveling, we can go 4.5 hours on a charge. The Kona handles luggage fine. Both cars are good, built by the same ownership.
Not race cars but faster than most petrol / diesels in this car category. The old leaf I and you have is over 10 seconds to 60, big difference. Thanks for pointing out the differences as clearly a lot of people pretend these are more similar than they are in my experience
tizio caio it seems as though if you have kids or constant family in the car then Kia is right for you but if your like me where I drive alone 99% of the time the back room doesn’t matter for me . I give lyft rides and no one complains in fact people tip me and admire my car
It is one of the factors - whether it's the 'most deciding' depends on the person buying, etc. And, in this instance, they have pretty much the same range (+/- 2 miles? - driving style will have a bigger impact on achievable range)
Nice comparison, side-by-side. Where I'm at in "the states," I can get Kia Niro EV, but to get Kona Electric, I'd have to drive a bit to another area to get it.. so I was able to test drive Niro EV, but not Kona Electric yet... can you do a range-comparison with these EVs? Maybe show their energy consumption (mi/kWh) or do a true drive test, like drive both cars to a fixed distance (eg 100km or 50km) from a full charge and see their battery % at the end of the drive? Here in "the states," it says the Kona Electric has 30km more range than Niro EV... But seems in Europe with WLTP rating, it's almost reversed.. so very strange...
Rob if I joined the lower cost gym in town would I be able to use the facilities at the more expensive one that had invested money in proper equipment. Of course not!!
Rob Heap , afraid not Rob, but in the future Tesla might come to some sort of arrangement with other companies. Wouldn’t bother me, as most people charge at home overnight
At first I thought you were one of these Tesla sheep having a dig at these cars for not having a supercharger network, but I see you were genuine about asking. Tesla is proprietary everything so they will never share their network with any other car company, yet all the other chargers are an open platform so even Tesla can use them.
i dont think you mentioned that, the back passengers get heated or cooled air going towards them in the E-niro, while the Kona Dose not have vents at the back unless i have missed them? maybe that could be another factor in choosing a car? maybe some people want climate control for the passengers to? EG Children? Edit: good vid as always
You spend most of the time inside the car, not admiring its looks from the outside - therefore for me (and this is my personal opinion) the more spacious interior and storage space of the e-Niro wins hands down every time.
I thought so when compering the Fiat Multipla V Honda FRV, both have 3 x 3 seating with ooodles of room however the mk1 fiat looked like it was drawn by 5 year old inspired by a jelly mood frog,the mk2 was better,slightly, I bought the FRV 1.7 petrol with 45k mileage. Wish Honda still made em. Ya never know a possible future EV.
When I test drove the Hyundai a short while ago, one of my favourite items was the Heads Up Display. I was disappointed to see the KIA does not have this feature, which is a game changer as a safety feature, and I fully expect to see this as a standard in most cars within a few years.
Nice cars, shame about the price and the availability nearing unobtanium. Just wish Dacia / Renault would release an Electric Duster with a 50 ish kWh battery for about £20k for the base model or a Sandero with a 40kWh battery for around £10k base model. That's the mass market pricing we need otherwise EVs are still the reserve of the rich and PCP'ers.
I wonder what the build quality will be like for that MG. Chinese 'rubber' components seem to have a very short life before they turn into chewing gum, or go crumbly.
Might be worth looking at the Zoe 40 (once the Zoe 50 goes on sale) - the 50 is purported to be coming out at the same price as the 40 is currently, and the 40 will get a price drop... 40 only has ~180 mile range officially (less than that realistically), but that's probably sufficient for many people, and the price might be right compared to these more expensive vehicles.
Hyundai’s battery is lifetime against failure but not degradation and other overall warranty is longer which appeals to me. I test drive the kona but haven’t the Rio yet. Their price range is at where that base Tesla model 3 is at but downside for me is that it is rear wheel drive, not great customer support reputation and scarcity of parts. Also it’s federal rebates are about over.
Thanks Ryan,great video for someone thinking about one of these cars,personally I would prefer the eNiro on interior space alone,but as always it's a personal choice
40 this year, was no question which one I would get so now I had a Kona my garage for a little bit over a month. The big difference between these two cars is with the Kona you get ALL safety tech with the lowest trim.
EV Op--- A very important feature in electric or hybrid electric cars is a readout telling you the remaining life of the battery. Not the remaining charge (yes of course that's important and as such it's designed into all electric cars); but 3 or 5 years later you want a good idea about the battery health. Rather than find out on a long trip that the batt has reached it's end! I would think this would be a must-include for a review, as not all brands include that.
Russel Green that’s true and sometimes (unless you buy a OBD2) the only way you find out the health of your battery is during its service. That said all EVs show the range remaining so you shouldn’t suddenly get caught out on a trip. I think manufacturers see it as a negative as when it’s there you focus on a bad thing rather than something good! The trouble with reviews is everyone has something important in mind. When I download the video each review is close to 2 hours of me talking! Nobody wants to see all that so I have to be ruthless with the editing and try to keep it around 20 mins as an absolute maximum. If enough people ask for a specific bit of info I’ll make sure it’s included😁👍
You still can pack these three bags into kona. Put two lager suitcases on their sides and here you are. This would work since depth of each suitcase is about 30-35cm (12-14"). The biggest problem with these cars is the charging time. It will take about 75 minutes to charge either car from 0 to 80% using fast charger. Also, their price (for a basic trim) is close to Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus. While Tesla Model 3 can charge from 0 to 80% in about 40 minutes (potentially in less than 30 minutes with a supercharger V3). Yes, superchargers V3 are not available yet, however, there IS a potential. While for Kona EV and Nero EV charging time will not decrease with time. BTW: 1to1 comparison with Tesla will be possible after Tesla Model Y will hit the road.
Kia for me is better in every possible way. @ 5:54, the big 64Kwhr battery in the e-Niro sits quite low. I hope it isn't susceptible to damage.... I'd prefer a 40Kwhr battery in the Kia, less cost/weight with still enough practical range for the vast majority of journeys.
As ever a detailed review and fair comparison of the two cars. For me the Kia sold on the extra space and in my view a better interior, also I like the anonymous looks, there’s no clue as to what powers it. Both cars are important additions to the EV stable and would get a lot more drivers out of their fossil cars..if only supply could match demand. Please do take a look at my posting of our trip to Orleans last weekend..we are still on the learning curve when it comes to range in different weather conditions, it is a story of destination charging, feeling like 2nd class citizens around Tesla drivers, charging points with unusable sockets and a shiny new row of chargers from Ionity
Best video ever ,, as a taxi man I’ve wanted a ENiro for a long time , great to see luggage and back seat , my next taxi is eNjro or 64kwh Leaf or ID4. Currently in L40 and boot seems bigger than eNiro
Too bad that (where I live) you can the Nero EV only with dark interior. No, thank you. I hope it'll be a while till I'll be decomposing in a dark box. Unfortunately, the Hyundai--besides being smaller--has this horrible rigid luggage compartment cover. I HATE these things. One of my cars has one and whenever I use the luggage space that friggin thing is in my way. And where to store this damn thing? I HATE these. I really HATE them. Did I tell you I HATE them?
FACT check. They are NOT made by the same people, kia e niro is made in Gyeonggi near Soul and th Kona is made n Ulsan in the opposite end off Korea. even the Battery is different where kona uses LG chem, and niro SK Innovation they merely share the drivetrain
Not enough space for children to sit at the back in Kona and it is very small space, so e-Niro wins here. But range is more in Kona and may be cheaper than Kia in terms of price.
...but you never take them out on the road for a test drive...what is up with that...it is like a Miss America pageant where they get crowned but you never get to take them out on a real date to see what they are like under all that glam. Why you not take them for a test drive as part of the review ? How can one decide which is best ?
Thanks, great comparison.E Niro for me but when i come to change my 2014 Leaf in a couple of years there will hopefullly be more choice without the 12mth waiting list. As well as VW i suspect that there may be some chinese models. The MG EZS coming in a few months is a little small for me but could be tempted by a slightly larger SUV and the price may well be reasonable. All depends on build quality.Also whatever happened to the promise that battery prices would go below $100 per KWH.
Tom Robson I think we all thought the availability and price would be here by now but the lack of cars and increased demand has kept the prices high. Let’s hope the models you have mentioned change that 👍
Not a fan of logo's especially on the sides. I remove them. They do nothing for the look of the car and makes cleaning and waxing a tad more work. Great reviews. Thank you.
I test drove the e-niro which was excellent, but like Hyundai they could not give a date or even an estimate for delivery, suggesting that it could be well over 12 months. So yesterday I pre-ordered the VW ID3 1st (Limited to 30,000 cars across Europe) and I have got my ref number (£750 refundable deposit) The car is being showcased Sept for delivery mid 2020. One perk with the car is 1 years free charging.......
Have you managed to get a test drive if the VW? What was the price /offer for the ID? Looks like sept 2020 might be similar to both cars featured in this video. With that in mind VW sounds attractive.
@@jdavison8551 Hi, not able to test drive as car has not been released yet. Will be shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September for release approx June 2020. The car is approx golf size but more internal space. Prices from €30,000 to €40,000 before gov grants. There will be 3 trim levels. The vehicle will have the 58kwh battery.
Philip Reece many thanks for the info. Am going to research further and maybe follow up with with a reservation too. The 1 year free charging may be the clincher.
Honestly, it always puzzles me why two different cars, built by different car makers and with batteries from two different cell factories have the same exact net battery capacity
babyelian77 the underpinnings of both cars are exactly the same. They come from the same place. The batteries are different. That said, you’re right, they are very similar with range etc 👍
Ben Haynes the battery is 64kwh usable. It is actually 67kwh in total I believe. This new crop of EVs seem to be quoting usable size rather than total like Nissan do 😁👍
You didn't mention it, but the extra size of the E-Niro comes at a cost: the US EPA range of the E-Niro is only 239 miles vs. the Kona's 258 miles (385 km vs 415 km). That difference might push some people to telescope the Kona's steering wheel in as far as it goes and shuffle the front seat up to give more rear leg room, and use softer suitcases that fit better in the back of the smaller Kona...
Ezra's Daddy they should but only when conditions are perfect. It won’t charge Fron 0-100% at 100kw but should for part of it. It’s all down to the software protecting the battery👍
KIA Dealers are adding additional $5,000 above sticker price, standard EX $45,000 to the premium $51,700. not worth purchasing ...specially with newer 2020 EV coming out at the end of the year ... The dealer stated their doing this due to: not to much EV cars yet in the market, prices will go down once more competitive EVs are available. hahahahha what a rip off...
I also test drive the Hyundai Kona EV Limited, basic price $41,320 and the Dealer mark up is $42,070 only $750 for dealers destination fee.. NO mark up.... of $5000.....Cerritos Kia is a Joke, go to Cerritos Hyundai
Great review. Loved it thanks. I've driven the Niro and loved it. Not tried Kona yet which I do actually prefer. Shame the boot is a bit on the small side as I do the occasional airport run. Still enjoying my 2017 Ioniq hybrid. Next to an IS200 Lexus, it's the the second best car I've ever owned over 35 years of driving. Keep up the good work.
It would have been nice to here price comparisons as that's probably the most important decision for most people as I know the electric kia is £16,000 dearer than what I paid for my new ice kia sportage 12 month ago. Would that make it worth it I doubt it.
I think the Hyundai looks better. I also trust Hyundai cars and their warranty system. I have owned Hyundai cars exclusively for over 20 years - beginning with an Elantra wagon, Santa Fe, Tiburon, another Santa Fe, the Entourage (loved it!), A Sonata (SUPERB CAR!), another Santa Fe, an Ioniq, ANOTHER Santa Fe, and finally, a Kona ELECTRIC! In having owned no less than 10 different Hyundai vehicles, spanning over two decades I am definitely ALL-IN on the brand! I often cite the warranty coverage, yet we've seldom had a warranty issue, and those we have had were minor and of no matter to the reliable operation of the vehicle. On top of that, Hyundai warranty service is the best in the business! At the same time, since I know Hyundai owns KIA, I would have no problem buying a KIA Niro electric, but it wasn't here when the Kona arrived, so it's the Kona that's sitting in my driveway! I understand reviewers are paid to parse terms and make much of the small stuff, but both vehicles are very close in every way, with the Niro having 4" more wheelbase, and a bit more rear seat room - as I understand. However, I have four kids who LOVE to ride in the Kona, ages 6-14, and they have no problems leaping in and out of the back, nor finding space to park their school backpacks when I pick them up from school! I tend to like the Hyundai's looks as it looks a bit sportier than the KIA which is a role-reversal for the two brands. While listed as a "CUV" the Kona is very much like a "hot hatchback" in terms of performance. It will absolutely LEAVE everything at a traffic light and be all the way to the NEXT light while all the ICE cars are still gaining speed! Operated with restraint it will surpass 5 mi/kWh in city driving. With a range approaching 300 miles, if only operated in town, one ends up needing to charge only about once a month! Talk about economical! The Kona has become our primary vehicle for all local trips - why bother cranking up the Santa Fe Limited for a run to the grocery store when the Kona is so much more fun and FAR more economical to use!
Richard Kilibreaux it’s a great car and my personal favourite even if the Kia has a bit more space. If it suits your needs then great. I love hearing from people like you that have a long history with a brand. EVs are still new and to hear you are still happy with the brand you love even after the switch is great. Thanks for the comment and to put your mind at rest I didn’t receive a penny from anyone for this review (although I’m always open to a sponsor😁). I make these videos as a hobby and tell it as I see it 😁👍
This is like a mother giving kids money and just ask them to use some common stuff at home and build something that stands out from the other's Kia and Hyundai are those kids and they both complete and complement each other so that they both cater differemt parts of market and conquer in a joint way
the trunk handle to open it is at the bumper level (imagine snow and ice built up ) the Niro handle for the trunk is at mid high position away from ice and snow build up ...
They are not really comparable as they are not the same car. The Kona fits size with the Kia Soul and should therefore be compared with that instead of the Niro. However the drivetrain is the same in all three cars.
Can someone confirm the e-Niro has HID or xenon headlights. If so I prefer them over LED headlights which don't carry as far and when on full beam at night you're blinded when they light up large road signs
Interesting that the battery is indeed from different manufacturers. I saw comments that the chemistry is different this seems to confirm it. The Q is then will one last longer than the other? 7 years? on e-niro battery v 10 years for kona?
Here in USA the Hyundai is promoting lifetime warranty on the battery against failure but not degradation which history is showing won’t be bad over a long time
@@gregandkaruna6674 not picking a fault, more a suggestion for future reference. I really enjoyed the video and thought the comparison was both informative in both a visual and technical way, especially since I'm looking towards purchasing my first ev.
@@andrewtaylor641 From my limited knowledge in UK Hyundai's warranty is 5 years and Kia 7 years, but go on Hyundai and Kia website's and all the details are there
#1 the pieces of plastic above the rear windows are not spoilers, they are Kamm backs, put there to reduce turbulence and drag. They are not creating down force. #2: The most important figure; E-Niro 15.9 kWh/100km 375km range, Kona 15.4 kWh/100km, 449km range neither is good, but the Kona is significantly better.
Hi Ryan, I'm hoping you can help me. I'm after either of these two in long range top trim ( like the idea of having ventilated seats ) or indeed the E Soul. From what I can gather next year we should see a better supply . It's the price that is confusing me, the Kona which is my first choice is retailing at just on £41k so luxury tax which I'm keen to avoid out of principle. The Niro ( 4 eqivalent ) is retailing at approx £38k , both before the grant. I assumed the Kona would be cheaper, thought Kia was the slightly better marque. Have I got all this wrong, am I looking in the wrong places for information ?????
I can answer that for you. Sadly, the prices you quoted are correct. The 2020 version of the Kona has seen some significant technological upgrades from the 2018/19 version so they've bumped up the price (probably also due to the high demand). These upgrades include a bigger infotainment system, thermal battery management (it can now heat the battery in the winter whereas it only had a cooling function before), rear seats can now be heated and it now has faster charging rate. Despite this, I still ordered my Kona over the KIa mainly because I prefer more compact cars. The Kia is too big for my liking but of course that's personal preference. If you have kids and need the more spacious rear seats then by all means go for the Kia.
Nice review Ryan, thanks. I spoke to our local Kia dealer earlier, really for confirmation of what I already knew ie 12 month order lead time. Last week I ordered an i3 for myself, will be built and delivered within 6 weeks so I can’t fathom how Kia have so massively underestimated demand?! This would be for my wife and as it happens, she’s not due to change until 2020 anyway but even so. Going for a test drive this weekend which will be really interesting, for internal and boot space and standard spec it’s impossible to beat, not to mention the range which is perfectly acceptable. While we like the look of the MG EV, it’s an MG and we’re dubious. Anyway, v useful review.
Germanic 1973 I wouldn’t put the MG and Kia in the same class. The Kia has more range and is substantially more expensive so should be better. I have no idea why they aren’t making more. The Ioniq was the same so they have no excuse. I think you’ll be very happy with both the i3 and Kia. They are brilliant cars 😁👍
Great video. We are empty nesters so I think the Kona would work for us but neither one is available in our state (yet). Hey, Ryan! Congratulations on being featured on the InsideEVs web site.... insideevs.com/reviews/348927/video-hyundai-kona-electric-vs-kia-niro-ev/
Liked the video very interesting. Why would anybody want to keep charging cables under the boot floor. Do you really want to empty the boot to get charging cables out?
Hi to you a good review based on the differences between the cars that’s why we chose the Kia. It looks more grown up matching my 60 years as well as the size difference I also like the 7 year warranty that you get over the 5 year of the Hyundai. Don’t get me wrong they are both great cars it just comes down to personal choice and as more Ev’s come out that choice is only going to get better and that can only be a good thing. Enjoyed watching it.
I got my Kona in two days. Try that with a Nero. For an elderly couple, the Kona does us fine. Kona looks better, drives nice. Edmunds and Car and Driver gave thumbs up to the Kona, that speaks volumes. It is the North American SUV of the year. Grand kids do fine in the back. In traveling, we can go 4.5 hours on a charge. The Kona handles luggage fine. Both cars are good, built by the same ownership.
I just got my Kona yesterday. I came from the Chevy Volt for 4 years. So far the Kona is really nice.
Not race cars but faster than most petrol / diesels in this car category. The old leaf I and you have is over 10 seconds to 60, big difference. Thanks for pointing out the differences as clearly a lot of people pretend these are more similar than they are in my experience
Agreed. My 2014 Leaf feels fast to me, especially 0 to 40mph.
Yes, that is it. Thanks once again for your dedication to such pieces of information, they are very useful. Good job.
What thing I really hate is having 1998 laggy poor quality screen in 2019 year 35k car. That's really really dissapointing
Saw the ev Kona in the wild yesterday. Didn't like the look of the Kona originally but I think it looks really good now
Great comparison! Thank you
space in the rear of the Kona is a no go for me...and the waiting list
tizio caio it seems as though if you have kids or constant family in the car then Kia is right for you but if your like me where I drive alone 99% of the time the back room doesn’t matter for me . I give lyft rides and no one complains in fact people tip me and admire my car
IMHO, Range is the most deciding factor for getting into an EV...
Certainly not if the EV is part of a two car household.
It is one of the factors - whether it's the 'most deciding' depends on the person buying, etc. And, in this instance, they have pretty much the same range (+/- 2 miles? - driving style will have a bigger impact on achievable range)
Interesting video but a test drive through a busy town pointing out any day to day real world issues would've been handy
Nigel Old & Grey thank you. If you look at my other videos you will see individual test reviews on both cars 😁👍
Excellent video!
Thank you 😀👍
Both great cars,but you cannot go to show room and buy one from stock,both got a year wait list,how r these going to change people to EVs ,
Paul Harrison it’s so frustrating!!
Nice comparison, side-by-side. Where I'm at in "the states," I can get Kia Niro EV, but to get Kona Electric, I'd have to drive a bit to another area to get it.. so I was able to test drive Niro EV, but not Kona Electric yet... can you do a range-comparison with these EVs? Maybe show their energy consumption (mi/kWh) or do a true drive test, like drive both cars to a fixed distance (eg 100km or 50km) from a full charge and see their battery % at the end of the drive? Here in "the states," it says the Kona Electric has 30km more range than Niro EV... But seems in Europe with WLTP rating, it's almost reversed.. so very strange...
Andrew Le I’ll see what I can do. The eNiro has gone now and it’s difficult to find one here in the UK. If I can get one I’ll do a range test 😁👍
There are several range comparison videos already done and on UA-cam. Did you even try to look before asking this guy?
@@lesizmor9079 Yes, I have.. Most dont show a side-by-side range test. And what's wrong with asking? Dont you have anything else better to do?
The Kona is better looking however the enero is the one to choose
Great review Ryan many thanks. Can you do a video explaining if I bought Kona or Niro could I use Tesla chargers?
Rob if I joined the lower cost gym in town would I be able to use the facilities at the more expensive one that had invested money in proper equipment. Of course not!!
Rob Heap , afraid not Rob, but in the future Tesla might come to some sort of arrangement with other companies. Wouldn’t bother me, as most people charge at home overnight
At first I thought you were one of these Tesla sheep having a dig at these cars for not having a supercharger network, but I see you were genuine about asking. Tesla is proprietary everything so they will never share their network with any other car company, yet all the other chargers are an open platform so even Tesla can use them.
Greg , I gave an answer to Rob, I didn’t ask a question
@@fanfeck2844 Opps it was supposed to be a reply to Rob not you sorry.
Any chance of a review about the Nissan env-200 panel van?
Don Richardson watch this space 👍😁
There are several on UA-cam by other presenters.
I sat in the kona ages ago and there's no way it could be used as a commercial vehicle (taxi/phv) not to mention the boot isn't good enough. Cheers
Agreed, LOVE your handle! Fancy a Bev indeed Cobber...
For me the BEST BEV is Kia e-Niro ...
i dont think you mentioned that, the back passengers get heated or cooled air going towards them in the E-niro, while the Kona Dose not have vents at the back unless i have missed them? maybe that could be another factor in choosing a car? maybe some people want climate control for the passengers to? EG Children?
Edit: good vid as always
Good point. Thanks for mentioning it.
@@EVOpinion no problem, I noticed it when you done side by side shots of you in the back :)
Great review Ryan, mid life crisis #KonaEV 🎉 your only as young as you feel. 💪
MrRicey155 midlife? I’m still young 😬👴
kona looks ugly on the road whereas e niro looks like a future car.
Next time get your wife to pack the boot. Women always find more room.
You spend most of the time inside the car, not admiring its looks from the outside - therefore for me (and this is my personal opinion) the more spacious interior and storage space of the e-Niro wins hands down every time.
Carol Steele the space inside is without doubt better 😁👍
Carol Steele Kona won for me it’s gorgeous and the range is amazing
The first 12 mins of the video is outside the cars actually...
I thought so when compering the Fiat Multipla V Honda FRV, both have 3 x 3 seating with ooodles of room however the mk1 fiat looked like it was drawn by 5 year old inspired by a jelly mood frog,the mk2 was better,slightly, I bought the FRV 1.7 petrol with 45k mileage. Wish Honda still made em. Ya never know a possible future EV.
I wish the Niro looked like the Kona! I want the space but prefer the look of the Kona
Phil Morbey I’m with you 👍
@@EVOpinion 👍🏻
Me too. I want the Kona exterior, drivers binacle and steering wheel
Phil exactly what I was thinking, Smile
Phil Morbey it’s really not as small as they say it is I love my Kona
Good to see side by side comparison, Nice one Ryan..
American here, thanks for answering pretty much every question I had about these two vehicles side-by-side. Great video.
I’m glad it helped. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 😁👍
Rubbish
When I test drove the Hyundai a short while ago, one of my favourite items was the Heads Up Display. I was disappointed to see the KIA does not have this feature, which is a game changer as a safety feature, and I fully expect to see this as a standard in most cars within a few years.
At this very moment my Kona electric is showing 250 miles range available at 86% charge! That equates to 290 miles at 100% charge!
Richard Kilibreaux that is fantastic. It’s a great car 😁👍
How come you don’t put guitars in the boot mate? That’s more practical. :)
Going to be critical how my bass fits in the back. I'm expecting to drop the seat back like I do now in my Prius.
Nice cars, shame about the price and the availability nearing unobtanium. Just wish Dacia / Renault would release an Electric Duster with a 50 ish kWh battery for about £20k for the base model or a Sandero with a 40kWh battery for around £10k base model. That's the mass market pricing we need otherwise EVs are still the reserve of the rich and PCP'ers.
I'm hoping that MG's offering will be in competitively priced!
@@EVOpinion that MG looks really good!
I wonder what the build quality will be like for that MG. Chinese 'rubber' components seem to have a very short life before they turn into chewing gum, or go crumbly.
Might be worth looking at the Zoe 40 (once the Zoe 50 goes on sale) - the 50 is purported to be coming out at the same price as the 40 is currently, and the 40 will get a price drop... 40 only has ~180 mile range officially (less than that realistically), but that's probably sufficient for many people, and the price might be right compared to these more expensive vehicles.
Good comparison video Ryan, I prefer Niro still I think
7 year warranty and bigger boot is a big plus for me.
For me Hyundai offers better warranty because it's 5 years unlimited mileage and am estimating 120,000 miles in 5 years time.
Iacovos Florides its all about individual needs.
Hyundai has given me excellent service for years.
I think we are all different. Here in the UK 250 miles is more than enough for me but I appreciate the distances are greater in the USA.
Hyundai’s battery is lifetime against failure but not degradation and other overall warranty is longer which appeals to me. I test drive the kona but haven’t the Rio yet. Their price range is at where that base Tesla model 3 is at but downside for me is that it is rear wheel drive, not great customer support reputation and scarcity of parts. Also it’s federal rebates are about over.
They changed it to battery lifetime warranty 💞
That wide angle used in the opening scene makes it look like both cars had a stroke
They needed to show curve like NASA does,haha.
Thanks Ryan,great video for someone thinking about one of these cars,personally I would prefer the eNiro on interior space alone,but as always it's a personal choice
I'm glad that the fake exhaust is gone 😂
40 this year, was no question which one I would get so now I had a Kona my garage for a little bit over a month. The big difference between these two cars is with the Kona you get ALL safety tech with the lowest trim.
EV Op--- A very important feature in electric or hybrid electric cars is a readout telling you the remaining life of the battery. Not the remaining charge (yes of course that's important and as such it's designed into all electric cars); but 3 or 5 years later you want a good idea about the battery health. Rather than find out on a long trip that the batt has reached it's end! I would think this would be a must-include for a review, as not all brands include that.
Russel Green that’s true and sometimes (unless you buy a OBD2) the only way you find out the health of your battery is during its service. That said all EVs show the range remaining so you shouldn’t suddenly get caught out on a trip. I think manufacturers see it as a negative as when it’s there you focus on a bad thing rather than something good! The trouble with reviews is everyone has something important in mind. When I download the video each review is close to 2 hours of me talking! Nobody wants to see all that so I have to be ruthless with the editing and try to keep it around 20 mins as an absolute maximum. If enough people ask for a specific bit of info I’ll make sure it’s included😁👍
The range is a big plus for both of these cars. E Niro probably.
You still can pack these three bags into kona. Put two lager suitcases on their sides and here you are. This would work since depth of each suitcase is about 30-35cm (12-14"). The biggest problem with these cars is the charging time. It will take about 75 minutes to charge either car from 0 to 80% using fast charger. Also, their price (for a basic trim) is close to Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus. While Tesla Model 3 can charge from 0 to 80% in about 40 minutes (potentially in less than 30 minutes with a supercharger V3). Yes, superchargers V3 are not available yet, however, there IS a potential. While for Kona EV and Nero EV charging time will not decrease with time. BTW: 1to1 comparison with Tesla will be possible after Tesla Model Y will hit the road.
Kia for me is better in every possible way.
@ 5:54, the big 64Kwhr battery in the e-Niro sits quite low. I hope it isn't susceptible to damage....
I'd prefer a 40Kwhr battery in the Kia, less cost/weight with still enough practical range for the vast majority of journeys.
As ever a detailed review and fair comparison of the two cars. For me the Kia sold on the extra space and in my view a better interior, also I like the anonymous looks, there’s no clue as to what powers it. Both cars are important additions to the EV stable and would get a lot more drivers out of their fossil cars..if only supply could match demand. Please do take a look at my posting of our trip to Orleans last weekend..we are still on the learning curve when it comes to range in different weather conditions, it is a story of destination charging, feeling like 2nd class citizens around Tesla drivers, charging points with unusable sockets and a shiny new row of chargers from Ionity
Kia e-Niro Diaries off to look now 😁👍
Niro is the Winneer for me, thank you! ; )
Best video ever ,, as a taxi man I’ve wanted a ENiro for a long time , great to see luggage and back seat , my next taxi is eNjro or 64kwh Leaf or ID4. Currently in L40 and boot seems bigger than eNiro
Byron Deithrick thank you for your kind comments. I think I’ll use the suitcases more often as a visual guide 👍
Both too small to be a proper family car. When is someone going to release a proper family EV. I need something like a Passat Estate EV
Too bad that (where I live) you can the Nero EV only with dark interior. No, thank you. I hope it'll be a while till I'll be decomposing in a dark box.
Unfortunately, the Hyundai--besides being smaller--has this horrible rigid luggage compartment cover. I HATE these things. One of my cars has one and whenever I use the luggage space that friggin thing is in my way. And where to store this damn thing? I HATE these. I really HATE them. Did I tell you I HATE them?
The video I've been waiting for, thanks. Hope to see part 2 driving review.
Nice comparison Ryan. Maybe e golf vs new leaf, i3 vs Zoe ?
FACT check.
They are NOT made by the same people, kia e niro is made in Gyeonggi near Soul and th Kona is made n Ulsan in the opposite end off Korea. even the Battery is different where kona uses LG chem, and niro SK Innovation
they merely share the drivetrain
Not enough space for children to sit at the back in Kona and it is very small space, so e-Niro wins here. But range is more in Kona and may be cheaper than Kia in terms of price.
Excellent comparison video, and slick editing...thanks.
...but you never take them out on the road for a test drive...what is up with that...it is like a Miss America pageant where they get crowned but you never get to take them out on a real date to see what they are like under all that glam. Why you not take them for a test drive as part of the review ?
How can one decide which is best ?
Thanks, great comparison.E Niro for me but when i come to change my 2014 Leaf in a couple of years there will hopefullly be more choice without the 12mth waiting list. As well as VW i suspect that there may be some chinese models. The MG EZS coming in a few months is a little small for me but could be tempted by a slightly larger SUV and the price may well be reasonable. All depends on build quality.Also whatever happened to the promise that battery prices would go below $100 per KWH.
Tom Robson I think we all thought the availability and price would be here by now but the lack of cars and increased demand has kept the prices high. Let’s hope the models you have mentioned change that 👍
I already placed an order for a kia e Niro, so i'm just watching this to confirm to myself i made the right choice
Not a fan of logo's especially on the sides. I remove them. They do nothing for the look of the car and makes cleaning and waxing a tad more work.
Great reviews. Thank you.
I test drove the e-niro which was excellent, but like Hyundai they could not give a date or even an estimate for delivery, suggesting that it could be well over 12 months. So yesterday I pre-ordered the VW ID3 1st (Limited to 30,000 cars across Europe) and I have got my ref number (£750 refundable deposit) The car is being showcased Sept for delivery mid 2020. One perk with the car is 1 years free charging.......
Have you managed to get a test drive if the VW? What was the price /offer for the ID? Looks like sept 2020 might be similar to both cars featured in this video. With that in mind VW sounds attractive.
@@jdavison8551 Hi, not able to test drive as car has not been released yet. Will be shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September for release approx June 2020. The car is approx golf size but more internal space. Prices from €30,000 to €40,000 before gov grants. There will be 3 trim levels. The vehicle will have the 58kwh battery.
Philip Reece many thanks for the info. Am going to research further and maybe follow up with with a reservation too. The 1 year free charging may be the clincher.
Honestly, it always puzzles me why two different cars, built by different car makers and with batteries from two different cell factories have the same exact net battery capacity
babyelian77 the underpinnings of both cars are exactly the same. They come from the same place. The batteries are different. That said, you’re right, they are very similar with range etc 👍
I can't recall the presenter quoting the net (usable) battery capacity though, only 64Kwhr total capacity. (I'm guessing a usable 59-60?)
Ben Haynes the battery is 64kwh usable. It is actually 67kwh in total I believe. This new crop of EVs seem to be quoting usable size rather than total like Nissan do 😁👍
If you’re going for the Kona, have you told your wife she’s going to need a smaller suitcase for holidays yet? ;)
Ha! I'll just have to pack less!!
Good review with all the real practical things, however I would have also highlighted that the E-Niro has air vents for the rear occupants.
8:45 could be worse - that try for the Zoe is £150! - it comes with the Kona
Brilliant video that thankfully answered all my questions between the two and I loved the way the video was done. Great job
Matt BrownieCake great news. I’m glad I was able to help 😁👍
The plastic wheel guards on the Kona will be difficult to keep looking good.
Was it back to black we used to use years ago for bumpers?
They'd have to look good to start with, to keep them looking good.........
Nice. Good to see a little fella which does not renrder cars small
You didn't mention it, but the extra size of the E-Niro comes at a cost: the US EPA range of the E-Niro is only 239 miles vs. the Kona's 258 miles (385 km vs 415 km). That difference might push some people to telescope the Kona's steering wheel in as far as it goes and shuffle the front seat up to give more rear leg room, and use softer suitcases that fit better in the back of the smaller Kona...
Really? for 30 more clicks? Tell 'em they're dreamin'.
That's 30 EPA km, which is very conservative. It will be an extra day's commute for many people.
@@QolePejorian So..... plug it in one day earlier on the commute?
Sure, if you get the Niro, that's what you'll have to do. Charge more often.
The kona is better for more range and slightly lower price.
E-Niro is much better ... No obnoxious pop up info screen.
Great comparison, especially the split screen for the rear leg room. Keep up the good work........
Randell Hayes thank you. I’ll try 😁👍
Do they actually take 100kw? I keep reading 70kw top charging rate?
Ezra's Daddy they should but only when conditions are perfect. It won’t charge Fron 0-100% at 100kw but should for part of it. It’s all down to the software protecting the battery👍
They will both charge at 75kw max on a 100kw Charger.fact
Very impressed with the quality and thoroughness of this video. Well done. Kia Soul EV 2020 next please
Pete Cousins as soon as I can get hold of one I’ll do it 😁👍
KIA Dealers are adding additional $5,000 above sticker price, standard EX $45,000 to the premium $51,700. not worth purchasing ...specially with newer 2020 EV coming out at the end of the year ... The dealer stated their doing this due to: not to much EV cars yet in the market, prices will go down once more competitive EVs are available. hahahahha what a rip off...
JOJO that seems to be the same everywhere. I guess it’s basic economics but infuriating non the less!!
I also test drive the Hyundai Kona EV Limited, basic price $41,320 and the Dealer mark up is $42,070 only $750 for dealers destination fee.. NO mark up.... of $5000.....Cerritos Kia is a Joke, go to Cerritos Hyundai
Great review. Loved it thanks. I've driven the Niro and loved it. Not tried Kona yet which I do actually prefer. Shame the boot is a bit on the small side as I do the occasional airport run. Still enjoying my 2017 Ioniq hybrid. Next to an IS200 Lexus, it's the the second best car I've ever owned over 35 years of driving. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. I enjoyed what you said. Some of your video footage was blurry.
It would have been nice to here price comparisons as that's probably the most important decision for most people as I know the electric kia is £16,000 dearer than what I paid for my new ice kia sportage 12 month ago. Would that make it worth it I doubt it.
I think the Hyundai looks better. I also trust Hyundai cars and their warranty system. I have owned Hyundai cars exclusively for over 20 years - beginning with an Elantra wagon, Santa Fe, Tiburon, another Santa Fe, the Entourage (loved it!), A Sonata (SUPERB CAR!), another Santa Fe, an Ioniq, ANOTHER Santa Fe, and finally, a Kona ELECTRIC!
In having owned no less than 10 different Hyundai vehicles, spanning over two decades I am definitely ALL-IN on the brand! I often cite the warranty coverage, yet we've seldom had a warranty issue, and those we have had were minor and of no matter to the reliable operation of the vehicle. On top of that, Hyundai warranty service is the best in the business!
At the same time, since I know Hyundai owns KIA, I would have no problem buying a KIA Niro electric, but it wasn't here when the Kona arrived, so it's the Kona that's sitting in my driveway!
I understand reviewers are paid to parse terms and make much of the small stuff, but both vehicles are very close in every way, with the Niro having 4" more wheelbase, and a bit more rear seat room - as I understand. However, I have four kids who LOVE to ride in the Kona, ages 6-14, and they have no problems leaping in and out of the back, nor finding space to park their school backpacks when I pick them up from school!
I tend to like the Hyundai's looks as it looks a bit sportier than the KIA which is a role-reversal for the two brands. While listed as a "CUV" the Kona is very much like a "hot hatchback" in terms of performance. It will absolutely LEAVE everything at a traffic light and be all the way to the NEXT light while all the ICE cars are still gaining speed! Operated with restraint it will surpass 5 mi/kWh in city driving. With a range approaching 300 miles, if only operated in town, one ends up needing to charge only about once a month! Talk about economical!
The Kona has become our primary vehicle for all local trips - why bother cranking up the Santa Fe Limited for a run to the grocery store when the Kona is so much more fun and FAR more economical to use!
Richard Kilibreaux it’s a great car and my personal favourite even if the Kia has a bit more space. If it suits your needs then great. I love hearing from people like you that have a long history with a brand. EVs are still new and to hear you are still happy with the brand you love even after the switch is great. Thanks for the comment and to put your mind at rest I didn’t receive a penny from anyone for this review (although I’m always open to a sponsor😁). I make these videos as a hobby and tell it as I see it 😁👍
I would think for ALL electric cars there would be LEDs as standard due to the lower power usage....maybe it's not that simple?
If you dont need a hatch back, check out the model 3 standard range with superior tech and performance
Tong Tran just a shame about the £40k+ price tag here in the UK. I’m still looking forward to drive it though😁👍
@@EVOpinion Please do a model 3 video once you get your hands on it!
Tong Tran I’m working really hard to get hold of one of the first ones. As soon as I have one the review will be on 😁👍
This is like a mother giving kids money and just ask them to use some common stuff at home and build something that stands out from the other's
Kia and Hyundai are those kids and they both complete and complement each other so that they both cater differemt parts of market and conquer in a joint way
There was no price comparison or do they cost exactly the same?
Olu Fay they are roughly the same depending on which Kona model you choose.
the trunk handle to open it is at the bumper level (imagine snow and ice built up ) the Niro handle for the trunk is at mid high position away from ice and snow build up ...
They are not really comparable as they are not the same car. The Kona fits size with the Kia Soul and should therefore be compared with that instead of the Niro. However the drivetrain is the same in all three cars.
Can someone confirm the e-Niro has HID or xenon headlights. If so I prefer them over LED headlights which don't carry as far and when on full beam at night you're blinded when they light up large road signs
KIA E-NIRO is the best.
Niro is seriously boring looking thing, I hope they completely redesign it for the next generation or replace it with something else.
Kona's face looks nice but I did a test drive in the e-niro today, it was nice and feels roomy, will be testing Kona as well...
Interesting that the battery is indeed from different manufacturers. I saw comments that the chemistry is different this seems to confirm it. The Q is then will one last longer than the other? 7 years? on e-niro battery v 10 years for kona?
given that Kia gives a longer warranty on the battery than does Hyunday, it may well be the other way around...
Here in USA the Hyundai is promoting lifetime warranty on the battery against failure but not degradation which history is showing won’t be bad over a long time
price and warranty would have been good to know, but a great review. Thank you
easy to look up
Really amazing how you lot have to pick faults in every video, when a simple Google search will give you that answer!
@@gregandkaruna6674 not picking a fault, more a suggestion for future reference. I really enjoyed the video and thought the comparison was both informative in both a visual and technical way, especially since I'm looking towards purchasing my first ev.
@@andrewtaylor641 From my limited knowledge in UK Hyundai's warranty is 5 years and Kia 7 years, but go on Hyundai and Kia website's and all the details are there
@@gregandkaruna6674 thank you Greg. I will take a look.
Soul EV for me please.
Do you have both of these available across the whole UK/EU? In the US we can’t get these everywhere sadly.
You could have fit the suitcases better if you but the soft wider one on the bottom where there was more room for it.
All of the Kia and Hyundai cars have a similar feeling throughout the line up. The Hyundais just look a little better.
#1 the pieces of plastic above the rear windows are not spoilers, they are Kamm backs, put there to reduce turbulence and drag. They are not creating down force.
#2: The most important figure; E-Niro 15.9 kWh/100km 375km range, Kona 15.4 kWh/100km, 449km range neither is good, but the Kona is significantly better.
Tore Lund Kamm backs. Great knowledge, thank you for letting me know 😁👍
Hi Ryan, I'm hoping you can help me. I'm after either of these two in long range top trim ( like the idea of having ventilated seats ) or indeed the E Soul. From what I can gather next year we should see a better supply . It's the price that is confusing me, the Kona which is my first choice is retailing at just on £41k so luxury tax which I'm keen to avoid out of principle. The Niro ( 4 eqivalent ) is retailing at approx £38k , both before the grant. I assumed the Kona would be cheaper, thought Kia was the slightly better marque.
Have I got all this wrong, am I looking in the wrong places for information ?????
I can answer that for you. Sadly, the prices you quoted are correct. The 2020 version of the Kona has seen some significant technological upgrades from the 2018/19 version so they've bumped up the price (probably also due to the high demand). These upgrades include a bigger infotainment system, thermal battery management (it can now heat the battery in the winter whereas it only had a cooling function before), rear seats can now be heated and it now has faster charging rate.
Despite this, I still ordered my Kona over the KIa mainly because I prefer more compact cars. The Kia is too big for my liking but of course that's personal preference. If you have kids and need the more spacious rear seats then by all means go for the Kia.
Kona electric looks better...
For the TL;DR version: He gets it wrong and says the Kona wins. ;-)
Nice review Ryan, thanks. I spoke to our local Kia dealer earlier, really for confirmation of what I already knew ie 12 month order lead time. Last week I ordered an i3 for myself, will be built and delivered within 6 weeks so I can’t fathom how Kia have so massively underestimated demand?! This would be for my wife and as it happens, she’s not due to change until 2020 anyway but even so. Going for a test drive this weekend which will be really interesting, for internal and boot space and standard spec it’s impossible to beat, not to mention the range which is perfectly acceptable. While we like the look of the MG EV, it’s an MG and we’re dubious. Anyway, v useful review.
Germanic 1973 I wouldn’t put the MG and Kia in the same class. The Kia has more range and is substantially more expensive so should be better. I have no idea why they aren’t making more. The Ioniq was the same so they have no excuse. I think you’ll be very happy with both the i3 and Kia. They are brilliant cars 😁👍
Great video. We are empty nesters so I think the Kona would work for us but neither one is available in our state (yet). Hey, Ryan! Congratulations on being featured on the InsideEVs web site.... insideevs.com/reviews/348927/video-hyundai-kona-electric-vs-kia-niro-ev/
Amazing. Thank you Keith. That's a first for me!!
Why are these cars so ugly?
Tyres used are different.
To Kia: The concept car was beautiful, the final product is ugly and so outdated; design fail. Good job though for bringing EVs to the masses.
Sidereal Lion I guess it’s personal taste. I personally don’t find it offensive but the looks don’t excite me.
Liked the video very interesting. Why would anybody want to keep charging cables under the boot floor. Do you really want to empty the boot to get charging cables out?
Robert Wood , they’re not your everyday use cables. A bit like a spare wheel being under the floor
Hi to you a good review based on the differences between the cars that’s why we chose the Kia. It looks more grown up matching my 60 years as well as the size difference I also like the 7 year warranty that you get over the 5 year of the Hyundai. Don’t get me wrong they are both great cars it just comes down to personal choice and as more Ev’s come out that choice is only going to get better and that can only be a good thing. Enjoyed watching it.
Stephen clay glad you enjoyed it and you are happy with your eNiro. It is a great car and the range makes it a proper alternative to ICE vehicles 😁👍
thanks for good comparison but u didn't mention the price or the charging range between the two