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Kia electric cars: Your questions answered

Kia sells four of the most impressive electric cars on sale today: the Niro EV, EV6, EV9 and Soul EV. All offer a terrific blend of price, specification and electric range, and each one is backed by a comprehensive seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

This is a broad overview of what you need to know about buying an electric Kia in 2024. The EV market is changing fast, so this page will be updated regularly.

Buying an electric Kia

What fully electric cars does Kia sell?

At the time of writing, Kia sells four fully electric cars in the UK: the Niro EV (compact SUV), the EV6 (family SUV), the EV9 (large seven-seat SUV) and the Soul EV (compact crossover).

Which Kia electric cars are coming soon?

The new Kia EV3 (another compact SUV) will arrive in the second half of 2024. UK buyers will be offered the choice of two batteries: 58.3kWh for 267 miles of range, or a larger 81.4kWh battery for an impressive 372 miles between charges.

After that, Kia is expected to launch the EV4 four-door saloon. Although it’s currently a concept, a production version is likely to follow in 2025, with rumours that it could manage 400 miles of range.

What is Kia’s electric car brand called?

Kia doesn’t have an electric car brand as such, but the cars do have ‘EV’ in their names. For example, EV3, EV4 and Soul EV.

What is the warranty on a Kia electric car battery?

Kia offers an eight-year battery warranty. The threshold is 70 percent, which means the company will cover a repair or replacement if the battery drops below 70 percent of its original capacity when fully charged. This applies for eight years from the date of purchase.

Where can you buy an Kia electric car?

You can buy a new Kia electric car from your nearest Kia dealer. 

How much do Kia electric cars cost?

The Niro EV is Kia’s most affordable electric car, with prices starting from £37,500. Next up is the £39,000 Soul EV, followed by the EV6, with the entry-level model costing £43,500.

The flagship EV9 is considerably more expensive, costing from £65,000 – rising to around £77,000 for the top-spec version.

Charging an electric Kia

What type of plug do Kia EVs use?

The Kia Soul EV uses the combined charging standard (CCS) for slow, fast and rapid charging. 

What charging equipment comes as standard with a Kia electric car?

The Kia Niro EV, Soul EV, EV6 and Niro EV all come with a Type 2 charging cable as standard.

Can Kia electric cars use rapid chargers?

Yes, Kia electric cars can use rapid chargers (the kind typically found at petrol stations, motorway services, etc).

Can Kia electric cars use Ionity chargers?

Yes, Kia electric cars can also use the Ionity ultra-rapid charging network.

Where is the charging point located on a Kia electric car?

On the Kia Niro EV and Soul EV, the charging point is located behind a flap on the front of the car. On the EV6, it’s behind a flap on the back of the car, to the right of the boot lid, so you will need to back into charging bays

Finally, on the EV9, the charging point is on the driver’s side of the car, at the back, to the top left of the rear wheel.

Which charge partner does Kia work with?

Although Kia doesn’t have a charge partner, it has teamed up with &Charge to offer a smartphone app for using the public charging network.

What is Kia’s wallbox called?

Kia doesn’t offer its own home wallbox for EV charging.

What wallbox options does Kia offer?

Although Kia doesn’t sell a home EV charger, it encourages EV customers to install a 7kWh device.

Do you get a free wallbox when you buy a new Kia electric car?

No, you will have to pay extra for a wallbox when buying a new Kia electric car.

What is the Kia Charging Service?

Kia has partnered with the EV charging platform, &Charge, to launch the Kia Charge scheme. This gives access to around 480,000 charging points across Europe, including 42,000 in the UK. It’s powered by a smartphone app, which provides details of nearby charging stations, route planning and payments. There are also two tariffs: Easy for occasional use and Plus for those who use the public charging network on a regular basis.

Do Kia electric cars have an on-board DC charger?

All Kia electric cars come with an on-board charger. In the Kia Niro and Soul EV, it’s a 7.2kW on-board device for Type 2 AC and DC charging, while in the EV6 and EV9 it’s an 11kW charger.

What is the maximum charging speed of a Kia electric car?

Thanks to 800-volt electrical architecture, both the Kia EV6 and EV9 offer a maximum charging speed of 233kW. In the Niro EV and Soul EV, the maximum charging speed is 100kW.

Driving an electric Kia

What is the range of a Kia electric car?

The following range estimates are based on official figures from the WLTP test, so you might see different results in the real world.

Kia Soul EV: up to 280 miles

Kia Niro EV: up to 285 miles

Kia EV9: up to 349 miles

Kia EV6: up to 361 miles

What is the Kia electric car smartphone app called?

Kia’s smartphone app is called Kia Connect. As well as battery status and control, the app includes messages about the washing fluid level and battery health, as well as the option to switch on the heating or air-con in advance, or activate the door locks. 

How many Kia dealers are there and do they offer free charging for owners?

There are 189 official Kia dealerships in the UK.

Does Kia sat nav show charging point locations and availability?

All Kia electric cars come with Kia Connect services, which includes a public charging point locator tool. You should also download the free Kia Charge app for the latest information, along with the excellent ZapMap smartphone app.

ALSO READ:

Hyundai electric cars: Your questions answered

EV MPG: what is miles per kWh for electric cars?

Why are electric cars less efficient on motorways?

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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