New sub-£35k Kia e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range launched

• 282-mile range
• Prices start at £32,445 after grant
• On sale now

The Kia e-Niro is now available in a new ‘2’ 64kWh version, which has been introduced to give buyers a long-range version that’s eligible for the revised plug-in car grant (PiCG). It’s the first time the bigger battery has been available in the entry-level trim, with the car starting at £34,945 before the £2,500 grant is applied.

Buyers of the Kia e-Niro ‘2’ trim were previously limited to a smaller battery, which offers 180 miles of range. The bigger one returns a 282-mile range and you can see as much as 382 miles between charges if you only drive around town. Recharging the battery takes 9.5 hours from a 7.2kW wallbox or just under an hour with 50kW public fast-charging.

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All e-Niro models allow you to sign up to KiaCharge, a service that means you can access the majority of different chargepoint providers with one account.

Standard equipment is generous, with a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go functionality), keyless entry and start, and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all thrown in. Kia has also included a heat pump, which is a more efficient way of heating the interior - and doesn’t affect the quoted range so much.

Kia is not alone in adjusting prices in response to the plug-in car grant changes, which capped the price of eligible cars to £35,000 and cut the subsidy from £3,000 to £2,500. The Vauxhall Mokka-e and Citroen e-C4 have both been adjusted so that all models come in under £35,000 and we expect more to follow suit.

What does it mean for car buyers?

The Kia e-Niro is one of our favourite electric cars and it seems that UK buyers are keen on it too; it’s been the bestselling EV so far in 2021, accounting for nearly 20% of all electric car sales. The introduction of the ‘2’ Long Range version means that more buyers can enjoy the class-leading electric range, low running costs and spacious interior.

Check out our guides to the cheapest electric cars and best electric SUVs on sale now.