Kia e-Niro EV - Reliability & safety (2017-2022)

Kia is a brand whose reputation has been steadily improving over recent years. Once associated with cut-price motoring, the reputation of its products has increased to a point where they compete on a level playing field with the best that Europe has to offer. The brand’s second place finish in our 2021 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey reflects this.

Kia e-Niro reliability

In fact, the Kia Niro on which the e-Niro is based came 15th overall in our 2021 survey, impressing owners in a number of ways. Previously running costs, reliability, build quality, practicality and space, exterior design, fuel consumption and running costs were all praised, the Niro's electronic connectivity and infotainment system was given the highest rating possible. However, despite its strong score for reliability, 11.9% of Niro owners reported at least one fault during the first year of ownership.

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Safety

The strong score owners awarded the Niro for safety reflects lane keeping assist being standard, with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) fitted as standard to the PHEV and '4' trim levels. Both are standard on the e-Niro.

That means the e-Niro ought to garner the same five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating as those Niro models fitted with the 'safety pack' (those without received a lower four-star rating when the Niro was crash tested in 2016).

The e-Niro reduces its driver workload when lane keeping assist works in conjunction with adaptive cruise control to follow the car in front, detecting the road markings and making steering adjustments to keep you in lane on busy roads. The new e-Niro ‘4+’ trim also includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, which makes traffic jams and motorway commutes less tiring.