Netherlands gets electric van option with 2023 Kia Niro EV Cargo

MANILA: A new Niro EV electric model has been added to Kia's delivery lineup with the 2023 Niro EV Cargo, which was recently unveiled in the Netherlands.

A pre-order variant of the electric Niro EV is the 2023 Kia Niro EV Cargo. This indicates that Kia skillfully removes the back seat from its electric crossover as part of the conversion kit, but cleanly completes the process.

There are two options for the Kia Niro EV Cargo conversion. The Prokit goes a bit further and adds, among other things, storage compartments under the loading floor and between the front seats as well as two extra lashing eyes to the electric crossover. The Basic Kit adds a coated aluminum load floor, a metal divider, and two lashing eyes to the Niro EV. The Kia Niro EV can be converted for current owners of the vehicle.

The Basic kit costs €1,990 (P116,000) while the comprehensive Prokit costs €2,680 (P157,000). Both conversion packages for the 2023 Kia Niro EV Cargo come with a two-year warranty. With a range of 460 kilometers on a single charge, the 2023 Kia Niro EV Cargo also features a 64.8 kWh battery and a 204 hp electric motor.

Kia's expanding eco-friendly lineup will consist of 14 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2027, and that includes the Niro.

The Kia Niro eases the shift to sustainable mobility by offering a variety of low- and zero-emission powertrain options, including hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and BEV. Kia's Smartstream 1.6-liter GDI gasoline engine is used in the HEV and PHEV variants. The Niro combines environmental and practical benefits with a 463-kilometer electric-only range.

Based on Kia's third-generation "K" platform, the EV measures 4,420 millimeters long, 1,825mm wide, and up to 1,570mm high. The 2,720mm wheelbase and improved cabin design proportions provide best-in-class interior space and storage capacity.

Striking and dynamic design that is based on Kia’s famed “Opposites United” design philosophy, particularly the design pillar “Joy for Reason,” highlights the 2023 Kia Niro EV. The treatment is inspired by nature, and the colors, materials, and finishes were chosen to achieve the perfect mix of an environmentally responsible approach to mobility and a forward-thinking passenger car vision.

The vehicle’s side profile features clean character lines and a very unique design. The aforementioned Aero C-Pillar aids airflow underneath, hence improving overall efficiency levels. The all-new Niro has achieved a remarkable drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.29, thanks to these improvements. The rear reflector, rugged skid plate, and lower bumper were designed to match the vehicle’s front-end styling.

Inside, recycled materials with a premium effect surrounding the cabin, enhancing the interior space and emphasizing Niro's environmental credentials. To offer a distraction-free yet straightforward user experience, the dashboard and driver controls have limited clutter and clean lines. A head-up display (HUD) system improves safety and convenience while driving, and a suite of innovative safety features gives this family-friendly crossover the most up-to-date protection.

Safety has been a primary focus in the development of the all-new Niro. A multi-load front impact structure is included in the vehicle’s high-strength lightweight body to ensure that occupants are highly protected in case of a front-end collision.

Kia’s DriveWise intelligent advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which are meant to avoid potential risks and boost confidence and convenience behind the wheel, are available on the second-generation Niro. Among these features are forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA), junction turning and junction crossing, intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA), safe exit assist (SEA), remote smart parking assist (RSPA), lane keeping assist (LKA), blind-spot collision-avoidance assist (BCA), driver attention warning (DAW), high beam assist (HBA), navigation-based smart cruise control (NSCC), lane following assist (LFA), highway driving assist (HAD), rear view monitor (RVM), rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist (RCCA), reverse parking collision-avoidance assist (PCA-R), and front/rear parking distance warning (PDW-F/R).

Photos from Kia Netherlands

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