Category Archives: Kia

News and reviews of Kia electric cars (including plug-in hybrids).

Electric Vehicles Dominate the Used Car Market, Selling Faster Than Petrol and Diesel

November 16, 2023Audi, Corsa-e, e-tron, Electric Cars, Kia, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Vauxhall, ZOERepost

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as the fastest-selling fuel type in the used car market, surpassing petrol and diesel cars. According to Auto Trader, EVs took an average of just 27 and 25 days to sell in the previous month and the current month, respectively. In comparison, petrol and diesel cars are selling every 31 days on average in October.

The rise in the popularity of EVs is evident in the list of fastest-selling used cars, with seven out of the top 10 being electric or alternatively fuelled vehicles. This includes models such as the Kia Niro, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Renault Megane E-Tech, Audi e-tron, and Renault Zoe. These cars have been highly sought after, taking between 9 and 15 days to sell.

Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 (Image: Vauxhall.co.uk)

One of the contributing factors to the growing demand for used electric cars is the improved affordability and availability. Auto Trader reported that nearly a quarter (22%) of used electric stock on their platform in September was priced between £10,000 and £20,000, providing greater choice in the more affordable end of the market. This increase in options has attracted more consumers to consider purchasing used EVs.

However, the second-hand electric car market is still in its early stages, and as a result, some volatility can be expected as it continues to mature in the coming years. Despite this, retailers have a significant opportunity to future-proof their businesses and gain profits by embracing the data and trends surrounding used electric cars.

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Electrifying 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is yours from £65,000

November 14, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, Hyundai, Ioniq 5, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The Ioniq 5 N is the most powerful Hyundai ever, and based on the same platform tech as the Kia EV6 GT

We like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 here at Auto Express – so much so we awarded it our overall Car of the Year back when it launched in 2021. Now there’s a hotter Ioniq 5 N version, and it’s priced from £65,000.

To this point, Hyundai’s range of sporty N models consisted only of petrol models; the i20 N, i30 N and Kona N. The Ioniq 5 N is a different proposition altogether, however, with its all-electric drivetrain serving up 641bhp and 740Nm of torque.

We’ve driven the Ioniq 5 N in prototype form already and came away pleased with the car’s performance, as well as its engagement – something not many sporty EVs have managed to combine to date. Order books for the Ioniq 5 N are open now; priced from £65,000 it’s around £3,000 more expensive than its slightly less powerful Kia EV6 GT sibling.

Powered by an 84kWh battery, the Ioniq 5 N utilises a dual-motor set up to go from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds with the car’s N Launch Control and boost mode engaged. The Ioniq 5 N tops out at 161mph.

To help optimise stability in the corners, Hyundai has given the Ioniq 5 N a clever e-LSD (limited-slip differential) in the rear motor, with a torque vectoring system that features 11 different settings.

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Most efficient electric cars

October 16, 2023Buying a new car, Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Kia, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, Niro EV, Opinion, TeslaRepost

We crunch the numbers on the electric cars on sale today to see which come closest to hitting their advertised figures

Plenty of electric cars have impressive claimed range figures but managing to achieve them is another story. With the increasing number of EVs to choose from, buyers are hunting for the most energy-efficient electric cars to really make the most of their batteries between charges.

Electric car efficiency is measured by calculating its miles per kilowatt hour used, shortened to mpkWh. For example, a Volkswagen ID 3 with a 77kWh battery would require an efficiency of 4.5mpkWh to achieve its officially rated 347 miles of range.

A vehicle’s efficiency is affected in several different ways, with aspects such as weight proving to be a key factor in positively or negatively impacting range.

The Audi Q8 E-tron, for example, is powered by a 106kWh battery, but weighs a staggering 2585kg, meaning it can deliver only around 2.9mpkWh.

Larger, SUV-style electric cars are also usually impacted more by drag, which reduces their range compared with sleeker, more aerodynamic sports cars and hatchbacks.

The range and efficiency of electric cars are also heavily influenced by the weather conditions and outside temperatures. Warmer temperatures mean a battery’s chemical reactions can occur faster and offer higher range, whereas colder weather requires more energy, reducing range.

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Can an EV be your everyday car? The questions to consider first

September 22, 2023Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, Fiat, Kia, News, Reviews and Comment, Niro EVRepost

In the early 2000s, it would have been difficult to consider an EV as your everyday car. They were too expensive to buy, offered a limited driving range, and the charging network was too small to make them a realistic prospect.

Matters began to improve when the Nissan Leaf arrived in 2010, and EV uptake has only accelerated since. In August 2023, more than 20 percent of new cars sold in the UK were fully electric – and Tesla had two vehicles (the Model Y and Model 3) inside the top 10 best-sellers.

The availability of better and more affordable EVs, along with the rapid growth of the charging network, means the answer to our original question is ‘yes’ – an electric car can indeed be your everyday car.

Nonetheless, there are several important questions you need to ask yourself first…

How long is your daily commute?

The average round-trip commute in the UK is around 21 miles. Even an electric car with the most miserly range estimate will be able to cover that. You don’t even need a longer-range EV, such as a Porsche Taycan, to tackle a longer daily commute.

Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid_Geneva 2017 (image: Next Green Car)

For example, the Kia Niro EV offers 285 miles of electric range, which might be enough for an entire week of commuting. At the time of writing, it costs £37,295 in entry-level ‘2’ specification.

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Second-hand electric vehicle sales soar to record levels

August 29, 2023Buying/Leasing, Charging, Electric Cars, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Boosting the second-hand market is crucial to increasing the reach and affordability of electric vehicles, however, the sales accounted for 1.7% of the total used car market.

Sales of second-hand electric vehicles (EV) rose by more than 80% in the three months to June, indicating increasing demand for more affordable zero and low-emission cars.

More than 30,500 of the battery-powered vehicles changed hands in the second quarter this year, an 81.8% rise on the same period last year.

Those sales accounted for just 1.7% of the total second-hand market, which while a record for the sector, demonstrates the scale of the adjustment required in the UK’s vehicle fleet before a ban on new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in 2030.

Low-emission plug-in and hybrid vehicles are also growing in popularity in the used market, with sales up 11% and 30% respectively, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The market share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell as a result of the growth in electric car sales, but still accounted for almost 95% of 1.8m used vehicles sold in the quarter.

Boosting the second-hand market is crucial to increasing the reach and affordability of electric vehicles, which are still significantly more expensive to buy than ICE models.

Second-hand EV prices have been dropping in the last year however, with data company Cap hpi estimating a 35% fall in 12 months.

The EV market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with more than 260,000 new electric cars registered last year, up from 15,000 in 2018.

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I ran a Kia EV6 electric car for a week and found it can be rewarding and cheap – but it requires thought

August 21, 2023Electric Cars, EV6, Kia, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

Owning an EV is different and requires a bit of a reset in your thinking – but it really can pay off

Back in January I took a Volvo C40 electric car on a long journey to see how easy it would be and what it would cost. The reaction was much bigger than I expected.

There was plenty of feedback, mostly constructive, which to be honest is quite unusual these days. I even had a few praising emails about it which, in a job where people only generally take the time to get in touch to shout at you about something they don’t like, is incredibly rare, believe me.

There was also some criticism in terms of car choice – I was driving a fairly high-end, powerful, luxury SUV after all – and my own naïveté when it came to the best way to charge it when doing a long motorway drive. So, in short, I learned a lot, both during the experience and afterwards. No doubt that’s probably a feeling that new EV owners have too, because it’s not the same as just buying a new petrol or diesel car.

A few of those who got in touch told me “you should try it in this car, or that car”. So I was certainly keen to do it again.

Kia helped make that happen and arranged for an EV6 for me for a week.

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Here are 10 of the best family friendly electric cars to buy

August 8, 2023Electric Cars, EV6, Ioniq 5, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

From the kids to the kitchen sink, these are the EVs tailor-made to suit family life

Ford Mustang Mach-E

“The most important Ford since the Mondeo? The Model T? Probably somewhere between the two in terms of what it means to the brand and its future. As crucial as the original Mustang, then – another car that kick-started the blue oval and launched it into a new and exciting future. Make up your own mind about the look of the car and what it says about you, but be in no doubt that underneath this is a fundamentally very well executed machine.”

Hyundai Ioniq 5

“That Hyundai is now confident enough to put a car as bold-looking as the Ioniq 5 on sale is impressive. But the fact this retro XXL hot hatch bodywork conceals one of the most complete family EVs money can buy is downright remarkable. If Hyundai can maintain this momentum behind the upcoming members of the Ioniq family, then the likes of VW’s ID cars and even Mercedes’s EQ clan ought to be extremely worried.”

Kia EV6

“The EV6 proves that forward-thinking doesn’t need to be entirely wacky. Distinctive yet not likely to immediately fall off a fashion cliff, interesting to drive but not likely to worry a dedicated sports car, the EV6 carves a very different path dynamically to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with which it shares bones and blood. And that’s no bad thing.

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Best used electric cars in UK: top 10 second-hand EVs for sale in 2023 – including Tesla, Kia, BMW, VW models

April 5, 2023Electric Cars, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

From small EVs to electric SUVs there’s now a used electric car with a price and range to suit most drivers

The surge towards electric cars is gathering pace as every week seesms to bring the announcement of another new EV from a major brand.

In 2022 sales jumped by 40% compared with the previous year and EVs overtook diesel models to become the second best-selling powertrain after petrol for the first time.

Kia Niro PHEV, Plug In Hybrid, Geneva Motorshow 2017 (Image: Kia)

Despite concerns around public charging costs, the prospect of low running costs and cleaner motoring is attracting drivers. At the same time, a growing number of low-emissions zones threaten financial penalties for those sticking with older and more polluting vehicles mean the market has exploded.

But with EVs still more expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts, not everyone can afford a brand new electric car. Thankfully, the boom in the new car market is now trickling down to the second-hand segment and there are now plenty of good used EVs for buyers to consider.

As with any used car, it pays to do your research to make sure the car is right for you – think about range and charging. Also check the car thoroughly for faults and examine its history before handing over any cash.

Many of the cars on our list lack the big batteries and impressive range of the newest models but they are all still a great way to make the switch to all-electric motoring, whatever type of car you need.

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Used Kia EV Batteries Have A New Purpose Now – Energy Storage Systems For The Grid

October 3, 2022Electric Cars, Energy Storage, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Kia Europe has revealed a new partnership with Deutsche Bahn to reuse former EV batteries to develop scalable energy storage systems. The prototype is in works in Germany using Kia Soul EV batteries and marks the beginning of the automaker’s Europe-wide initiative.

The Hyundai Motor Group, Kia has fully adopted electrification as it moves toward zero-emissions and carbon neutrality throughout its businesses. Additionally, Kia and Hyundai Motor Group have invested in new technologies, like robotics and autonomy, to increase sustainability.

However, EV battery recycling is an issue. To address this issue, major manufacturers like CATL and recycling specialists like Redwood Materials are already helping reduce and reuse precious materials across the globe.

Deutsche Bahn (encore DB) has been partnering up with many businesses to procure used batteries and give them a second life as energy storage solutions.

Kia announced the details of its new partnership with encore DB in a press release today, explaining how its EV batteries will be dismantled and repurposed for a second life cycle. Under the new agreement, Kia Europe will be the first mobility solutions provider to officially partner with encore DB.

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Brighton to Glasgow: 500 miles in the Kia EV6

April 29, 2022Electric Cars, EV6, Kia, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

We pit Kia’s electric SUV against a petrol Proceed and throw ourselves at the mercy of the UK’s charging network

It’s a balmy Monday morning on Brighton’s pebbly seafront. The walkers, cyclists and desperado electric scooterists are out in force, soaking up some unexpected February vitamin D. The cafe proprietors are sweeping floors, laying tables and getting ready for a brisk lunchtime trade. The weather is ideal – except if you were hoping for the sort of cold, wet, foreboding environment to set a tough challenge for an electric car on a long drive.

Thankfully, where we’re heading, we’re almost guaranteed some wintry smirr. It’s somewhere between 450 and 500 miles north from here to Glasgow, depending which way you go – and today we’re going in a Kia EV6, mostly just to find out how long it takes to cover that kind of distance on the UK road network in an EV in 2022.

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