Kia e-Niro review

For all the excited chatter about electric cars, until now they have suited only a niche of buyers willing to accept some of the cost and practicality compromises in exchange for the economical and environmental benefits that they can offer. If an electric car suited your needs, then it could be the perfect car - but for most car buyers most of the time a petrol, hybrid or diesel car has offered a better solution.

But here is an electric car that has the potential to be part of a movement aimed at changing all of that, offering substantially more range than almost all rivals without costing substantially more. In those regards, on paper at least, the Kia e-Niro - along with the related Hyundai Kona Electric - threatens to rewrite the rulebooks and make electric motoring a realistic proposition for many more car buyers than ever before.

Our own independent Real Range tests add further lustre to these claims, with the e-Niro being one of few electric cars on sale right now achieving a real-world range upwards of 250 miles on a single charge, which is surely enough for all but the most dedicated of drivers to cover in a day. It is also the lowest priced of the cars that tops 250 miles on a charge at present.

Other rivals range from hugely capable but relatively pricey Teslas to similarly-priced but less rangey rivals such as the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf.

Beyond its range and price, though, is the e-Niro a good car in the wider sense? Is it comfortable, is it easy to drive and does it have enough space to carry your family, and all their paraphernalia, as easily as an equivalent regular car?

Read on and we’ll let you know - and if you like what you read, don’t forget to check if there are any good deals on E-Niros in our online New Car Buying marketplace.