The Kia Niro EV is one of the most underrated and easily forgotten electric vehicles of the year. By way of cost, it isn’t the most affordable EV on the market, making it a direct competitor to buyers who want something a little bit different than Tesla SUVs of the same price range. The Niro EV’s new-age design features and highlights make it the best version, and there are plenty of things that make this option stand out from the competition.

How much does the Kia Niro EV cost?

The 2020 Kia Niro is a great option for an electric vehicle, but it doesn’t come cheap. You can expect to start seeing them for sale with price tags around $40,000 for the base model EX, and there is only one other option available, the EX Premium, which comes at a slightly increased cost of about $45,000. With only two options to choose from, it seems like you can’t go wrong either way, but according to Edmunds, there is a good reason to pick one option over the other.

Which 2020 Kia Niro EV trim to pick

According to Edmunds, the best choice between the two available trim levels of the 2020 Kia Niro EV is — surprisingly — the base model, EX. This is because, on its own, the EX comes standard with plenty of standard safety features and luxurious options. For driving aids, you can expect to see blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking — pretty much everything new buyers are looking for.

Standard technology for the base model EX of the 2020 Kia Niro EV won’t leave you disappointed either. The infotainment system features an 8-inch touch-screen display hosting Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto. Heated front seats, automatic climate control, and the choice between cloth or simulated leather seats are just an added bonus.

Why choose the EX Premium

Of course, while Edmunds loves everything that the base model EX has to offer, that doesn’t mean the EX Premium doesn’t offer a tad more. The EX Premium is a few thousand dollars more but includes heated and ventilated front seats, an upgraded sound system, sunroof, rear parking sensors, and a slightly larger infotainment screen. For some drivers, these smaller luxuries aren’t worth the price difference.

Of course, you aren’t missing out on any of the options of the base model when you upgrade to the EX Premium, just getting a few additional luxuries that may be on some buyer’s list.

You can’t go wrong with either trim level option of the 2020 Kia Niro EV, but if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable but still has a lot to offer, there is nothing wrong with sticking to the base model EX.