An electric drivetrain isn’t completely new for the Kia Niro, but Kia has announced that they will continue production with a slightly improved model for 2022 — meaning it either did well in sales this year, or the manufacturer believes it still has potential. Considering Kia’s recent name change and rebrand, it makes sense that refining a vehicle as trending and increasingly popular as an electric SUV. The 2022 Kia Niro EV comes with even more features and upgrades, and there are plenty of reasons that make it worth buying.

What’s new with the 2022 Kia Niro EV

The biggest changes worth noting for the 2022 Kia Niro EV that make it worth buying new over a used 2021 model is the upgraded 10.25-inch touch screen infotainment system for the basic trim level and the Premium trim, and the option for UVO to link a satellite radio on the Premium trim. The 2022 model is also still eligible for the $7,500 Federal tax credit, which is only available when you buy a car brand new from the dealership directly.

2022 Kia Niro EV trim levels, options, and pricing

There are plenty of options when it comes to the 2022 Kia Niro EV. To start, there are two trim levels to choose from, each offering an estimated range of 239 miles on a single charge. Both versions of the Niro EV come with the same drivetrain, a 64 kWh battery paired with an electric motor that produces a modest 201 horsepower. The two trim levels of the 2022 Kia Niro EV are:

• EX, $39,990
• EX Premium $44,650

This pricing does not include the destination fee of $1,175 — which is what it will cost for Kia to deliver the vehicle to the dealership from the factory.

An impressive list of standard safety features

These prices are relatively competitive against other sporty compact electric SUVs, and although it doesn’t have the same prestige that a Tesla does, chances are it won’t come with the same quality and reliability issues, either. Even though it doesn’t have Netflix streaming for the infotainment system or all of the other features that make the new Tesla models more of a place to hang out than just to drive, there are a lot of standard safety features on both trim level options. Standard safety features for the 2022 Kia Niro EV include:

• Forward collision warning
• Forward collision avoidance assistance with camera and radar
• Blind spot collision warning
• Rear cross traffic collision warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane following assist
• Smart cruie control with stop and go
• Navigation-basaed smart cruise control
• Highway driving assist
• High beam assist
• Driver attention warning
• Lead vehicle departure alter
• Parking distance warning in reverse

While the 2022 Kia Niro EV has yet to be officially released to buyers, the 2021 model has left us with some pretty high expectations. With an extensive list of safety features standard on both trim levels, an impressive amount of range on a single charge, and competitive pricing, the 2022 Kia Niro EV has the potential for being a very popular and well-liked EV.