Kia launches entry-level long-range e-Niro to beat government grant cut

Brand adds 64kWh battery to lower-spec model with sub-£35,000 price tag
Kia e-NiroKia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro

Kia has joined the car makers announcing changes to their model line-ups in the wake of cuts to the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG).

The Korean brand has confirmed that it is now taking orders for 64kWh versions of the e-Niro electric SUV in lower ‘2’ trim, allowing buyers to still take advantage of the £2,500 grant.

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Changes announced on 18 March saw the grant cut from £3,000 and mean that any car costing more than £35,000 no longer qualifies for the incentive.

Kia e-NiroKia e-Niro
Kia e-Niro

The lowering of the eligibility cap from £50,000 to £35,000 meant that only the entry-level 39kWh e-Niro was covered by the grant, with the 64kWh long-range model only available in the more expensive ‘3’ and ‘4’ trim levels, costing from £37,100.

The newly confirmed ‘2’ Long Range model means buyers can now opt for the larger battery in a lower trim level and it has been priced at £34,945 to take advantage of the PiCG. With the grant applied the ‘2’ Long Range will cost £32,445, £1,995 more than the 39kWh Mid Range version.

The 39kWh version of the e-Niro has a range of 180 miles while the long-range versions offer up to 282 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, giving the new model the longest range of any sub-£35,000 EV.

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Standard equipment on the e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range includes an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 17-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera system and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and keyless entry and start.

All e-Niro models, including the new ‘2’ Long Range variant, also allow owners to sign up to KiaCharge, which integrates more than 15,000 charging points from a host of operators under a single account. Among the providers covered by the scheme are bp pulse, Pod Point, IONITY, Source London, Chargepoint, NewMotion, Char-gy, and ESB.

Order books are open now, with deliveries due to start in July.

Vauxhall and Citroen have also confirmed changes to their pricing structures to ensure that all versions of the Mokka-e, Vivaro e-Life and e-C4 are still eligible for the PiCG.

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