Tesla Model Y Rival Kia Niro EV Disappoints With ‘Off-Putting Acceleration’

The Tesla Model Y still has a long way to go before it becomes available commercially, so now is the best time for its competitors in the electric vehicle market to shine.

One of its rivals, the Kia Niro, still has much to cover if it aims to match what the Tesla crossover has to offer. According to a report, although the Kia vehicle is aesthetically pleasing, it can’t match the Model Y in terms of performance. The biggest disappointment, according to the report, was the off the line acceleration.

The Tesla Model Y rival is known to have a bigger battery and motor compared to other electric vehicles in its categories like the Chevy Bolt or the Nissan Leaf. However, its accelerating prowess was described as off-putting. The Chevy Bolt is known to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and the Kia was said to perform more poorly.

This means that it definitely can’t match the supposed acceleration of the Tesla Model Y which was described to go from 0 to 60mph in 5.9 seconds. This, even if the Niro is already in “Sport” mode. The Kia vehicle, however, performs without a problem on the freeway and has a strong and solid braking system that keeps the vehicle secure.

Despite the poor performance in terms of speed, the Niro can still hold its own when it comes to handling. This electric car is grouped under “affordable” electric cars and yet it performs well when it comes to easy off-roading. The vehicle is said to perform smoothly over some gravel and even some deep potholes.

The Kia Niro also has some odd features thrown in such as the dial used for driving. Instead of buttons or the normal level as seen in other electric cars, the Niro basically has a round dial for you to drive with. This feature needs some getting used to, especially if you’re driving at top speed.

For interiors, it is much bigger than the Hyundai Kona and more desirable in terms of range since it can reach as far as 239 miles on a full charge. The Kia crossover also looks “normal” for electric vehicle standards which is an appealing trait for those who feel uncomfortable getting behind the wheel of a car that simply looks too “futuristic” to handle.