Is a used Kia e-Niro a good buy?

The all-electric Kia e-Niro is an impressive rival to electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona Electric. It sits alongside the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Kia Niro.

At its heart is an electric motor and 64kWh battery pack, which delivers up to 282 miles of range from a single charge. A more affordable version with a 39kWh battery arrived as part of a small update in 2020. Up to 180 miles of range is available when the battery is fully charged, so this lower capacity Kia e-Niro is ideal for anyone with a shorter commute.

The Kia e-Niro is one of the most desirable affordable electric vehicles you can get. There’s plenty of room for five adults, while the boot can swallow 451 litres of luggage, which is enough to rival a conventional petrol or diesel family SUV. 

Read our full Kia e-Niro review

Which used Kia e-Niro should you buy?

All Kia-Niro models represent good value for money thanks to a high specification level even on 'entry-level' cars so to speak. An industry-leading seven-year warranty from new and a solid reputation for reliability makes the Kia e-Niro a safe new or second-hand choice.

Thanks to the impressively low running costs that come with this electric model, you could find that you can afford to splash out on a newer e-Niro than you initially thought.

All models also get smart regenerative braking which enables you to add a little charge back into the battery when slowing down and enjoy one-pedal driving - with the car slowing quickly when you lift off the accelerator. This means there's no need to use the brake pedal, except in an emergency.

What used Kia e-Niro trim levels are available?

If the Kia e-Niro sounds like the electric SUV for you, read on to discover more about the ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4+’ and First Edition trim levels. 

Kia e-Niro 2

Unlike some other Kia models, there’s no ‘1’ trim available on the Kia e-Niro, which makes the ‘2’ the entry-level version. New, it cost around £30,500 with the 39kWh battery or £32,500 if you upgraded to the larger 64kWh option. The specification remains the same, regardless of the size of the battery. This means you get an eight-inch touchscreen media system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, smart cruise control, keyless start and a forward-collision avoidance system. It’s worth noting that the 39kWh battery is available only on the ‘2’ trim level.

Kia e-Niro 3

The Kia e-Niro ‘3’ specification is available only with the 64kWh battery, so you can expect up to 282 miles of range from a single charge. Highlights include a 10.3-inch touchscreen media system with sat-nav, black leather upholstery, heated seats, a wireless phone charger for charging your smartphone without plugging it in and electric seats. This is in addition to everything you’ll find on the Kia e-Niro ‘2’.

Kia e-Niro 4

The Kia e-Niro ‘4’ was unveiled at the end of 2019 and replaced the First Edition at the top of the Kia e-Niro range. The Kia e-Niro retains value well as it gets older, so don't expect too many super-affordable bargains on this high-specification version, but you should still be able to bag a great deal on BuyaCar. Highlights include a 10.3-inch touchscreen media system with sat-nav, LED headlights, ambient lighting, a battery heater, heated black leather seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system.

Kia e-Niro 4+

Updated for the 2021 model year, the Kia e-Niro ‘4+’ is an upmarket electric SUV in all but name. This trim level replaced the earlier ‘4+’ which was an evolution of the earlier ‘4’ trim. The big news is the addition of an 11kW three-phase AC charger for faster home charging. Other highlights include heating for the front and outer rear seats, ventilated front seats, an eight-speaker JBL sound system and a 10.3-inch screen for the media system.

Kia e-Niro First Edition

The Kia e-Niro launched with the aptly named Kia e-Niro First Edition model. Four colours were available: Graphite, White Pearl, Midnight Black and Gravity Blue. In addition to everything on the Kia e-Niro ‘3’, you can expect to find 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless start and a colour display within the instrument cluster. There’s also a host of driver assistance systems designed to keep you safe, such as lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, lane following assist and forward-collision avoidance assist.