Hi,
So two months of EV ownership and we are now on our second EV. The EV6 is going back to Kia UK to have the battery cell fault diagnosed/repaired today. By the sounds of it the replacement cells come from Korea and take 12 weeks, I am hoping they find its something else that they can fix quickly but its looking like we are without the car for a while. Spoke to someone on the forums who gave up after 5 months with the same fault and went to another car.
Kia haven't updated me but I got a door alert just now via the app the cars location is showing as Walton on Thames which is where Kia UK are located.
After much stress and complaining we had a replacement EV delivered Monday (5 days without a car) - thanks to Manjour at hummingbirdmotors colindale who delivered a brand new Kia E Niro 4+.
Thanks to Lucy at Kia rental for trying hard to get us an EV rather than a petrol/diesel rental, and listening and understanding our predicament.
So will keep you posted on the EV6 but can safely say that its missed.
With regards to the e Niro its obviously not as refined as the EV6 and is smaller inside (especially the rear seats). But have been pleasantly surprised with the equipment level, seeming to have every conceivable extra. Things that our GT line didn't such as heated AND cooled seats, rear heated seats, sunroof, key-less entry. Cant say i'm as enamoured with the looks but its not bad to drive. The electric motor is noisier than that in the EV6 but the car has a certain buzziness about it. The claimed 0-60 speed of 7.5 seconds certainly feels faster than stated, and being front wheel drive it sometimes scrabbles for traction - reminded me of older hot hatches that have too much power. But fun and fairly agile and brought an unexpected smile to my face the first time I "tested" sport mode as i didn't expect it.
I charged it to full capacity overnight and its showing 242 miles range even after the school runs today. The EV6 only ever displayed 228 maximum on a full charge.
Although some of the plastics lower down in the car in the areas where you don't touch seem fairly cheap, the quality of the digital dash and infotainment screen is very good. With some touches in the items displayed that I actually prefer to the EV6, and having physical buttons for things is just easier (sorry it just is!).
It feels like the e Niro is a more established platform and that they have had time to iron out the issues, But otherwise its familiar in terms of operation (like a mix of our old 2016 Sportage and the Ev6).
You'll be pleased to hear the Kia Connect (Cr)App is being its usual self, displaying Range in miles in the car and in App as Kilometres. Kia seriously need to invest in fixing the app as its so buggy and such a disappointment. Surely they have had time with the Niro and Soul EV's to stabilise it.
In summary if you are in the market for a Small competent EV with decent range then the eNiro is definatley something to look at. We have been pleasantly surprised, but unfortunately its no EV6.
I raised a complaint with Kia Customer Services about being without the car, with little update, asked the question if the car is really retail ready and mentioned the concern that it feels like the dealers are not prepared/have knowledge on what to do with the EV6. Plus the concerns that we were not being offered a replacement and if we were it would be diesel Kia Soul. The lady that called was very professional and courteous but didn't really answer any of the issues and basically told me we were "lucky" to get a loan car as they are not obliged to do so.
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