The Kia brand has been rising in popularity over the past several years. With vehicles dominating their segments like the Kia Stinger and Kia Telluride, it makes sense that the brand would be working to bring more praise and attention to their other niche vehicles. Electric vehicles, for example, have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and a growing consumer market for electric cars has blossomed, producing more variety for buyers. Kia, of course, has an option for an affordable electric vehicle, too, and it’s called the Kia Niro EV.

How much does the Kia Niro EV cost?

The 2020 Kia Niro EV isn’t the most affordable new electric SUV on the market, but it isn’t the most expensive either. The starting price for the base model Niro EV, the EX, is around $39,090, and that price increases with the choice of upgrades to the only other trim option, the EX Premium, which has a sticker price of around $44,590. According to Edmunds, the base model of the Niro EV is just fine and offers enough to make it worth a second glance.

Standard features and ratings

Edmunds gave the 2020 Kia Niro EV an overall score of 8.3 out of 10, which is a pretty high score. It is notably well-rounded on all fronts, receiving a minimum scoring of an 8.0 with the breakdown, and as high as an 8.5 on some. This includes ratings for driving experience, value, storage, interior, and tech — all of the important factors that buyers consider when buying a new vehicle. It’s also worth noting that these scores apply to the base model variation of the Kia Niro EV, as well, meaning you don’t have to pay extra to appreciate the high scores.

The base model of the 2020 Kia Niro EV offers plenty for the price, making it justifying to skip buying the more expensive EX Premium trim. For the EX, drivers can enjoy an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supported by a 6-speaker surround sound, cloth and imitated leather seats, heated front seats, and — of course — Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX doesn’t shy away from standard safety features, either, which enhances the driving experience with blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Should you upgrade to the Niro EV EX Premium?

While some buyers will be more than happy with everything that the base model 2020 Kia Niro EV has to offer, the EX Premium trim offers just a bit more still. The inclusion of more luxuries like a sunroof, full simulated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, and larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen are well worth the difference in price to some drivers.

Overall the 2020 Kia Niro EV is a hardy competitor in the electric compact SUV market, and the high ratings just prove its at least worth a test drive.