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What is the most reliable electric vehicle? Electric vehicles, as a whole, tend to be less reliable than their gas-powered cousins, simply because they have newer technology. In the EV world, range and power aren’t everything; long-term reliability counts, too. What makes the Kia Niro EV stand out as the most reliable electric vehicle?

The Kia Niro EV is the most reliable electric vehicle

A 2023 Kia Niro EV compact electric SUV model parked a beach overlooking a city skyline at dusk
2023 Kia Niro EV | Kia America

The new Kia Niro EV is the most reliable electric vehicle you can buy, according to a new report from LeafScore.com, which tracks products with low environmental impacts. The Niro SUV also earns a five-leaf score, or the highest rating, from LeafScore for its eco-friendly nature. The site mentions Consumer Reports for naming the Niro at the top of its reliability list.

The Niro EV has SUV character and SUV cargo-carrying ability. You can fit a generous 63.7 cubic feet of stuff in the Niro when the seats are folded, which is just a few cubic inches less than you can in a Toyota RAV4. The electric Niro gets a 201-horsepower motor tied to a 64.8 kWh battery and it has fast charging capability. In 45 minutes, it can gain up to 80 percent charge. It has a total range of 253 miles. It’s one of several Kia EVs and PHEVs that the company sells.

How much does a Kia Niro EV cost?

The Niro isn’t the cheapest EV SUV, with a starting price of $39,450 for the Wind trim, while the Wave trim starts at $44,450. There is no gas-powered Niro for 2023. Both come well-equipped, but the Wave gets some extra goodies like a sunroof, acoustic front glass, a power tailgate and a digital key. All Niro EVs, though, come with heated seats, wireless connectivity, a voice recognition system to control some of its options, and a pair of 10.25-inch screens.

What is the Kia Niro comparable to?

A silver-gray 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV compact electric SUV model parked outside of a home on a cobblestone road
2023 Chevy Bolt EUV | Chevrolet

The obvious Niro competitor is the Chevy Bolt EV, which comes in as the second most reliable EV on LeafScore’s list. The Bolt, too, earns five leaves at LeafScore.com. It starts at $26,600, after tax credits, and takes the basic Bolt runabout idea but packages it as an SUV with some cargo area. It has a 259-mile range. It’s larger brother, however, the Bolt EUV has cargo space more comparable to the Niro with a similar range, and starts at $27,200 after tax credits.  

The Niro comes in a plug-in hybrid version, too

2023 Kia Niro EV in white at an auto show
A Kia Niro electric SUV | Michael Nagle, Getty Images

The 2023 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid gets 105 MPGe, or MPG equivalents with its electric engine spinning some of the time. It has a small gas motor, a 1.6-liter, and gets 46 MPG on gasoline. It has an all-electric range of 26 miles, and Niro Plug-in Hybrid starts at $33,740.

The Niro is all-new for 2023. You can spot one by its interesting side “blades” behind the rear doors that are painted in a contrasting color, like the EV It also comes well equipped with dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as smart cruise, and a suite of driver’s aids.

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Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.