Kia Niro EV Named a Best Car to Buy 2020 Nominee by Green Car Reports
Each year, eco-conscious organization Green Car Reports announces its list of contenders for the honor of being called the best fuel-efficient car. The Kia Niro EV was named a Best Car to Buy 2020 nominee along with just two other vehicles: the Audi e-tron and the Porsche Taycan. The team at GCR is currently doing many tests and assessing each vehicle to determine the winner, which will be announced at a later date.
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The testing process
One aspect of the testing process for Green Car Reports is charging each vehicle, which was completed in Ellijay, Georgia. While Porsche wasn’t able to provide a Taycan for GCR reporter Bengt Halvorson, the Niro EV was tested alongside the e-tron at a station just outside Atlanta. Halvorson noted that the process as a whole was incredibly frustrating, but that the Niro EV had an advantage thanks to its smaller battery and better efficiency.
It’s all about the money… sort of
Another factor that Green Car Reports considers when determining its Best Buy for 2020 is price. The Audi e-tron trim that was considered for the Best Buy accolade has a starting MSRP of $75,795 with a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. The Niro EV EX Premium came in at a starting MSRP of $45,045 with the same potential tax credit. However, even with the large price difference, Halvorson noted that the Niro EV “doesn’t feel cheap” in comparison to the other nominees. The interior is what really sold GCR on the Niro EV, with its abundance of luxury features like a 7-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power sunroof, Harman Kardon premium audio, and heated and ventilated leather seats.
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It comes as no surprise that the Niro EV was named a nominee by Green Car Reports, as it was also named Car of the Year by Popular Mechanics. Not only that, but the 2020 hybrid iteration of the Niro was greeted with high praise when it debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month. We’ll be keeping tabs on Green Car Reports to see which vehicle will ultimately be named the Best Car to Buy 2020.
Ben never thought he’d be writing about cars for a living, but here he is, knowing more about the Kia Stinger than he’d care to admit. When he’s not devoting his time to researching engine specs and other oh-so-exciting car details, he can be found enjoying time with his wife and dogs. See more articles by Ben.