The EV version of the Kia Niro crossover has gone on sale in Korea, joining the Niro’s existing Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants. The Korean carmaker says it has received more than 5,000 pre-orders for the new EV, which is to go on sale in Europe at the end of 2018, and in North America in the first quarter of 2019.

The Niro EV’s lithium-polymer battery pack is positioned low, beneath the trunk floor. It’s available in two sizes: 39.2 kWh, which delivers a range of 153 miles; and 64 kWh, with a range of around 239 miles. A 150 kW (204 ps) motor drives the front wheels, producing 395 N·m of torque and accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds.

The Niro EV offers a range of Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including Forward Collision Warning with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Intelligent Stop & Go, and Lane Following Assist.

A 7-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment system and EV-specific features, and the instrument cluster resides in a second 7-inch color LCD. Cargo space is 16 cubic feet.

Source: Kia