The 2022 Kia Niro EV doesn’t chase headlines the way a Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Ioniq 5 does. Instead, it focuses on being a quietly competent, ultra-efficient compact crossover that just works. If you’re shopping the used market, that’s exactly the kind of EV you want, and it’s why the 2022 Niro EV is becoming a smart value play.
Model-year context
2022 Kia Niro EV overview
On paper, the 2022 Kia Niro EV is straightforward: a 201 hp front‑wheel‑drive motor, a roughly 64 kWh usable battery, and an EPA‑rated 239 miles of range. It sits in the same size class as a Hyundai Kona Electric or Chevy Bolt EUV, but with a slightly more upright, practical body and a less polarizing design.
- EPA range: ~239 miles on a full charge
- Battery: ~64 kWh usable (about 67–68 kWh gross)
- Drivetrain: 201 hp front motor, front‑wheel drive only
- On‑board AC charger: 7.2 kW in early models, 11 kW in later global Niro EVs
- DC fast charging peak: ~77–85 kW depending on testing source
- Seat count: 5 passengers, compact‑crossover footprint
Where the Niro EV fits today
Powertrain, range and real-world efficiency
The 2022 Niro EV shares its basic powertrain with Hyundai’s first‑gen Kona Electric: a 150 kW (201 hp) permanent‑magnet motor driving the front wheels and a liquid‑cooled high‑voltage battery a bit over 64 kWh usable. Officially you’re looking at 239 miles of EPA range, but real‑world results tend to be better in mixed driving if you’re not hammering the throttle.
2022 Niro EV powertrain & range at a glance
On the highway at U.S. speeds, plan on closer to 200–215 miles between charges if you’re starting from 80–90% and driving with traffic. Around town, the Niro EV’s efficiency can be impressive, north of 4 mi/kWh isn’t unusual in mild weather, which stretches each kWh further than many larger, heavier crossovers.
Cold‑weather reality check
Charging performance: home and DC fast
Charging is where you really feel that the 2022 Niro EV is a first‑generation design. It was never about headline‑grabbing charging speeds, but for most owners using home Level 2, it’s more than adequate.
2022 Kia Niro EV approximate charging times
Approximate charge durations from low state of charge under typical conditions. Real‑world speeds vary with temperature, station quality and battery state.
| Charging type | Power | Charge window | Approx. time | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (120V outlet) | 1.4–1.9 kW | 0–100% | 30+ hours | Emergency or very low daily miles |
| Level 2 home / public | 7.2 kW | 0–100% | ~9–10 hours | Overnight charging from low state of charge |
| DC fast (50 kW) | Up to 50 kW | 10–80% | ~60–65 minutes | Older or lower‑power highway fast chargers |
| DC fast (100 kW station) | Peaks ~75–85 kW | 10–80% | ~40–45 minutes | Modern 100 kW+ stations on road trips |
Use these numbers as planning tools, not promises, public DC charging speeds often depend more on the station than the car.
Kia quotes a 10–80% DC fast charge time of roughly 43–45 minutes on a 100 kW station under ideal conditions. Independent tests typically show peak power in the 70–85 kW range, then a gentle taper. That’s not competitive with the latest 800‑volt EVs, but it’s perfectly workable if you’re doing a couple of road trips a year rather than living at DC fast chargers.
How this feels on a road trip
Where the Niro EV really shines is at home. With a Level 2 charger on a 240‑volt circuit, you can refill the battery from low state of charge to full overnight without thinking about it. That turns the Niro EV into a "full tank" commuter every morning, which is how most owners actually use their EVs.
Charging your Niro EV with Recharged’s help
Interior space, comfort and tech
Inside, the 2022 Niro EV feels more like a slightly tall hatchback than a full‑blown SUV, and that’s mostly a good thing. Seating position is upright enough for easy ingress and egress, but you’re not perched as high as in a RAV4 or CR‑V. Materials are sensible, if not luxurious, and Kia’s infotainment and driver‑assistance interfaces are among the most straightforward in this price class.
Interior highlights of the 2022 Niro EV
What stands out when you live with it every day
Space & practicality
The Niro EV offers adult‑friendly rear legroom and a usefully square cargo area. It’s not cavernous, but the load floor is low and the hatch opening is wide, making it easy to load strollers, groceries or bikes with the front wheel off.
Infotainment
Most 2022 Niro EVs feature a responsive touchscreen with smartphone integration and a mix of physical knobs and touch‑sensitive controls. It’s not flashy, but it’s intuitive, which matters more once the novelty wears off.
Comfort & noise
Ride quality skews toward comfort, and wind and road noise are well controlled for a compact crossover. Long commutes are relaxed, especially compared with noisier, lighter EVs on cheaper platforms.
Aging tech vs. newer rivals
Driving experience: ride and handling
On the road, the 2022 Niro EV is tuned first and foremost as efficient transportation, not a performance car. The instant torque off the line makes it feel livelier around town than its specs suggest, but Kia clearly prioritized comfort, predictability and range over theatrics.
What it does well
- Predictable, easy driving manners make it ideal for new EV drivers or households sharing between multiple drivers.
- One‑pedal driving via adjustable regenerative braking paddles quickly becomes second nature and is great in traffic.
- Compact footprint makes urban parking and tight garages less stressful than in bigger crossovers.
Where it falls short
- Front‑wheel drive only means torque steer if you floor it on slick surfaces, and there’s no all‑wheel‑drive option.
- Body control is more "family hatchback" than "sporty crossover", fine for everyday use, less fun on twisty roads.
- Modest top‑end power means highway passing requires a bit more planning than in more powerful EVs.
Kia’s first‑generation dedicated EVs like the Niro are honest about what they are: efficient, rational transportation appliances. That’s precisely why they make so much sense as used buys once the early‑adopter hype cycle has moved on.
Safety, reliability and battery health
By 2022, Kia had several years of experience with this basic battery and motor package. That maturity matters on the used market: widespread, systemic battery issues simply haven’t surfaced the way they did with earlier EV experiments from other brands. As always, individual cars can have problems, but there’s no evidence that the 2022 Niro EV is a high‑risk outlier.
- Strong crash‑test performance from the broader Niro lineup and a full suite of modern airbags
- Available advanced driver‑assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, lane‑keeping assist and automatic emergency braking
- Thermally managed battery pack that supports longevity better than air‑cooled designs
- No widespread pattern of catastrophic battery failures reported for this generation
Why battery health still matters
This is where tools like the Recharged Score battery health diagnostics become critical. When you buy a Niro EV through Recharged, you get a detailed, third‑party battery report, not just a guess based on dash‑displayed range, so you know how much usable capacity you’re actually buying.
Ownership costs and depreciation
If there’s a double‑edged sword with the 2022 Niro EV, it’s depreciation. According to major valuation guides, a 2022 Niro EV has lost well over half of its original value in about three years, with typical resale values in the mid‑teens and trade‑in offers even lower for average‑mileage examples. That’s painful if you bought new, but it’s exactly what creates opportunity for used buyers.
What depreciation means for you
Operating costs, on the other hand, are a strong point. The Niro EV’s efficiency keeps electricity costs low, tires and brakes are relatively conventional, and there’s no engine oil, timing belt or exhaust system to worry about. Insurance will depend heavily on your market and driving record, but generally sits closer to compact crossovers than high‑performance EVs.
How Recharged can help you capture the value
2022 Kia Niro EV vs key competitors
In the used‑EV landscape, the 2022 Niro EV most often gets cross‑shopped with the Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevy Bolt EUV, Nissan Leaf Plus and, for some buyers, entry‑level Tesla Model 3s and Ys. Each has a different set of trade‑offs.
How the 2022 Niro EV compares to popular alternatives
High‑level snapshot of where the 2022 Niro EV stands against other common used EV options.
| Model | Approx. EPA range | DC fast peak | Drivetrain | Key strengths | Key drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Kia Niro EV | 239 mi | ~75–85 kW | FWD | Efficient, practical, easy to live with; strong value on used market | Slower fast‑charging; no AWD; conservative styling and tech |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (1st gen) | 258 mi | ~75 kW | FWD | Slightly more range; similar powertrain; agile feel | Tighter rear seat and cargo space |
| Chevy Bolt EUV | 247 mi | ~55 kW | FWD | Often very affordable used; decent range; compact footprint | Slower DC charging; smaller interior; earlier Bolt battery recall history |
| Nissan Leaf Plus | up to 226 mi | ~50–100 kW (variant‑dependent) | FWD | Low prices; simple interior | Air‑cooled battery more prone to degradation; CHAdeMO fast‑charging limits station choice |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD (similar‑era) | ~250–270 mi | >170 kW | RWD | Fast charging on Supercharger network; strong software and efficiency | Sedan body style, not a hatch; higher used prices; firmer ride |
Exact specs vary by trim and year; always verify details for specific vehicles.
Who should choose the Niro EV over these rivals?
Is the 2022 Kia Niro EV a good used buy?
Viewed through a 2026 lens, the 2022 Niro EV is no longer the darling of EV YouTube thumbnails, but that’s precisely why it’s interesting. You’re buying into a mature, well‑understood platform after the biggest depreciation hits have already landed. For many commuters and small families, it slots neatly into daily life with minimal compromise.
- You want an efficient, compact crossover with enough range for a full day of mixed driving without mid‑day charging.
- You mostly charge at home and only occasionally use DC fast chargers for regional trips.
- You care more about predictability and low running costs than 0–60 bragging rights.
- You prefer a conventional cabin layout and easy controls over minimalist or experimental interfaces.
When it’s not the right choice
Buying checklist for a used 2022 Niro EV
Key checks before you buy a 2022 Niro EV used
1. Verify battery health
Ask for a <strong>formal battery health report</strong>, not just an impression based on the guess‑o‑meter. With Recharged, every Niro EV comes with a Recharged Score battery diagnostic so you can see remaining usable capacity and estimated real‑world range.
2. Review fast‑charging history
Heavy DC fast‑charging isn’t automatically a deal‑breaker, but repeated high‑power usage at high state of charge can accelerate degradation. If service records show constant road‑tripping, weigh that against the price and battery test results.
3. Check for software and recall updates
Confirm that any open recalls or important software updates, especially around battery management and driver‑assistance systems, have been performed. A Recharged transaction includes this kind of verification as part of the intake process.
4. Inspect tires and brakes
EVs are heavier and can be harder on tires. Uneven tire wear can hint at alignment or suspension issues. One‑pedal driving often means brakes wear slowly, but check for rotor rust if the car sat a lot.
5. Test all charging methods
During a pre‑purchase inspection, plug into both Level 2 and (if possible) DC fast chargers to ensure the car initiates and holds a session properly. Wiggle the charge port gently to check for looseness or past damage.
6. Evaluate driver‑assistance behavior
On a test drive, try adaptive cruise control and lane‑keeping assist on a familiar stretch of highway. Make sure the systems engage, disengage and alert as expected, glitches here can be annoying on a daily basis.
Streamlining this with Recharged
2022 Kia Niro EV FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the 2022 Kia Niro EV
The 2022 Kia Niro EV is the kind of car that looks better the more you think like an owner instead of a spec‑sheet racer. It’s efficient, easy to live with, and now significantly more affordable used than it was new. As long as you’re honest about your charging pattern and range needs, and you anchor the price to a verified battery‑health report, it can be one of the most rational EV purchases you can make in 2026. If that sounds like the right trade‑off, Recharged can help you find, evaluate and finance a Niro EV that fits your life.
