Kia is equipping the Niro compact SUV with a fully electric drivetrain, with the longest-range version travelling almost 300 miles between charges.

Kia Niro EV

Previewed at an event in Korea ahead of its sales launch later this year, the Niro EV will be offered with the same choice of battery options as the Hyundai Kona Electric – offering capacities of 39.2kWh and 64kWh, offering a range of 150 miles and 236 miles respectively according to domestic-market data.

Kia Europe claims a range of almost 300 miles for the 64kWh battery – matching the Kona – but hasn’t revealed further details. Expect the drivetrains to be similar; the low-capacity battery paired with a 133bhp motor, while performance for the 64kWh unit rises to 202bhp. Hyundai is offering 100kW charging capability – twice the speed of today’s rapid chargers – enabling 80% of that range to be recovered in less than an hour, which is also likely to be shared between the two cars.

The Niro EV features a unique bodykit with deeper bumpers and side skirts, with aerodynamic 17-inch alloy wheels and a closed grille in which the charging point is located. European-market versions will be shown at the Paris Motor Show in September.

In the UK, the Niro EV joins a growing range of hybrid and electric vehicles.