KIA Niro EV vs Hybrid - Which is the best taxi for you?
The Kia Niro is a great choice for taxi drivers, offering a range of powertrains and ample space for passengers. In this article, we’re comparing the Kia Niro EV with the Kia Niro Hybrid. Read on to find our Kia Niro review and discover which one is best for you or your taxi business.
Table of Contents
1. Benefits of having a KIA Niro EV or Hybrid as a taxi
2. KIA Niro EV vs Hybrid – Driving differences
3. KIA Niro EV vs Hybrid – Running cost comparison
4. KIA Niro EV vs Hybrid – Safety and technology
5. KIA Niro EV vs Hybrid – Design differences
1. Benefits of having a Kia Niro EV or Hybrid as a taxi
The Kia Niro gives you the option to drive fully electrically or with the added help of a petrol engine. There are three models to choose from including the Kia Niro EV, Kia Niro Hybrid, and Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid.
Whichever model you choose for your taxi, you can benefit from a spacious SUV design with plenty of space for both passengers and luggage. You can also lower your taxi emissions and your running costs.
If you drive longer journeys such as airport runs, the Kia Niro Hybrid gives you the reassurance of a petrol engine without any range anxiety. Whereas the Kia Niro EV is an ideal choice for stop/start city driving.
2. Kia Niro EV vs Hybrid – Driving differences for Taxi drivers
With the Kia Niro EV, you can enjoy a pure electric driving range of up to 285 miles (WLTP). The equivalent of driving from London to Brussels! It also offers fast charging times with a 10-80% charge taking only 45 minutes.
Whereas the Kia Niro Hybrid features a 1.6 litre hybrid petrol engine and offers a small electric range. The self-charging hybrid uses regenerative braking to capture energy lost from slowing down or braking. This is then stored in the battery for future use.
3. Kia Niro EV vs Hybrid - Running cost comparison for taxi drivers
The Kia Niro EV is efficient with low running costs. Until 2025, all electric vehicles are exempt from road tax. But from 1st April 2025, any new registered EVs will pay £10 for the first year and move to the standard annual rate from the second year.
With the Kia Niro Hybrid, you can expect to achieve around 61.4 - 64.2mpg. As it's a self-charging hybrid, there's no need to worry about paying to charge your taxi. By comparison, the Kia Niro plug-in hybrid offers a pure-electric driving range of up to 40 miles and achieves up to 353mpg.
Find out more about understanding the different types of hybrid vehicles.
4. Kia Niro EV vs Hybrid – Safety and technology for taxi drivers
Whether you choose the Kia Niro EV or hybrid as your taxi, both benefit from the same technology and safety features.
Kia Connect Services makes navigating traffic a breeze, helping you find the fastest route using real-time data. It also gives you an estimated time of arrival to keep your passengers informed and happy on the journey.
Inside the cabin of all three models, you can benefit from cable-free charging in the front. As well as fast USB charging and USB-C charging points throughout for all passengers to use on their journey.
In the Kia Niro EV, you can also use Kia Connect Services to locate your nearest charging station.
The DriveWise Advanced Driver Assistance Systems helps you stay focused and informed on the road. This is included as standard across the Kia Niro EV, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid range.
Features include:
Highway Drive Assist
Make motorway driving effortless and maintain your distance from the vehicle in front. The system also ensures you drive in the centre of the lane. As well as controlling steering, acceleration, and deceleration.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
Get an audible or visual warning if any vehicles are in your blind spot to avoid a collision.
Parking-collision-Avoidance Assist Rear
Enjoy peace of mind when reversing and get an alert if any pedestrians or objects are in your way.
5. Kia Niro EV vs Hybrid – Design differences for taxi drivers
The driving position of the Kia Niro EV is slightly higher due to the battery placement under the floor. This offers a greater view of the road ahead normally found in larger SUVs. The underfloor battery creates an extra 20 litres of space under the bonnet. This is as well as the spacious 475-litre boot capacity, ideal for picking up passengers with luggage.
Inside the Kia Niro EV, there are a few design differences to the hybrid. Instead of the standard gear lever, a rotary controller is used to control the gears. There’s also no handbrake, with a park button located in the middle of the circular gear dial. You’ll also find no rev counter, with range and battery charge displayed instead.
Externally there aren’t a lot of differences between the Kia Niro EV and hybrid. The Niro EV features a smooth panel instead of a front grille to make it more aerodynamic. This is also where the charging point is located.
With the Kia Niro Hybrid, there is a front grille to draw cool air into the engine’s radiator.
Interested in upgrading to the latest Kia Niro EV or hybrid? At The Taxi Centre, we have a wide range of New Kia Niro taxis for sale.
We have flexible finance options available to make buying a new taxi more affordable. With a Hire Purchase agreement, you can tailor your deposit amount and agreement term. Monthly payments will stay the same each month as it’s a fixed interest agreement.
If you still need some extra help deciding which model is best for you, contact our expert team who will be happy to assist.