Currently reading: Kia e-Niro: extra supply of upgraded EV for 2020

Korean firm tweaks popular electric SUV with new tech – and promises a "major ramp-up" in supply

Kia will introduce a raft of upgrades to the Kia e-Niro electric SUV for 2020 – and has promised a “major ramp-up” in supply of it and the new Soul EV.

The e-Niro went on sale in Britain earlier this year, but demand for the car greatly outstripped supply, with the entire UK provision selling out within weeks. Kia says that it has a 3000-strong waiting list for the EV, which offers around 280 miles of range.

For 2020, the e-Niro will be upgraded with new LED headlights and a revamped interior featuring a 10.25in touchscreen, ambient lighting and a new telematics system. It will cost £33,795 after the UK plug-in car grant, a £1000 rise on the 2019 model. 

The Korean firm says it has secured enough supply for the UK market to clear the existing waiting list in the first six months of 2020, “with even more supply promised” in the latter half of the year. Customers not on the existing waiting list will be able to order an e-Niro from July next year.

Kia has also confirmed the first deliveries of the new Soul EV will commence in April next year. The compact SUV, which went on sale in July, features the same powertrain and batteries as the e-Niro, and now shares a post-grant price of £33,795.

Kia’s UK boss, Paul Philpott, admitted the firm faced a “challenge” to meet the “unprecedented demand” for the e-Niro, but promised that “we are ready to meet customer demand for all-electric cars” in 2020.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Gadge 3 December 2019

Price

I think the price of the e-niro in the article is incorrect. It should be around £1000 higher

P8_FTO 4 December 2019

Price

I work for a Kia retail showroom and can confirm the OTR for the MY20 is £34,495 after the grant. (£37,995 before the grant)

This price is basic retail OTR cost and therefore only applies to standard colour choice. 

The Apprentice 2 December 2019

What is point of a preview

What is point of a preview button that shows a post nicely laid out as you intended, but as soon as you press the post button it removes it? really what is the point!

The Apprentice 2 December 2019

There were those on here that

There were those on here that foretold doom for Tesla when 'proper' car manufacturers with decades of experience making cars stepped up to the EV market. But what we are seeing is its just not that easy, most have either had to keep battery size modest or make expensive niche vehicles to limit demand. One of the biggest manufacturers in the world Kia (as partnered with Hyundai) launches a vehicle with both good range but not un-affordable and they simply can't build them even remotely quick enough. 7 months just to get a place on the waiting list let alone an actual car! Meanwhile Tesla are busy digesting their order book with considerable production. We are seeing lots of shiny things lately from other big manufacturers like VW but until we see them actually coming off the line in *quantity* and how they keep up with demand then its just that, motor show tinsel. Meanwhile I see more and more Model 3s on the road every day.