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Kia Niro EV vs Smart #1
Selected trim2 · 2022-26Change trim288 mi · 64.8 kWh · £34,995
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia Niro EV leads on running costs, while the Smart #1 leads on value for money and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Kia Niro EV if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.2p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Smart #1 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Smart #1 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueSmart
Kia
4.9
Smart
5.9
FamilySmart
Kia
4.7
Smart
5.4
Cost Per MileKia
Kia
3.5
Smart
1.9
City Driving
Kia
6.4
Smart
6
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Kia Niro EV
2
- 94 miles more WLTP range
- 162 litres more boot space
- 17 Wh/km more efficient
- 0.4 m tighter turning circle
Smart #1
Pure
- £5,035 cheaper
- 80 kW faster rapid charging
- 50 kW more power
- 1 more year of battery warranty
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £34,995 | £29,960 (better) |
| Official range | 288 miles (better) | 193 miles |
| Boot space | 475 L (better) | 313 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 30 min |
| 0-62 mph | 7.8 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
View:
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Kia Niro EV
Smart #1
Length
Kia Niro EV4,420mm
Smart #14,270mm-150mm
Width
Kia Niro EV1,825mm
Smart #11,822mm-3mm
Height
Kia Niro EV1,545mm-91mm
Smart #11,636mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,420 mm | 4,270 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,825 mm | 1,822 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,025 mm |
| Height | 1,545 mm | 1,636 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.6 m (better) | 11 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 575 mm spare | 578 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 475 L (better) | 313 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 976 L |
| Frunk | Not available | 15 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 0 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Kia Niro EV
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Smart #1
- At 4,270 mm, shorter than 90% of SUVs in our UK catalogue.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia Niro EV 2 |  Smart #1 Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.42m | 4.27m-150mm |
| Width | 1.82m | 1.82m-3mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.02m |
| Height | 1.54m | 1.64m+91mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.72m | 2.75m+30mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 475L (better) | 313L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 976L |
| Frunk | Not available | 15L |
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.6m (better) | 11m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,739kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 64.8kWh (better) | 49kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 288 mi (better) | 193 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 50kW | 130kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £34,995 | £29,960 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2022–2026 | 2023+ |
* Kia Niro EV: Heat pump: an option on the 3 and 4, not available on the 2.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 288 miles (better) | 193 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 194 miles (better) | 133 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 30 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 50 kW | 130 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW (better) | 7.4 kW |
| Energy consumption | 164 Wh/km (better) | 181 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 64.8 kWh (better) | 49 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | LFP |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7.8 sec | Not available |
| Power | 150 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 255 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | fwd | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Kia Niro EV
2
Smart #1
Pure
7.5/10
average across 4 reviews
- Electrifying.com9/10
- DrivingElectric3.5/5
- Top Gear7/10
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Kia Niro EV
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £16,530 | £22,900 |
| Average used price | £19,500 | £23,771 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 87 listings (better) | 10 listings |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 43.6% over ~6 months | Up 4.3% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Smart #1 Pure
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant96%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist88%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Kia Niro EV2 | Smart #1Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 7 years | 8 years (better) |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 201,168 km (better) |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Kia Niro EV
2
Owners love
- Efficient, with owners commonly seeing 3.5-4.5 miles per kWh
- Quiet, comfortable and easy to drive, with a useful i-Pedal one-pedal mode
- A bigger boot than the e-Niro, plus a small front storage compartment
Watch out for
- Rapid charging peaks at around 80 kW, slow next to newer EVs
- Winter range falls well short of the official figure, around 220-230 miles in real use
- The heat pump was an extra-cost option, and cars without it lose more range in winter
Owner tips
- Check whether the car has the optional heat pump if you do a lot of winter driving
- Keep motorway speeds around 60-65 mph when range matters
Smart #1
Pure
Owners love
- Owners describe a comfortable, quiet and planted drive, with a premium, well-built interior.
- Generous standard equipment for the money, including a glass roof, 360-degree cameras and, on Premium and BRABUS, a clear head-up display and Beats audio.
- The BRABUS is very fast, and even the single-motor car feels quick.
Watch out for
- Early cars often had sticky or faulty pop-out door handles, fixed under warranty.
- Some early cars developed a hum from the rear axle bearings or motor mounts, fixed with new parts under warranty.
- The Hello Smart app is widely criticised as unreliable, asking for repeated log-ins and showing wrong data.
Owner tips
- Check every door handle works properly on a test drive.
- Listen for humming from the rear at speed and ask whether bushes or bearings have been replaced.
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia Niro EV
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Smart #1
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Kia Niro EV
- £13,4052023Car360View
- £23,6502024Car360View
- £22,6412024Car360View
Smart #1
- £23,9992024Car360View
- £23,7712024Car360View
- £22,9002024EV ExpertsView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Niro EV worth the extra £5,035 over the Smart #1?
The Kia Niro EV costs £5,035 more than the Smart #1. For that premium it adds 94 miles more WLTP range, 162 litres more boot space and lower energy use, 164 versus 181 Wh/km. The Smart #1 is not just cheaper - it also offers 80 kW faster peak rapid charging and 50 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Smart #1 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Kia Niro EV or the Smart #1?
The Smart #1 is £5,035 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £176 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Smart #1 comes out roughly £4,915 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 194 miles for the Kia Niro EV and 133 miles for the Smart #1 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Kia Niro EV goes roughly 62 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Kia Niro EV or the Smart #1?
The two are within 3 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 578 mm of total clearance for the Smart #1 and about 575 mm of total clearance for the Kia Niro EV. The Kia Niro EV also turns in a 0.4 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia Niro EV or the Smart #1?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Kia Niro EV and 90% for the Smart #1. That gives the Smart #1 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Smart #1's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Kia Niro EV's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. The Smart #1 has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia Niro EV.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Kia Niro EV comparisons
More Smart #1 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Guide
Buying a Used Kia e-Niro or Niro EV: Which Is Which, Range, Warranty & What to Check
A used Kia e-Niro (2019-2022) and Niro EV (2022-on) buyer’s guide: telling them apart, 39 vs 64 kWh, trims, Kia’s 7-year warranty, drivetrain noise, heat pump, recalls, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Smart #1 (2023 on): Pro+, Premium or BRABUS & What to Pay
A used Smart #1 buyer’s guide: the 66 kWh Pro+, Premium and BRABUS and the later 49 kWh Pure and Pro, the seat belt recall, the short car warranty but 8-year battery cover, real-world range, what owners report and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .