TV advertisements and car dealership lots are suddenly full of electric SUVs. As America’s automakers electrify their lineups, they’re starting with the vehicles Americans buy most. That means lots and lots of compact and midsize SUVs. 

Among them are a pair of versatile new entries, the Kia Niro EV and the Volkswagen ID.4. Either one could make a great entry to electric driving, but they each have different virtues. Let’s see how these two compare. 

The 2023 Kia Niro is one of the most versatile cars on the market. Kia sells it as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and a pure electric vehicle (EV). It blends the advantages of a hatchback and an SUV, providing easy-driving character and a big cargo hold in a package small enough to parallel park easily in a tight gap. It was once a forgettable-looking car, but a redesign that gave it the option of a unique two-tone color scheme has made it noticeable. Prices start at $39,550. 

Kia Niro EV Highlights 

You’ll like the way your car looks: Funny how one styling change can make someone much more attractive. The Niro was once a car you might describe as “eh…a car.” Now, it looks kind of cool. The difference? The new Niro boasts raised air vents at the C-pillars called “aero blades.” They’re technically functional as air vents, helping reduce wind noise. But they also look cool, particularly when painted in a contrasting color from the rest of the bodywork. You can get the Niro painted in a solid color if you prefer. 

Upscale cabin: Designers are leaning into clean, modernist looks for their EVs, but Kia’s team has outdone itself. The Niro’s cabin looks great, with a dual-screen display housed in a single bezel to look like one big, curved screen. Available metal pedals lend it a stylish edge. 

The longest warranty in the business: Kia gives its vehicles a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That provides financial predictability for longer than most manufacturers, including Volkswagen. 

Volkswagen’s first EV, the ID.4, is also an electric SUV straddling the line between compact and midsize. It boasts excellent safety scores and, though its base price seems similar to the Kia’s, it qualifies many buyers for tax incentives not available on the Niro. It has a range of up to 275 miles between charges. Pricing starts at $38,995. 

Volkswagen ID.4 Highlights 

Uncle Sam may help you buy it: The starting prices of these two cars are just $555 apart. But the functional difference is much bigger for many buyers. A U.S. government program gives buyers (subject to income limits) a tax rebate of up to $7,500 on the purchase of some EVs and not others, depending on where they’re built and where certain parts originate. The ID.4 qualifies. The Niro EV does not. So, for many buyers, the VW is more than $8,000 less expensive. 

Clever ID. Light system: We’re suckers for cute. The ID.4 has one of the cutest technologies found in any 2023 car. It’s a thin strip of LEDs mounted high on the dashboard so that it’s in the driver’s peripheral vision. It pulses from side to side to give turn-by-turn directions, shows the battery’s state, and even flashes in front of the driver or passenger when they give a voice command (to show who it’s listening to). In an age when screens can demand too much attention, it’s both a subtle interface and a bit of personality that ID.4 drivers tend to enjoy. 

More cargo space without folding the seats: EV designs tend to give more cargo space than gasoline-powered cars, thanks to their lack of a transmission tunnel. These two have similar space with the seats folded, but the ID.4 has a more cargo room when all seats are in place — 30.3 cubic feet vs. the Niro EV’s 22.8. If you take road trips with rear-seat passengers, that might make it worth a test drive. 

Similarities 

The 2023 Kia Niro EV and 2023 VW ID.4 are similar in size, similar in price (if you don’t qualify for the tax credit), and similar enough in range that day-to-day charging is largely the same between the two. Curiously, they also boast the same exact horsepower from their base models. 

Conclusion 

Either of these would make a great way to transition to EV ownership. The 2023 Kia Niro is stylish inside and out and carries the industry’s best warranty. It’s a good jack-of-all-trades car with a dash of flair from its new design. The Volkswagen ID.4 looks a little more boring outside but has personality inside and may be drastically cheaper if your income qualifies you for federal EV tax credits.