JKW

Cheers for that Lucky pants - both meters seem to be working fine, although I'm delaying whether to switch to Octopus Go at this time. For the amount it's currently costing me using my wall box (£10 after 2 months & 480 miles) it's hardly worth the effort to switch (thanks to Tesco free chargers) , plus I've got solar panels so come the summer even charging at home should be cheap during daylight. Hopefully next year with more chances to drive, my charge requirements may alter & so I'll reserve my options to switch, but until then I'll stick with my Fixed 2 Year Tariff.

Well, 7 weeks ownership of my Kia e Niro and now feel "qualified" to state it's GREAT ! Over the initial 300 miles of use (limited for obvious reasons), and it has cost just £7.13p , approximately £30 less than my Karoq would have cost for the same mileage. I have taken advantage of the free to use Tesco / Pod Point chargers and used my home wall box twice (standard tariff), hence the £7 bill ! Mileage now is greater, but haven't topped up yet so latest figures not available. I'm with Octopus & have discovered they've a much cheaper tariff so will be swapping to it soon. The car itself is also great ; I'm overall VERY impressed with both the quality and driving experience, my thoughts of "What have I done ??" during the waiting delivery time now totally banished and I would recommend the Kia to anyone contemplating, as I did, a "time to change". Best wishes to all, stay safe & stay well.

Thanks for that - confirmed all that I thought was fact.

Done !!

In response to johnboy999 & MJ1's request for an update / review of my e Niro, here goes ; I still find the whole experience impressive, although still finding out something new every day ! The car has great acceleration, runs smoothly and quietly, is seemingly very well built with, in spec 4+ trim, every possible "toy" I could wish for. Almost a month in now, less than 250 miles covered but apart from the £3.16p spent when testing my wall charger, my costs have been NIL (thanks Tesco & Pod Point !). I plug in when out shopping, & once completed, unplug to find any mileage covered prior has been replaced. I've decided that now I know the score, to let the battery run down to about 60% before charging again (from home this time) as advice seems to be keeping the high power battery between 60-80% as the ideal. I'll still use Tesco's but maybe alternate chargers between theirs & home. Space inside is plentiful, but the boot is smaller than the Karoq's was - loads of decently sized cubbys in the cabin and under the boot "floor" (where the charging cables reside) but no spare wheel, which I regret. I've always carried out weekly checks on every car I've had, but the e Niro only needs tyres ( screen shows each wheels pressure anyway) and windscreen wash check ups. I've got full maintenance / servicing in my lease agreement but am wondering what service they'll need to do ( no oils, anti freeze, filters etc) !?! Probably just an inspection I reckon - even the brakes shouldn't need attention as the re gen braking (very effective in both slowing down whilst re charging the battery) means I can practically come to a stop without touching the brake pedal. The car rides the broken tarmac of our scarred roads much better than the Karoq ever did ( I didn't have DCC fitted) and the range is equally impressive - I don't think I need fear range anxiety with this car, it will easily do 250 miles even in winter it seems ( mine shows 276 miles on leaving Tesco). The quality inside is good too, JBL infotainment system is spot on, and the DAB radio does not drop out like the Karoq's did quite often ! The Karoq DID have a CD player and more importantly, an SD Card slot for my music collection - the e Niro has neither, although does play through a USB memory stick, so all is not lost ( even displays music video on the screen !). Fit n finish seem great, no rattles or panel gaps inside or out, and the quality of the materials inside seem good to me. So overall, am I happy with the eNiro? Most definitely, and whilst it's still early days, I reckon I'll remain so. If there's anything I've missed reporting on, or you have any Q's, please feel free to ask - I'll keep looking into the Karoq forum for a while yet - Stay safe & stay well. JKW

I've leased it direct from Kia, who have ADL as their finance arm. Because I took it over 4 years (3 for the Karoq), I'm paying about £10 per month LESS than the Karoq cost me, ( I did reduce my mileage projection), and that includes the full maintenance package ( puncture repairs / replacement tyres, 4years RAC cover etc). I did shop around (Car Wow, Select Leasing) but found the Kia deal the best overall. Incidentally, despite having taken delivery of the car a week ago, I've not paid a penny for it yet - ADL don't want anything until the 20th and my £500 deposit was refunded by the dealership on the collection day !

Pod point wall charger installed today, a brilliant job done. The tethered cable is 7.5 metres long & easily reaches the connection point at the front of the car ( I prefer reversing into my drive). Just had to test it !! I needed 83 miles to top up fully, & despite being a damp, dismal day with minimal solar power, it cost £3.16p in total. Petrol cost approx £10 for that mileage, therefore about £7 saving already ! I know it's an expense to get the car, wall box etc, but in my humble opinion, as I was due to change cars anyway, it's well worth it, PLUS, I'm helping save the planet !!

Phil245 - Yep, current mileage 250 miles per MONTH, because a) I'm retired so no commuting, & b) current Covid restrictions curtail much of the travel we used to do such as meals out & retail therapy ! Once the pandemic situation is resolved I still only envisage a monthly average of approx 400 miles, so my running costs will be minimal, probably £20 at most compared to the Karoq's petrol cost of about £50 plus. Over my 4 year lease that's quite some saving in addition to a) having an even better car than the Skoda IMO, & b) doing my bit to save the planet LOL ! E-Roottoot - I'm already with Octopus, and after my Pod Point wall charger is hopefully installed tomorrow, will look further into my options with them - we have solar panels so sunny days might even produce free charging too ! With regards Tesco free charging stations, I see them regularly in use with vacant ones always available ( at present anyway - being retired I can choose the best times to visit). You mention needing plenty of time needed to re charge at Tesco's ( it would only be for a quick top up needed anyway), you've not seen how much time my missus takes when out shopping !!

Thanks guys - I will certainly provide a review / views of my Kia. I've been getting it organised today, re- stocking (!?!) it with stuff I always carry around, plus installing my radar detector & dashcam whilst hiding the cables under the trim etc. First thoughts ; great build quality, unsure about the view outside from the front which divides opinion that's for sure; the "toys" are a revelation, from the heated steering wheel to the drivers seat automatically moving rearwards when you open the door which eases egress, yet returns to the correct position when getting back in, to the spacious interior, and the boot is a good size too with loads of cubby space under the boot floor. The touch screen has a multitude of items that I've yet to fully explore. No spare wheel in the Niro which is a shame, just a compressor & "gunk kit" so not even a jack or wheel brace provided either. Only very limited driving done as yet, but as soon as things allow, I'll provide more info, but so far so very good, even re charging at the free Pod Point Chargers at Tesco's is a doddle, although I'm getting my home charger installed on Monday if all goes to plan. With a realistic 250 mile range on a full charge, once per month (about £8 ) should do me, costing FAR less than my Karoq did, which itself was pretty good doing about 40mpg on average. Anyway, more to follow as things develop........

After 3 Skodas ( 2x Octavias & 1x Karoq), ALL 3 giving faultless service and having been great transport, I've opted to go all electric with a Kia e Niro in 4+ spec. At the time of ordering details on the Enyaq were sketchy, with a starting price of £40k without options being mooted, so that was out of the question for me. I know its a lot less now, but too late, I've just taken delivery of the fully specced e Niro and so far very happy. My Karoq , in immaculate condition was returned to Skoda today via BCA ( it was on lease like the Kia is) therefore its goodbye from me, with best wishes to you all, and onto another motoring adventure !

Agreed Mark - Surrey, but the projected £40k starting price before any options ( like paint !! ) put me off !

Thanks all for the responses - having seen the way petrol is creeping up in price again, and having given huge thought to all the pro's & con's of each car, certainly weighing up the running costs too, I've now veered more to the e Niro. In spec 4+ it has everything I could possibly want, the local dealership has grovelled their apologies after I'd let rip, and have offered me a really good deal. The car itself has been given excellent reviews in the motoring media & on You Tube video clips, getting many awards, so I feel confident in placing an order. There's a minimum 6 months lead time, but that suits me as I'll be much closer to the end of my current Skoda lease, & so if I have to terminate early much less to repay Skoda Finance who, incidentally, I have found very helpful over the years.

I have no need to tow so that fact, interesting as it is, has no relevance for my choice ta. What IS relevant is that Kia Dealer 3 , despite promises to email answers to my questions ( once they've found them out ! ) & prices, have failed miserably to do so after 2 fuĺl days since my visit to their premises. Having had 3 Skoda's I'm just not used to such poor service !! Still looking for someone with experience of DCC on a Karoq to enlighten me !

My Q regarding DCC is because my current Karoq , Edition version, has 19" wheels as standard and the ONLY (slight) criticism is the ride comfort on our pock marked roads, so I was therefore considering DCC to hopefully improve things. I've read all about the benefits, but there's nothing like a users personal experience to confirm its usefulness- any takers ? The Kia has a real world electric range of 250 miles, plenty enough for my motoring needs these days, probably one or two charges a month would suffice, but despite the eNiro in 4+ spec having even more toys than the Karoq, my recent experience with their dealerships gives me cause for concern. I'm in no rush, but at the moment I'm veering more towards another Karoq, with or without DCC.