Alex has pulled ahead of other you tube reviewers, preparation, presentation all first class. No obsession over key fobs and no girly giggling during acceleration runs
Alex takes his reviews quite seriously and does his homework. His desire to never pander but take on potentially controversial subjects stands out compared to other CZcams content creators.
You are definitely the most objective and thorough car reviewer out there. It's hard to get a grasp on how these newer EVs stack up against each other since most reviewers are either biased towards ICE or EV, or they simply lack the knowledge about the cars. The amount of clickbait videos about EVs that contain very little information, mostly wrong or misinterpreted is astounding.
So as I said in the video, the "$35K Model 3" was originally planned to have a software limited battery capacity dropping range to 220 miles. This did *NOT* happen. The $35K Model 3 turned out to be a SR+ with a lower price tag. The window sticker (which is required to be correct) shows a range of 240, the car shows a range of 240 when full, and we verified the actual capacity of the battery pack is 50kWh which is what is claimed for the Model 3 SR+. Our real world range in the Model 3 SR came in at 190-195 miles. This is when using *100%* of the battery, not 90%. If you only charge to 90% your range will be 175 ish.
@@jimbo5635 He stated in the review that the Bolt and Kona are classed a size smaller. The Niro, Leaf and Model3 are all the same EPA size class. He was attempting to give apples-to-apples comparisons or it would have simply become ridiculous. A later 3-way review of the Bolt, Kona and SoulEV might be interesting; but the Kona and Soul are basically the same platform with different bodies.
@B. Allen he states clearly in the video that they simply couldn't get a loaner Bolt in time to include in this video. But at several times references and discusses the Bolt.
For my dollars, the KIA takes it. If we're comparing to recent years, the KIA will certainly have the longest expected reliability out of all three. Paired with KIA's warranty, I think it's a solid choice. Plus all of that space in the vehicle.
I’d take the Leaf after carefully scrutinizing your excellent commentary. Mostly because of the much lower purchase price. Im a “working man” and every little bit saved helps out the overall budget a lot! In addition, I suspect the Leaf would be perfectly serviceable for real world commuting duties. I like the Niro but again, it comes down to price and the type of driving I would likely end up doing which is commuting about 20-25 minutes mostly on an expressway to and from work. Thx for the excellent review Alex!
I just bought a Bolt EUV but the Leaf and Kia were both on my short list. The issues I had with the Leaf were the air cooled battery as I was worried about decreasing range over time which is a well known issue with Leafs. While I don't plan on doing many road trips (I also have a Volt for road trips), the Chademo charging was also a little bit of a concern. The Bolt also is not great at fast charging. I also found on the used market, prices of Bolts were more in line with the shorter range Leaf which wouldn't work as well for me in the Atlanta area where it seems like we have to drive long distances to get anywhere. Tesla prices on the used market were also somewhat higher and I was able to get my loaded EUV for about the same price as the base Model 3 standard range. My wife is also a technophobe so I don't think she would be comfortable doing things on the screen in the Tesla and she needs to drive the car pretty often.
almost a year later and this video only has 85000 views? I dont understand it, Alex is by far the best car reviewer I have ever seen. Very knowledgeable, very comprehensive, seems to not have any biases. This dude should be getting a lot more love from youtube!
A fair and honest review. I would like to add that if you take one road trip with any of these vehicles, you will never want anything except a Tesla. The Superchargers are a godsend. The screen also tells you how many chargers are available before you get there. The dc chargers are usually just a couple of chargers for any given area and you have no idea if they are being used until you get there. You also have no idea how much longer the car will be charging. A nightmare scenario whenever that happens and it happens far too often.
If I go on a roadtrip I'll take my 2004 Volvo V70. Superchargers for it are never more than a few miles apart and it only takes about 3 minutes to recharge. On the highway it gets about 400 miles per charge, 500 to dead empty. Electric cars should only be about commuting.
@@Jackdiddlydo Hi Jack: If you were making a 300 to 600 mile weekend road trip which would be the better choice; EV or my Volvo V70? If I'm making a 50 mile commute to work 6 days a week and own a home, which is the best choice? I'm not trying to save the world here, just make a decision based on the facts of my own situation.
@@ngneer999 Agreed. Best to use the right tool for the task at hand. EV's currently are best at commuting. They can be used for road trips, but ICE/Hybrid cars are currently better.
I vote for the Niro. More practical design, better heating/cooling options and a network of service centers instead of depending on the rather cavalier Tesla service system.
@@pandorakid229 What are you talking about? A lot of super chargers work just fine here in Canada. It's not like you will get full rate after getting close to full. All tesla is trying to do is create a monopoly with their superchargers. Standardization creates more opportunities to adopt.
@@pandorakid229 Can confirm. I have a Kona EV, and I think the Kona EV may rightfully be *the* best "budget" EV ever made to date, but when you're on the public CCS system you have a random hodgepodge of chargers made by different manufacturers, and many of them have reliability issues. All of Tesla's other faults not withstanding, they actually care about their charging network, they maintain it and keep it in tiptop condition. The notion of a "charging network" is totally alien to most auto manufacturers, who are used to third-parties providing fossil fuel for cars, and this is the reality for me. I love my Kona EV to death, but I think it's fair to say Tesla is very invested in the success of EV's, far more than other manufacturers who only have one foot in the water. I have my hopes on VW and Electrify America/Canada, as these are the best non-tesla chargers I've seen to date in terms of quantity/reliability. I will gladly pay for a superior charging experience over a frustrating experience with crappy "free" chargers that eat my time instead of my money.
Using a smaller window of capacity (ex:10%-90%,20%-80%, etc), for daily use (which is quite doable for the vast majority of people), will apparently extend battery life (ie do less damage than running from 0%-100%). If looking for real world examples to support this, I believe comparing data from first gen Chevy Volt (where the useable battery window is fairly extreme, roughly only 60%(ex:20%-80%) being usable in EV mode) vs the 2015&16 Spark EV (both contain LG cells), which had very high battery capacity utilization (~18kwh of 19kwh or ~95% (2.5%-97.5% useable), shows that lower utilization equals less wear/damage/capacity loss/whatever we want to call it. I concede they aren't apples to apples comparisons, but I think by most accounts, this is true.
@@thelondonbroiler If you want real world examples of this, consult people living with off-grid power systems. They'll tell you the difference depth of discharge makes to battery lifespan.
I’ve owned a Model 3 and Y (both LR AWD). Sold them both and just recently bought a Niro EV. Yes, the Teslas were much more sporty and fast, but overall comfort in both was fairly stiff. Infotainment in the Teslas is not as good as the Kia, especially with the Harmon Kardon system. It’s a great system. Though I loved the sound system of the Tesla, no apple car play was a big downer…you can’t go wrong with either; we’ll see how the Kia Niro is after a year of ownership!!
Excellent comparison! I chose the Kia Niro EV. The hatch fits my lifestyle and the quality is first-rate. It was worth the wait. Nicer than our Q5, and the Infiniti I traded for the Niro EV. Love it!
My husband kept urging me to watch this video. I'm glad I did. It is exceptionally informative, frank, and offers great educational value. I really appreciate your expertise. Thanks.
Why can’t more journalists be like this, be fair with the Tesla and if you don’t like something about it just say it. If you think it’s best at something, say that too! Great work!
Personally I felt like he was really dancing carefully around the Tesla. So much praise for its efficiency when it's second, and not a close second (relative to third). I dunno. Seemed real weird to me.
Good overall review. It’s great having more EV options. For those commenters who are saying it’s a dumb idea to go EV, you clearly haven’t tried one before. The advantages of electric are innumerable and have to be experienced to understand. A few of the biggest include never going to a gas station, no engine noise, being able to run climate control without turning an engine on (so even in an enclosed space such as a garage), smooth acceleration, no emissions testing, so little maintenance (no oil change/filter, spark plugs, timing belts/chains, alternators, fuel pumps, catalytic converters, mufflers, tail pipes; very rare brake pad replacement, since you don’t use friction braking much), and overall better for the environment for most consumers (pollution and greenhouse gas emissions both). For most people, these advantages far outweigh the issues you might be fearing (range anxiety, charging inconveniences, road-tripping, battery longevity worries). I’ve owned two Tesla vehicles and two Leafs, and they’re my favorite cars of all time for good reason. You do a good job of laying out the pros and cons of each for real world use. I would have also included safety (at least crash ratings) ratings and think having free over-the-air software updates is a big boon for Tesla, which is worth a mention given the improvements to date since Model 3 was released. Analogous to fit and finish and battery “tech,” one would also suppose that Tesla has the best track record for battery longevity/reliability, Nissan the worst, and Kia (and others) no data to evaluate. And lastly, as some others have pointed out, one might wonder about Tesla’s financial future, although I suspect there are enough Tesla fans and backers to preserve the company should the financial issues persist. And lastly, your review puts a lot of emphasis on practicality. You even award Kia an extra point to make it a tie, but depending on one’s priorities, this may be an invalid comparison. Personally, I think the exterior and interior look and driving experience of a car are worth more than one point each, and on these measures I think the Model 3 base version is an absolute steal compared to the other two.
Great review. I wish you had done a cost analysis on charging while using public networks versus Tesla Superchargers. Seems for long road trips, the Tesla is the winner, but for in city driving, the Kia is a good choice.
Awesome comparison Alex. Thank you for such a professional wonderfully informative and interesting video. We chose to go with the Nissan Leaf SV model however. My husband and I are both retired and we simply need it for day to day travel around the area. Any long distance travel will be done in our 2012 Honda Civic. Now the price. In Canadian dollars we paid about $40k for a 2019 off the lot Leaf. That was including the $5000 federal government rebate and the $8000 Quebec government rebate. Which lowers the cost by $13.000. A significant amount less than the Tesla 3. With a lot of the nice features of a more upscale vehicle. For our use, needing occasionally large cargo space (and yes I fit a BBQ from Lowe's into the back of it last week), ease and efficiency and price point the Leaf won. On top of the rebates for buying a new electric car the Quebec government also gives a $600 rebate that you have to submit paperwork for and get a cheque sent to you. They will give us $350 for the cost of a 240V charger at your home (or business) and $250 for the cost of an electrician to install the unit in your home. So, yes pleased as punch with our new Leaf. Perfect car, perfect price for us.
How is your range? Do you get the EPA 325? Alex's model 3 SR results looks really disappointing. It's almost 50 miles off from the EPA. While competition is mostly spot on.
@@prettysheddy SR+ is 240 miles of rated range. His should have been much less, sounds like they didn't update the displayed range. He probably should have purchased an SR+ anyways, since it's closer to the Kia's base price, and still under 40K.
@@prettysheddy Range is accurate and predictable on the Model 3. It's on full display as you drive. Since 2013, I've owned a Fit EV, Soul EV and Bolt. Always a guessing game based primarily on driving style and temp. There's something not right about this part of the review, just unscientific I guess. Tesla will guide you and consult on where and how to drive if/when range is an issue. The value of the Supercharger network was mentioned, but the average non-tesla owner wouldn't walk away understanding it completely.
Yeah, the 3 is almost like a sports car. I do wish it had a hatchback. That's the Y, but so far away. But I can't see spending $38k on the Kia, just sounds high.
@@nofurtherwest3474 The Kia is a lot cheaper than the tesla and higher trim levels of the hyandai and kias also have heat pumps for heating. Updates won't give you that. Physical features matter.
@@AFlyingCookieLOL If the M3 had a hatchback and more ground clearance, I would have bought it instead of the Kona EV. In most respects, it's a better car, but they failed on a few points of practicality. To be fair, it makes sense, as the Tesla M3 is geared to be a BMW coupe competitor, not a competitor for hatchback CUV's. Tesla knows what their market is.
Had a 3 for 2 years, just sold it and bought a Niro because my cars sit at the airport all week long so I could no longer justify the extra cost of the Tesla. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Kia in every way so far.
Alex is known for his thorough, information packed reviews. I browse around 50 automotive review sites so I'm sometimes asked by family and friends what I consider the best source for someone actually seeking purchase advice about a particular vehicle. No question it's Alex on Autos. As someone who spent years composing lectures for students that seek to convey as much information as possible in a digestible lecture format, I'm in awe. It's the Khan Academy of automotive reviews. And this particular example surpasses even Alex' usual high standards. Some viewers will complain that the Tesla reviewed here shortchanges the brand. What about all the additional options, innovations, and trim levels Tesla offers, they'll say. But that misses the point of this review and the marketplace in general. The EV market will not grow by appealing primarily to those already committed to electric vehicles and willing to pay an initial purchase price of $50K+. It will expand by being cross shopped with ICE vehicles and hybrids and priced around the average of new cars in 2019, about $37,000. For those consumers Alex focuses on many of the most important features of these vehicles and provides a great introduction to some of the more esoteric details such as differences in charge options, the impact of ambient temperature on vehicle range, and even true overall range, figures that are sorely missing from most EV reviews. What would I choose if I were shopping today? Despite my respect for all that Tesla has accomplished, it would be the KIA Niro though personally I'd wait for the Soul EV. The Tesla is undeniably tempting but I doubt I could resist adding bells, whistles, range extensions, and performance features that would drive the price far beyond $40K. And as frustrating as it often is to negotiate with a dealer I haven't reached the point of preferring to purchase a vehicle as I order kitchen supplies from Amazon. Further, living in Washington state I don't have to eliminate KIA and Hyundai from my shopping list. But all in all, I think anyone interested in seeing EV's flourish should applaud all these (and other) manufacturers putting investments into the market. Competition is good and the more choices available the more consumers will consider them. And that's good for everyone and the earth, itself.
If comparing costs right now, the Standard Range plus with the $3750 tax credit makes it almost spot on your $37,000 mark. It is far and above better than the Standard Range that they have limited so heavily. As a general EV fan, it is awesome to see all these new entries though. Tesla was always the spark needed to make change. They have succeeded in that more than can be stated.
Just checked out your work history and saw that you're President of an MSE/Failure analysis company. Very cool! I'm in MSE myself, so it's always fun seeing anyone in the field out and about.
We currently own the first generation Nissan LEAF (2011). We are going to replace it very soon. I was originally leaning to replace it with a new LEAF plus, but now considering a Niro EV. We are going to try one out tomorrow. What keeps me from Tesla, I’ve heard too many maintenance problems associated with it.
Excellent work Alex; I feel so much more prepared for the future now! Efficiency, charge standards, charge times, and real world range are going to be the language of the very near future. Bravo to you for having such a strong grasp of this!
As an owner of both a Model 3 and a PHEV Kia Niro, the Model 3 is so much more enjoyable to drive. All of our road trips are done in it vs the Niro. Insurance was only about $100/y more, and the Niro went back to the dealership 3x more times (all covered by warranty).
@@ZlatkoUnger You should probably edit the original comment to say it's the PHEV. Everyone reading will assume it's the EV because that's what the video was about. Also, mad respect to you for doing road trips in an EV. I would have range anxiety.
I've been itching to drive a Niro EV since I heard they were doing a full electric version when I was working at a Kia dealer and drove the regular Niro. It's an extremely compelling vehicle for those of us that would like to go Electric and the pricing isn't even that crazy, compared to a similarly equipped Niro hybrid. Practicality is there, even if it's lacking the *cool factor* of the Model 3, so if you're a pragmatic type, it's a better buy. I can't lie, I'd rather have the 3, but hatchback Niro means I stuff my bike in the back and make supply runs to the store without having to play cargo Tetris
Niro can't really be purchased because production volume is so low. They try to spin it as incredible demand, but the issue is low production due to battery shortages. They can't build more even if they wanted to. So, dealerships price gauge on the few they have which makes the purchase price uncompetitive even with the "luxury" brand Telsa Model 3.
Honest & great review. Too many ppl are technology fan boys/girls and dont give enough weight to the practical aspects and costs. Unfortunately here in NZ the Kai is the same price as the model 3 ($74~76kNZD) making the choice really hard.
Awesome review, been waiting for this comparison for a long time since I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these cars in the next couple of weeks. The decision point for me is availability, can't really find the Kia in NY, NJ, PA so I'm probably going to end up with the Tesla, which is the short term fashionable choice, the long term practical choice is the Kia which just isn't available. Question, one thing I'd like to know, what are your thoughts about leasing vs buying either of these cars?
Maybe you get the 3, hang onto it, and get the Y if you want more practicality. I think model Y is going to be a great buy at about the same price of the Niro.
@@FSAPOJake Thanks for the tip, ended up buying a M3 today, Alex pushed me over the edge, couldn't wait any longer. The Kona is "snug" compared to the Niro-EV, the space difference is noticable especially in the front seat and back seat leg room, otherwise they are almost identical and a very satisfying ride.
I chose the LR AWD M3 over the Niro for the AWD (For the winter snows), really wished it was a hatch back like it's big brother but the M3 trunk is big for sedan. I really like the Niro, followed and read/watched everything about that car, didn't think they would be available in PA but while on my first week of M3 ownership (the grace period for no questions return) I got a call from Kia dealers in NJ that there were Niro's in stock, (which in a few days sold out) - I told the guy I was loving my M3 too much, and didn't bother with the test drive. The M3 is the most amazing car I've ever driven, the AWD is like a rocket, at any speed if you open it up, it's just goes, it leaves everything (most things) behind, it's really shockingly quick. It also feels really solid on the road, handles great, I love the one foot driving, I'm happy with the strong regen, it's really a point 'n squirt, regen brake for 99% situations, corner on rails then you're off again super car. I have a forward facing kid seat and he has good room for his legs, don't drive fast with him in it, but he giggles when I overtake. There are a lot of Tesla haters on the road, get a lot of mean/dark looks. we're not rich, we took a big loan, got a tax return and help from family to get it, I think people assume you're a rich dxxk, maybe, I don't know, and I really don't get all the Tesla haters. I'm also getting much better efficiency than reported here, miles/kWh (in the M3 thats Wh/mile ) than Alex gets, on a easy driving school run with 45-50 mph max I can get 190wh/mi (5.26Mi/kWh) fairly easily, one drive recently (granted lots of downhill sections) i averaged 148Wh/mi (6.76Mi/kWh)!! but my overall average is 230Wh/Mi (435Mi/kWh) which is still much more than Alex got with his m3...just saying not sure why his m3 Mi/kWh efficiency was so low. Anyway I have no regrets, wish the car was a little more invisible, all the attention is annoying, but it's a beautiful, sleek, fast, efficient car! - Oh and we live in a Condo so i have to drive 15 miles once a week or so to a SC to refuel.
Fantastic review. Your single reviews are veeerry thorough. This was a nice change though. Still thorough but skipping some details and hitting the major differences. Fantastic work.
While I disagree with the battery cooling win being a tie between Tesla and Kia (Tesla's battery tech which individually cools each cell is *way* better than Kia's cooling tray) I applaud your thoroughness in the review. :)
todd baker drivetrain wise they are approximately equal. As far as everything else goes, Kia hands down. Nissan is pretty good but the warranty is shorter than the Kia.
Sony KDL50W800C I have my doubts about that but we will see! Not being the best build quality and not being completely honest with range mileage of the batteries, I would be a little leery!
shedrick s, I agree with you! I always have doubts with a car company that get billions of dollars from United States government through grants or bailouts and says this is next big thing. Even today tesla is loosing money faster than they are making it! Sound like another true story of DeLorean to me!
You also should mention model 3 has over the air update Alex. This hugely sets itself apart from all competition. As it also gives regular new features thru Ota!
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Dog Mode, Sentry Mode, dash cam... Likely more options to come as they are imagined and deemed worthy of coding into an active feature.
Alex on Autos Alex, not true, updates not limited on autopilot. For instance, my model S without autopilot also got frequent upgrade , got improved UI, navigation, dog mode, games, better BMS software...can’t remember all
Great review, i would choose the Niro as it seems superior to the rest overall and balanced between the two in other area.. it would make a practical repayment to my gas vehicle.. The Tesla is definitely fun.. but i have had fun vehicles before and they suite more of a weekend drive than run to the grocery store or a high way cruise into the next town.. plus the issues with parts and repairs get old and frustrating real quick..
Great video as always. For me it's no contest. With Kia's much higher build quality and vastly better warranty it's cost of ownership will be far lower than the other 2 over time.
@@SonyKDL50W800C Difficult to make long distance trips in ANY EV. If you're buying a car for long distance, gas cars can be refueled in minutes. No EV's even begin to compare.
It's obvious that you have never made a long distance trip in a Tesla. A Tesla car needs half an hour from 0% to 80% on a V2 supercharger. Once it has reached 80%, you should go - since the supercharging becomes too slow. Since you normally don't arrive with 0% battery, the average wait is about 20 minutes. While you are waiting for the charge, you can go to the bathroom/eat lunch etc. With good planning, you will not waste any time. V3 superchargers, once deployed, will make charging twice as fast (for the current Model 3s and future versions of Models S/X).
Sure, tesla does have certain routes covered while other EVs would have hard time going the same routes, but not necessarily all long distance trips. It could be a factor, but I doubt that would become a major factor in purchasing one of these cars.
Interesting to compare Kia Niro EV vs Tesla Model Y both with heat pump option in real world range, practicallity, also compared using ratio dollar price per real life mile of range in real winter both in California slight winter and Minnesota real winter where I see plenty of Model 3 driving around.
I know you left off AP because it costs more, but this is something that can be added later by the owner or the 2nd owner with an OTA update. If the RT network happens that is a huge deal as to how much your Tesla is worth vs the Niro. You should have included it as a “bonus”.
Excellent review. It's so good to see an EV comparison where the actual $35k Model 3 is present. I only wished tax incentives were discussed more during the price comparison, as it greatly influences the total cost-to-own aggregate, and there large difference in tax incentives among those cars.
Get the Kia if you want a hatchback. Get the model 3 if you want performance, supercharger network, looks, safety and over the air updates. Every Tesla comes with their custom super computer chip. This gigantic screen has video games, dog mode, sentry mode, dash cam and standard range plus comes with autopilot standard. Thanks for the in-depth comparison!
I love the consistency between videos. Covering the same subjects in roughly the same order on all cars. It was so seamless and consistent that I had a couple double takes during the drive segments. My single quibble is he reviewed the Premium EX trim, but used the price of the EX trim on the Niro. It’s 5,500 difference in options. And he praised things on the Niro that are not available on the base EX. Similar shots can be fired about using the price of the Tesla SR even though it has they weird SR+(ish) features. This is even further compounded by the fact that Tesla keeps jacking with the price and features of the entire lineup on an (almost) daily basis.
Nice comparison review. Couple suggestions when comparing EVs in the future. Please note the outdoor temperature because it has a large effect on battery efficiency (even with climate control off). Also be sure to properly inflate the tires. As an example, I saw in your original Bolt EV review, you had the tires inflated to only 35-36 (recommended is 38) and outdoor temperature was 67. In this comparison review, the temperature looked to be as high as 82 on the Tesla and tire pressure was also much higher.
GREAT comparison, thanks Alex! I wish they were making the Hyundai Kona in significant numbers (& it was available in AZ), I really prefer its looks over the Niro and Leaf. Agree with you that Model Y at a similar price is the top choice.
Another great review! The Niro isn’t an option here in Missouri, but I would have strongly considered it if it was. It would be between the Model 3 and the Niro for me as well.
Yes the software gets updated frequently for a car, but in the base model without auto pilot, this is less of an issue since Tesla hasn’t been focused on additional features or functions for the basic features. The charging updates apply to the bigger pack, most of the other updates refer to auto pilot which this car does not have.
Great info, as usual . . . the Niro wins for me as I emphasize different criteria and I think differently; for example, I find the Tesla to be a little on the ugly side, and I love the CUVish look of the Niro. - I watched the EV video even though I have no intention of buying an EV . . . A plug-in hybrid would be my ultimate preference, and the Niro is high on my list.
Great review, only thing i was missing was the chapter on crash safety. I know I am an oddball but to me safety is #1, when i get hit by a drunk driver I want my kids to be in the safest car available. I can fix a paint job and I can live without most stuff, but I cant resurrect my girls if they die in a crash.
The answer here is easy. We don't know which is safer since the Tesla has bet to be IIHS tested and the Kia has yet to be HNTSA tested. So you're comparing a 5 star rating on one side with Top Safety Pick + on the other and those tests aren't the same. Both cars are very, very safe. Which is safer? We won't know until the same rating agency has tested both. We do know however that the IIHS has said that due to the Model 3 headlamp design it is ineligible for Top Safety Pick + status.
How did you measure the battery capacity? I have an SR+, I usually charge from 40 to 80% and my math shows that it's 54kWh. On perfect conditions I do get the expected range of 240 at 225Wh/mile. I do agree that 240 miles of range us an oversell however, unlike the long range models which achieve the estimated range at 250WH/mile
We got the battery down to 5% then plugged it into an evse with a meter and recorded the power used. Assuming a 1-2% loss which is pretty standard the battery is right around 50kWh. Tesla has confirmed that there is just the one small pack so this is the same as your pack.
It’s worth noting that 225wh/mile would only yield 220 miles. You’d need to get down to 200wh/mile to get 240, but I have not see anyone that low. The average of 30+ SR+ owners that emailed in is 330 wh/mile
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Hmm. I have certainly not charged it down to 5%, but my KWh consumed from chargepoint app (from 40 to 80%) scaled linearly to 100% gives 54kWh. Not sure how believable it is, but here is a leaked PDF from reddit about it showing 54.4KWh (last page): iaspub.epa.gov/otaqpub/display_file.jsp?docid=46584&flag=1 .
@@AAutoBuyersGuide With a new LR AWD, so far with spirited driving i'm averaging 230wh/mi - But I can easily hit 200wh/mi or less on local roads, this is with fair weather conditions granted...but I thought the SR+ was even more efficient not sure why you're averaging 260wh/mi - using this site to convert.... codepen.io/FalconFour/full/dgVQGE/
About the range of the Tesla. The energy use looks very high. Are you using the brakes when you're driving the Tesla? It doesn't use regen if you use the brake pedal. You need to put regen in Standard and then only use the gas pedal. On highway only the model 3 will definitely have the best range!
Filip Bjurling I think he drove too fast... for my multiple range test around the Bay Area, from east bay, Benicia to Halfmoon bay, Newark and back the range is what is stated. I start with 216 miles at 90% and always has 40 miles left
@@AAutoBuyersGuide So you had regen on Standard during the test? Also were the outside temperatures the same when testing these vehicles? I own a Model 3 AWD and in normal driving, on >60 degree days, I get the rated range on the dot.
Think I'd take the Kia. The ride and noise in the Tesla would be a deal killer, plus the parts issues (availability problems and you can't even install a part yourself), plus the extra insurance costs, plus the shitty paint and build-quality, plus the shorter warranty, plus the too-aggressive-regen would probably drive me nuts.
Your Model 3 range results should not go unquestioned. That's too different from EPA and the experience of other M3 owners to be normal. I'd love to see an episode where you discover the issue - either with the car or your range testing methods.
Actually, they are almost identical to the EPA score. The Model 3’s combined average is 133 MPGe which translates to 3.9 miles per kWh and we got 3.85 miles per kWh which is essentially the same.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide I appreciate your efforts here. How can the EPA rate 133 MPGe translating to 190 miles while at the same time the EPA rated range is 240? The sticker shows 25 kW-hr per 100 miles which is only 200 miles on a 50 kWh battery.
For those that don't get the big picture with Tesla, 50kw battery is 50kw. No way are you going to make up a 10kw deficit with 45psi tires to match 60+kw battery range with the other cars.
@@pepstein believe it or not, kW can be considered shorthand for kW*h since that is what is implied. Remember a Watt by definition is [energy per unit of time] so time is already implied in the term. I tend to use kW to reference total capacity and kW/h as a rate of power measurement over time. The confusion lies in Watt having a measurement of time built-in. So yes you can stick with only kW*h and be correct when talking car batteries etc.
@@pepstein As soon as you cite real-world examples of kW*s or kW*min used in everyday applications I will only use kW*h until then I don't have issues using kW as a stand alone term. I was incorrect in using kW/h.
Would definitely go with the Kia. Bigger trunk door, in my opinion much more preferable interior, but also external design and longer range. And of course 400$+ per year for insurance is lot. What would also interesting to me is light/visibility in the dark and options for seats (adjustable seat base length and side bolsters, would not buy one without anymore).
My problem with the Kia is, if you're going for a Niro EV, why would you take it over the regular non-EV Niro for half the price? It's like buying an EV Corolla for double the price of a regular Corolla.
One thing Alex never says about the Telsa is that the infotainment screen is one of the hardest to navigate and not intuitive...difficult to change regular settings like radio and A/C. After a while that's going to grate on your nerves I'd think. Also no AM, no Apple integration?! Of the three, Kia would have to be the way to go.
@Alex some Model 3 SR were delivered in SR+ configuration and later downgraded via SW update - that is why you had 240 miles of range on the sticker. Your actual range is 220 miles. You can test this by driving both your SR and someone in SR+ next to each other on a highway (starting with 100% full pack) - you will run out +-20 miles before the other car.
Alex, great review as always. Are these batteries just as efficient after 3 to 5 years of constant use? How do these cars behave in frigid cold climates?
Price mainly as Alex alluded to. Should be able to get one of these in the mid to upper $20ks after incentives. Where I live, there is more Chademo than CCS adapters. Finally if you dont live in a desert climate and don't require more than one fast charge per day, the passive cooling will be a non-issue for its owners.
I have an older Leaf... I'd never buy one again due to no support for the battery. 50k miles and it's lost almost 20% of the range and $8500 for a new battery. I paid just barely more than that for the car when I got it 3 years ago.
Alex has pulled ahead of other you tube reviewers, preparation, presentation all first class. No obsession over key fobs and no girly giggling during acceleration runs
Alex takes his reviews quite seriously and does his homework. His desire to never pander but take on potentially controversial subjects stands out compared to other CZcams content creators.
pedro fernandez lmao 😂😂😂😂 😜🔴line
Redline traaaaaaaaaaaaash lol
@@stevensmith5784 That seems a bit harsh
Very well researched
WOW! That's the best comparison review I've ever seen in the last 20 years. Extremely complete, accurate, and helpful. Alex you are the man!!
Absolutely concur! Best ever, fairly done. Extremely helpful!
You are definitely the most objective and thorough car reviewer out there. It's hard to get a grasp on how these newer EVs stack up against each other since most reviewers are either biased towards ICE or EV, or they simply lack the knowledge about the cars. The amount of clickbait videos about EVs that contain very little information, mostly wrong or misinterpreted is astounding.
So as I said in the video, the "$35K Model 3" was originally planned to have a software limited battery capacity dropping range to 220 miles. This did *NOT* happen. The $35K Model 3 turned out to be a SR+ with a lower price tag. The window sticker (which is required to be correct) shows a range of 240, the car shows a range of 240 when full, and we verified the actual capacity of the battery pack is 50kWh which is what is claimed for the Model 3 SR+.
Our real world range in the Model 3 SR came in at 190-195 miles. This is when using *100%* of the battery, not 90%. If you only charge to 90% your range will be 175 ish.
Wait a min Alex what you mean is they didn't limit range the standard range mileage? It's same as plus?
Wow thanks for the testing.
No Bolt. You did compare all the cars is this segment. I was forced to give this video a thumbs down for this reason.
@@jimbo5635 He has reviewed the Bolt and could have included portions from that review into this video to include in the comparison.
@@jimbo5635 He stated in the review that the Bolt and Kona are classed a size smaller. The Niro, Leaf and Model3 are all the same EPA size class. He was attempting to give apples-to-apples comparisons or it would have simply become ridiculous. A later 3-way review of the Bolt, Kona and SoulEV might be interesting; but the Kona and Soul are basically the same platform with different bodies.
Damn thorough review. You can tell Alex did his research/homework. Kudos!
Nobody understands cars better than Alex.
Alex has made an entire video review of the Bolt EV.
Nothing there?
Here is the review:
czcams.com/video/lWDBnthRBh0/video.html
@B. Allen he states clearly in the video that they simply couldn't get a loaner Bolt in time to include in this video. But at several times references and discusses the Bolt.
Allen's an idiot. Lol
For my dollars, the KIA takes it. If we're comparing to recent years, the KIA will certainly have the longest expected reliability out of all three. Paired with KIA's warranty, I think it's a solid choice. Plus all of that space in the vehicle.
I’d take the Leaf after carefully scrutinizing your excellent commentary. Mostly because of the much lower purchase price. Im a “working man” and every little bit saved helps out the overall budget a lot! In addition, I suspect the Leaf would be perfectly serviceable for real world commuting duties. I like the Niro but again, it comes down to price and the type of driving I would likely end up doing which is commuting about 20-25 minutes mostly on an expressway to and from work. Thx for the excellent review Alex!
I just bought a Bolt EUV but the Leaf and Kia were both on my short list. The issues I had with the Leaf were the air cooled battery as I was worried about decreasing range over time which is a well known issue with Leafs. While I don't plan on doing many road trips (I also have a Volt for road trips), the Chademo charging was also a little bit of a concern. The Bolt also is not great at fast charging. I also found on the used market, prices of Bolts were more in line with the shorter range Leaf which wouldn't work as well for me in the Atlanta area where it seems like we have to drive long distances to get anywhere. Tesla prices on the used market were also somewhat higher and I was able to get my loaded EUV for about the same price as the base Model 3 standard range. My wife is also a technophobe so I don't think she would be comfortable doing things on the screen in the Tesla and she needs to drive the car pretty often.
Kia Niro for me!
almost a year later and this video only has 85000 views? I dont understand it, Alex is by far the best car reviewer I have ever seen. Very knowledgeable, very comprehensive, seems to not have any biases. This dude should be getting a lot more love from youtube!
A fair and honest review. I would like to add that if you take one road trip with any of these vehicles, you will never want anything except a Tesla. The Superchargers are a godsend. The screen also tells you how many chargers are available before you get there. The dc chargers are usually just a couple of chargers for any given area and you have no idea if they are being used until you get there. You also have no idea how much longer the car will be charging. A nightmare scenario whenever that happens and it happens far too often.
If I go on a roadtrip I'll take my 2004 Volvo V70. Superchargers for it are never more than a few miles apart and it only takes about 3 minutes to recharge. On the highway it gets about 400 miles per charge, 500 to dead empty. Electric cars should only be about commuting.
ngneer999 If burning dirty Dino’s are your thing...ICE is your game...electric is lame.
@@Jackdiddlydo Hi Jack: If you were making a 300 to 600 mile weekend road trip which would be the better choice; EV or my Volvo V70? If I'm making a 50 mile commute to work 6 days a week and own a home, which is the best choice? I'm not trying to save the world here, just make a decision based on the facts of my own situation.
@@ngneer999 Agreed. Best to use the right tool for the task at hand. EV's currently are best at commuting. They can be used for road trips, but ICE/Hybrid cars are currently better.
Don't act so pious about burning gas, 63% of our electricity in this country is produced by burning fossil fuels.
Such a high level, excellent reporting of those three EV dynamics, eclipsing any other CZcams auto reviews by far. 👏🏼
I vote for the Niro. More practical design, better heating/cooling options and a network of service centers instead of depending on the rather cavalier Tesla service system.
@@pandorakid229 What are you talking about? A lot of super chargers work just fine here in Canada. It's not like you will get full rate after getting close to full. All tesla is trying to do is create a monopoly with their superchargers. Standardization creates more opportunities to adopt.
I think you have it pegged with your reasoning.
@@pandorakid229 Can confirm. I have a Kona EV, and I think the Kona EV may rightfully be *the* best "budget" EV ever made to date, but when you're on the public CCS system you have a random hodgepodge of chargers made by different manufacturers, and many of them have reliability issues. All of Tesla's other faults not withstanding, they actually care about their charging network, they maintain it and keep it in tiptop condition. The notion of a "charging network" is totally alien to most auto manufacturers, who are used to third-parties providing fossil fuel for cars, and this is the reality for me. I love my Kona EV to death, but I think it's fair to say Tesla is very invested in the success of EV's, far more than other manufacturers who only have one foot in the water. I have my hopes on VW and Electrify America/Canada, as these are the best non-tesla chargers I've seen to date in terms of quantity/reliability. I will gladly pay for a superior charging experience over a frustrating experience with crappy "free" chargers that eat my time instead of my money.
I honestly thought I would never want a Kia in my entire life. I guess times have changed!
The Kona and Niro 64KWh are the actual usable capacity, their batteries are larger than 64KWh. You can run them 100%-0% without damaging the battery.
so true. leaf cant.
Using a smaller window of capacity (ex:10%-90%,20%-80%, etc), for daily use (which is quite doable for the vast majority of people), will apparently extend battery life (ie do less damage than running from 0%-100%).
If looking for real world examples to support this, I believe comparing data from first gen Chevy Volt (where the useable battery window is fairly extreme, roughly only 60%(ex:20%-80%) being usable in EV mode) vs the 2015&16 Spark EV (both contain LG cells), which had very high battery capacity utilization (~18kwh of 19kwh or ~95% (2.5%-97.5% useable), shows that lower utilization equals less wear/damage/capacity loss/whatever we want to call it. I concede they aren't apples to apples comparisons, but I think by most accounts, this is true.
@@thelondonbroiler If you want real world examples of this, consult people living with off-grid power systems. They'll tell you the difference depth of discharge makes to battery lifespan.
I’ve owned a Model 3 and Y (both LR AWD). Sold them both and just recently bought a Niro EV. Yes, the Teslas were much more sporty and fast, but overall comfort in both was fairly stiff. Infotainment in the Teslas is not as good as the Kia, especially with the Harmon Kardon system. It’s a great system. Though I loved the sound system of the Tesla, no apple car play was a big downer…you can’t go wrong with either; we’ll see how the Kia Niro is after a year of ownership!!
Excellent comparison! I chose the Kia Niro EV. The hatch fits my lifestyle and the quality is first-rate. It was worth the wait. Nicer than our Q5, and the Infiniti I traded for the Niro EV. Love it!
My husband kept urging me to watch this video. I'm glad I did. It is exceptionally informative, frank, and offers great educational value. I really appreciate your expertise. Thanks.
Why can’t more journalists be like this, be fair with the Tesla and if you don’t like something about it just say it. If you think it’s best at something, say that too! Great work!
Personally I felt like he was really dancing carefully around the Tesla. So much praise for its efficiency when it's second, and not a close second (relative to third). I dunno. Seemed real weird to me.
Good overall review. It’s great having more EV options. For those commenters who are saying it’s a dumb idea to go EV, you clearly haven’t tried one before. The advantages of electric are innumerable and have to be experienced to understand. A few of the biggest include never going to a gas station, no engine noise, being able to run climate control without turning an engine on (so even in an enclosed space such as a garage), smooth acceleration, no emissions testing, so little maintenance (no oil change/filter, spark plugs, timing belts/chains, alternators, fuel pumps, catalytic converters, mufflers, tail pipes; very rare brake pad replacement, since you don’t use friction braking much), and overall better for the environment for most consumers (pollution and greenhouse gas emissions both). For most people, these advantages far outweigh the issues you might be fearing (range anxiety, charging inconveniences, road-tripping, battery longevity worries). I’ve owned two Tesla vehicles and two Leafs, and they’re my favorite cars of all time for good reason.
You do a good job of laying out the pros and cons of each for real world use. I would have also included safety (at least crash ratings) ratings and think having free over-the-air software updates is a big boon for Tesla, which is worth a mention given the improvements to date since Model 3 was released. Analogous to fit and finish and battery “tech,” one would also suppose that Tesla has the best track record for battery longevity/reliability, Nissan the worst, and Kia (and others) no data to evaluate. And lastly, as some others have pointed out, one might wonder about Tesla’s financial future, although I suspect there are enough Tesla fans and backers to preserve the company should the financial issues persist.
And lastly, your review puts a lot of emphasis on practicality. You even award Kia an extra point to make it a tie, but depending on one’s priorities, this may be an invalid comparison. Personally, I think the exterior and interior look and driving experience of a car are worth more than one point each, and on these measures I think the Model 3 base version is an absolute steal compared to the other two.
This is the best car review I've ever seen on youtube. Even the "serious" ones don't reach the ankles of this one. Thanks!
I've been waiting for a categorized comparison of these three cars. You nailed it!
I believe the leaf has a heat pump option as well.
Kia Niro is my pick.
Exceptional comparison. I'm now interested in the Niro
Great review. I wish you had done a cost analysis on charging while using public networks versus Tesla Superchargers. Seems for long road trips, the Tesla is the winner, but for in city driving, the Kia is a good choice.
Awesome comparison Alex. Thank you for such a professional wonderfully informative and interesting video. We chose to go with the Nissan Leaf SV model however. My husband and I are both retired and we simply need it for day to day travel around the area. Any long distance travel will be done in our 2012 Honda Civic. Now the price. In Canadian dollars we paid about $40k for a 2019 off the lot Leaf. That was including the $5000 federal government rebate and the $8000 Quebec government rebate. Which lowers the cost by $13.000. A significant amount less than the Tesla 3. With a lot of the nice features of a more upscale vehicle. For our use, needing occasionally large cargo space (and yes I fit a BBQ from Lowe's into the back of it last week), ease and efficiency and price point the Leaf won. On top of the rebates for buying a new electric car the Quebec government also gives a $600 rebate that you have to submit paperwork for and get a cheque sent to you. They will give us $350 for the cost of a 240V charger at your home (or business) and $250 for the cost of an electrician to install the unit in your home. So, yes pleased as punch with our new Leaf. Perfect car, perfect price for us.
I have the LR RWD Model 3, easily the best car I’ve ever owned.
How is your range? Do you get the EPA 325? Alex's model 3 SR results looks really disappointing. It's almost 50 miles off from the EPA. While competition is mostly spot on.
@@prettysheddy SR+ is 240 miles of rated range. His should have been much less, sounds like they didn't update the displayed range. He probably should have purchased an SR+ anyways, since it's closer to the Kia's base price, and still under 40K.
Same here 🤜🏼🤛🏼
@@prettysheddy Range is accurate and predictable on the Model 3. It's on full display as you drive. Since 2013, I've owned a Fit EV, Soul EV and Bolt. Always a guessing game based primarily on driving style and temp. There's something not right about this part of the review, just unscientific I guess. Tesla will guide you and consult on where and how to drive if/when range is an issue. The value of the Supercharger network was mentioned, but the average non-tesla owner wouldn't walk away understanding it completely.
@@stevenday2067 so your saying he should gotten somewhere closer to the EPA rating?
We need more of these comparisons.
Great video, Alex. It was obviously a lot of work, and very dense with useful info.
Best comparison review on CZcams of EV. Thank you for all your effort in making an exceptional comparison video.
Niro EV, I have real world cargo needs that a Model 3 doesn't meet.
Yeah, the 3 is almost like a sports car. I do wish it had a hatchback. That's the Y, but so far away.
But I can't see spending $38k on the Kia, just sounds high.
@@nofurtherwest3474 The Kia is a lot cheaper than the tesla and higher trim levels of the hyandai and kias also have heat pumps for heating. Updates won't give you that. Physical features matter.
@@AFlyingCookieLOL If the M3 had a hatchback and more ground clearance, I would have bought it instead of the Kona EV. In most respects, it's a better car, but they failed on a few points of practicality. To be fair, it makes sense, as the Tesla M3 is geared to be a BMW coupe competitor, not a competitor for hatchback CUV's. Tesla knows what their market is.
Had a 3 for 2 years, just sold it and bought a Niro because my cars sit at the airport all week long so I could no longer justify the extra cost of the Tesla. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Kia in every way so far.
The best most thorough review on electric cars I’ve seen, thank you
Alex is known for his thorough, information packed reviews. I browse around 50 automotive review sites so I'm sometimes asked by family and friends what I consider the best source for someone actually seeking purchase advice about a particular vehicle. No question it's Alex on Autos. As someone who spent years composing lectures for students that seek to convey as much information as possible in a digestible lecture format, I'm in awe. It's the Khan Academy of automotive reviews. And this particular example surpasses even Alex' usual high standards.
Some viewers will complain that the Tesla reviewed here shortchanges the brand. What about all the additional options, innovations, and trim levels Tesla offers, they'll say. But that misses the point of this review and the marketplace in general. The EV market will not grow by appealing primarily to those already committed to electric vehicles and willing to pay an initial purchase price of $50K+. It will expand by being cross shopped with ICE vehicles and hybrids and priced around the average of new cars in 2019, about $37,000. For those consumers Alex focuses on many of the most important features of these vehicles and provides a great introduction to some of the more esoteric details such as differences in charge options, the impact of ambient temperature on vehicle range, and even true overall range, figures that are sorely missing from most EV reviews.
What would I choose if I were shopping today? Despite my respect for all that Tesla has accomplished, it would be the KIA Niro though personally I'd wait for the Soul EV. The Tesla is undeniably tempting but I doubt I could resist adding bells, whistles, range extensions, and performance features that would drive the price far beyond $40K. And as frustrating as it often is to negotiate with a dealer I haven't reached the point of preferring to purchase a vehicle as I order kitchen supplies from Amazon. Further, living in Washington state I don't have to eliminate KIA and Hyundai from my shopping list. But all in all, I think anyone interested in seeing EV's flourish should applaud all these (and other) manufacturers putting investments into the market. Competition is good and the more choices available the more consumers will consider them. And that's good for everyone and the earth, itself.
If comparing costs right now, the Standard Range plus with the $3750 tax credit makes it almost spot on your $37,000 mark. It is far and above better than the Standard Range that they have limited so heavily.
As a general EV fan, it is awesome to see all these new entries though. Tesla was always the spark needed to make change. They have succeeded in that more than can be stated.
@@raisethereef Kia has heat pumps and multiple regen levels and cost LESS.
Alex is always on point with his reviews. Glad he’s not partial towards Tesla as other reviewers. Very detailed and thorough comparisons.
Outstanding comparison, Alex, thanks.
Really good and comprehensive review, for practical folk like me!
Just checked out your work history and saw that you're President of an MSE/Failure analysis company. Very cool! I'm in MSE myself, so it's always fun seeing anyone in the field out and about.
We currently own the first generation Nissan LEAF (2011). We are going to replace it very soon. I was originally leaning to replace it with a new LEAF plus, but now considering a Niro EV. We are going to try one out tomorrow. What keeps me from Tesla, I’ve heard too many maintenance problems associated with it.
Excellent work Alex; I feel so much more prepared for the future now! Efficiency, charge standards, charge times, and real world range are going to be the language of the very near future. Bravo to you for having such a strong grasp of this!
As an owner of both a Model 3 and a PHEV Kia Niro, the Model 3 is so much more enjoyable to drive. All of our road trips are done in it vs the Niro. Insurance was only about $100/y more, and the Niro went back to the dealership 3x more times (all covered by warranty).
At highway speeds say 70 mph which is more efficient if you can remember
Do you have the Niro EV or the Hybrid/PHEV?
@@RobitNinja PHEV
@@larryspiller15 I would think that it's the Tesla.
@@ZlatkoUnger You should probably edit the original comment to say it's the PHEV. Everyone reading will assume it's the EV because that's what the video was about.
Also, mad respect to you for doing road trips in an EV. I would have range anxiety.
I've been itching to drive a Niro EV since I heard they were doing a full electric version when I was working at a Kia dealer and drove the regular Niro. It's an extremely compelling vehicle for those of us that would like to go Electric and the pricing isn't even that crazy, compared to a similarly equipped Niro hybrid.
Practicality is there, even if it's lacking the *cool factor* of the Model 3, so if you're a pragmatic type, it's a better buy. I can't lie, I'd rather have the 3, but hatchback Niro means I stuff my bike in the back and make supply runs to the store without having to play cargo Tetris
Niro can't really be purchased because production volume is so low.
They try to spin it as incredible demand, but the issue is low production due to battery shortages. They can't build more even if they wanted to.
So, dealerships price gauge on the few they have which makes the purchase price uncompetitive even with the "luxury" brand Telsa Model 3.
Honest & great review. Too many ppl are technology fan boys/girls and dont give enough weight to the practical aspects and costs. Unfortunately here in NZ the Kai is the same price as the model 3 ($74~76kNZD) making the choice really hard.
You forgot the smartphone app where you can preheat/cool the car or enable sentry mode.
On the Niro and the leaf you only get that capability for free for a limited period after buying. Not sure about the Tesla.
@@Boomer.Roberts The Tesla app is forever.
Awesome review, been waiting for this comparison for a long time since I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these cars in the next couple of weeks. The decision point for me is availability, can't really find the Kia in NY, NJ, PA so I'm probably going to end up with the Tesla, which is the short term fashionable choice, the long term practical choice is the Kia which just isn't available.
Question, one thing I'd like to know, what are your thoughts about leasing vs buying either of these cars?
Maybe you get the 3, hang onto it, and get the Y if you want more practicality. I think model Y is going to be a great buy at about the same price of the Niro.
@@FSAPOJake Thanks for the tip, ended up buying a M3 today, Alex pushed me over the edge, couldn't wait any longer. The Kona is "snug" compared to the Niro-EV, the space difference is noticable especially in the front seat and back seat leg room, otherwise they are almost identical and a very satisfying ride.
Your wrong.. long term there is no comparison ( your lucky your accidentally making the right choice)
I chose the LR AWD M3 over the Niro for the AWD (For the winter snows), really wished it was a hatch back like it's big brother but the M3 trunk is big for sedan.
I really like the Niro, followed and read/watched everything about that car, didn't think they would be available in PA but while on my first week of M3 ownership (the grace period for no questions return) I got a call from Kia dealers in NJ that there were Niro's in stock, (which in a few days sold out) - I told the guy I was loving my M3 too much, and didn't bother with the test drive.
The M3 is the most amazing car I've ever driven, the AWD is like a rocket, at any speed if you open it up, it's just goes, it leaves everything (most things) behind, it's really shockingly quick. It also feels really solid on the road, handles great, I love the one foot driving, I'm happy with the strong regen, it's really a point 'n squirt, regen brake for 99% situations, corner on rails then you're off again super car.
I have a forward facing kid seat and he has good room for his legs, don't drive fast with him in it, but he giggles when I overtake.
There are a lot of Tesla haters on the road, get a lot of mean/dark looks. we're not rich, we took a big loan, got a tax return and help from family to get it, I think people assume you're a rich dxxk, maybe, I don't know, and I really don't get all the Tesla haters.
I'm also getting much better efficiency than reported here, miles/kWh (in the M3 thats Wh/mile ) than Alex gets, on a easy driving school run with 45-50 mph max I can get 190wh/mi (5.26Mi/kWh) fairly easily, one drive recently (granted lots of downhill sections) i averaged 148Wh/mi (6.76Mi/kWh)!! but my overall average is 230Wh/Mi (435Mi/kWh) which is still much more than Alex got with his m3...just saying not sure why his m3 Mi/kWh efficiency was so low.
Anyway I have no regrets, wish the car was a little more invisible, all the attention is annoying, but it's a beautiful, sleek, fast, efficient car! - Oh and we live in a Condo so i have to drive 15 miles once a week or so to a SC to refuel.
Fantastic review. Your single reviews are veeerry thorough. This was a nice change though. Still thorough but skipping some details and hitting the major differences. Fantastic work.
Although a little late to view this review, it was the best comparison I have seen! A lot of very useful information! Thank You Alex! :)
While I disagree with the battery cooling win being a tie between Tesla and Kia (Tesla's battery tech which individually cools each cell is *way* better than Kia's cooling tray) I applaud your thoroughness in the review. :)
Fantastic - I was torn between the i3, Model 3 and Niro and this video was very helpful!
Awesome video. Next question will be reliability.
todd baker drivetrain wise they are approximately equal. As far as everything else goes, Kia hands down. Nissan is pretty good but the warranty is shorter than the Kia.
Teslas ared designed for 1,000,000 miles.
Sony KDL50W800C I have my doubts about that but we will see! Not being the best build quality and not being completely honest with range mileage of the batteries, I would be a little leery!
@@ndg9367 I'm starting to feel effy on the Model 3 and my wife and I were planning on getting one. This review has given me lots of doubt...
shedrick s, I agree with you! I always have doubts with a car company that get billions of dollars from United States government through grants or bailouts and says this is next big thing. Even today tesla is loosing money faster than they are making it! Sound like another true story of DeLorean to me!
We have had the 40kw leaf 2 for 1 year Perfect city car this week we take of the long range model 3. Because 400miles in a leaf are a real adventure
Great stuff Alex
But you miss on the most important metric;
To find the veichle range you need to run it until it stops.. 100-0(or less)
👍🇳🇴
You also should mention model 3 has over the air update Alex. This hugely sets itself apart from all competition. As it also gives regular new features thru Ota!
That’s less of a deal with the base model. No auto pilot means most of the updates over the last 18 months didn’t effect this model
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Dog Mode, Sentry Mode, dash cam... Likely more options to come as they are imagined and deemed worthy of coding into an active feature.
Alex on Autos Alex, not true, updates not limited on autopilot. For instance, my model S without autopilot also got frequent upgrade , got improved UI, navigation, dog mode, games, better BMS software...can’t remember all
Great review, i would choose the Niro as it seems superior to the rest overall and balanced between the two in other area.. it would make a practical repayment to my gas vehicle.. The Tesla is definitely fun.. but i have had fun vehicles before and they suite more of a weekend drive than run to the grocery store or a high way cruise into the next town.. plus the issues with parts and repairs get old and frustrating real quick..
If you were to add the advanced drivers assistant features, hands down tesla. Wish you had reviewed that in other cars. Overall a great review video!
Great review sir!
Thank you
Great video as always. For me it's no contest. With Kia's much higher build quality and vastly better warranty it's cost of ownership will be far lower than the other 2 over time.
Can't argue with that.
Really like the videos. Very informative without being too slow.
I would definitely choose the Kia as my first choice over the other two.
Difficult to make long distance trips in the Kia.
Kia’s ugly
@@SonyKDL50W800C Difficult to make long distance trips in ANY EV. If you're buying a car for long distance, gas cars can be refueled in minutes. No EV's even begin to compare.
It's obvious that you have never made a long distance trip in a Tesla. A Tesla car needs half an hour from 0% to 80% on a V2 supercharger. Once it has reached 80%, you should go - since the supercharging becomes too slow. Since you normally don't arrive with 0% battery, the average wait is about 20 minutes.
While you are waiting for the charge, you can go to the bathroom/eat lunch etc. With good planning, you will not waste any time.
V3 superchargers, once deployed, will make charging twice as fast (for the current Model 3s and future versions of Models S/X).
Sure, tesla does have certain routes covered while other EVs would have hard time going the same routes, but not necessarily all long distance trips. It could be a factor, but I doubt that would become a major factor in purchasing one of these cars.
Very useful comparison reviews and well-presented. Thanks! Waiting for the e-Niro in my state. Of course, the IIHS data are critically important.
Interesting to compare Kia Niro EV vs Tesla Model Y both with heat pump option in real world range, practicallity, also compared using ratio dollar price per real life mile of range in real winter both in California slight winter and Minnesota real winter where I see plenty of Model 3 driving around.
Brutally honest. Nice job.
I know you left off AP because it costs more, but this is something that can be added later by the owner or the 2nd owner with an OTA update. If the RT network happens that is a huge deal as to how much your Tesla is worth vs the Niro. You should have included it as a “bonus”.
Great review! All things considered, the Kia looks the better option for me.
Excellent review. It's so good to see an EV comparison where the actual $35k Model 3 is present. I only wished tax incentives were discussed more during the price comparison, as it greatly influences the total cost-to-own aggregate, and there large difference in tax incentives among those cars.
Get the Kia if you want a hatchback. Get the model 3 if you want performance, supercharger network, looks, safety and over the air updates. Every Tesla comes with their custom super computer chip. This gigantic screen has video games, dog mode, sentry mode, dash cam and standard range plus comes with autopilot standard. Thanks for the in-depth comparison!
Almost at 300k subscribers! Keep up the great work! You'll be there in no time. Thanks again for another great review.
I love the consistency between videos. Covering the same subjects in roughly the same order on all cars. It was so seamless and consistent that I had a couple double takes during the drive segments.
My single quibble is he reviewed the Premium EX trim, but used the price of the EX trim on the Niro. It’s 5,500 difference in options. And he praised things on the Niro that are not available on the base EX. Similar shots can be fired about using the price of the Tesla SR even though it has they weird SR+(ish) features.
This is even further compounded by the fact that Tesla keeps jacking with the price and features of the entire lineup on an (almost) daily basis.
Nice comparison review. Couple suggestions when comparing EVs in the future. Please note the outdoor temperature because it has a large effect on battery efficiency (even with climate control off). Also be sure to properly inflate the tires. As an example, I saw in your original Bolt EV review, you had the tires inflated to only 35-36 (recommended is 38) and outdoor temperature was 67. In this comparison review, the temperature looked to be as high as 82 on the Tesla and tire pressure was also much higher.
We do drive runs in the EVs as close as possible to one another. 60-65 degrees is our target. The generally means the AC isn’t on.
GREAT comparison, thanks Alex!
I wish they were making the Hyundai Kona in significant numbers (& it was available in AZ), I really prefer its looks over the Niro and Leaf.
Agree with you that Model Y at a similar price is the top choice.
Another great review! The Niro isn’t an option here in Missouri, but I would have strongly considered it if it was. It would be between the Model 3 and the Niro for me as well.
I didn’t hear you mention the E pedal function on the leaf. I think the niro has the same feature.
Model 3 in real life hella stands out on the roads from the front angle. Reminds me from the front of a Porsche
Renegade Nielsen I believe Tesla asked porch for permission
@@GM-fd7mv considering that you don't know how to spell Porsche I am not sure how much I trust this statement
@@GM-fd7mv remember, czcams.com/video/Im2eYuGdmfY/video.html
Everyone I’m using voice command that’s why and may have to miss pronouncing
Amazing review! I will share this with people shopping for EVs 😀
The Model 3 will also get better with every update.
including full-self driving, because the hardware is already there.
Yes the software gets updated frequently for a car, but in the base model without auto pilot, this is less of an issue since Tesla hasn’t been focused on additional features or functions for the basic features. The charging updates apply to the bigger pack, most of the other updates refer to auto pilot which this car does not have.
"...the other updates refer to auto pilot which this car does not have."
The car can be upgraded with autopilot anytime.
But not for the prices mentioned here
@@SonyKDL50W800C you keep saying the same thing like Tesla would just you the update for free.
Chose the e-Niro due to: 1) hatchback, 2) real buttons for radio, aircon etc, and 3) assembly quality.
You say "real buttons" as if they're desirable for everyone, which is simply not the case.
and some people wanted to keep their blackberry when everyone else switched to iphone/android
The Leaf will be the most reliable. The Model 3 will be the most fun. Hard pick. At the end of the day I would go with the Model 3 if I had the money.
Please review all three again now in 2021. Many of the issues have been corrected on all three models.
Over the air updates that improve the Tesla over time? Great video!
Yea and Tesla knows everything you do.
The Jackal Smith So what? Think Elon is a blackmailer?
Great info, as usual . . . the Niro wins for me as I emphasize different criteria and I think differently; for example, I find the Tesla to be a little on the ugly side, and I love the CUVish look of the Niro.
- I watched the EV video even though I have no intention of buying an EV . . . A plug-in hybrid would be my ultimate preference, and the Niro is high on my list.
The Tesla looks way more premium. But it's more for someone looking for performance/style over cargo space.
A quick note; the Model 3 does have active heating of the battery, it just doesn't use a battery heater and is actually better for it.
Great review, only thing i was missing was the chapter on crash safety. I know I am an oddball but to me safety is #1, when i get hit by a drunk driver I want my kids to be in the safest car available. I can fix a paint job and I can live without most stuff, but I cant resurrect my girls if they die in a crash.
The answer here is easy. We don't know which is safer since the Tesla has bet to be IIHS tested and the Kia has yet to be HNTSA tested. So you're comparing a 5 star rating on one side with Top Safety Pick + on the other and those tests aren't the same. Both cars are very, very safe. Which is safer? We won't know until the same rating agency has tested both. We do know however that the IIHS has said that due to the Model 3 headlamp design it is ineligible for Top Safety Pick + status.
canada picks niro !
phim tay Pourquoi?
How did you measure the battery capacity? I have an SR+, I usually charge from 40 to 80% and my math shows that it's 54kWh. On perfect conditions I do get the expected range of 240 at 225Wh/mile. I do agree that 240 miles of range us an oversell however, unlike the long range models which achieve the estimated range at 250WH/mile
We got the battery down to 5% then plugged it into an evse with a meter and recorded the power used. Assuming a 1-2% loss which is pretty standard the battery is right around 50kWh. Tesla has confirmed that there is just the one small pack so this is the same as your pack.
It’s worth noting that 225wh/mile would only yield 220 miles. You’d need to get down to 200wh/mile to get 240, but I have not see anyone that low. The average of 30+ SR+ owners that emailed in is 330 wh/mile
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Hmm. I have certainly not charged it down to 5%, but my KWh consumed from chargepoint app (from 40 to 80%) scaled linearly to 100% gives 54kWh. Not sure how believable it is, but here is a leaked PDF from reddit about it showing 54.4KWh (last page): iaspub.epa.gov/otaqpub/display_file.jsp?docid=46584&flag=1 .
@@vikkyrk Subtract 10% charging loss. 50kWh is usable, the total with unusable buffers could be 54.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide With a new LR AWD, so far with spirited driving i'm averaging 230wh/mi - But I can easily hit 200wh/mi or less on local roads, this is with fair weather conditions granted...but I thought the SR+ was even more efficient not sure why you're averaging 260wh/mi - using this site to convert.... codepen.io/FalconFour/full/dgVQGE/
About the range of the Tesla. The energy use looks very high. Are you using the brakes when you're driving the Tesla? It doesn't use regen if you use the brake pedal. You need to put regen in Standard and then only use the gas pedal.
On highway only the model 3 will definitely have the best range!
Filip Bjurling I think he drove too fast... for my multiple range test around the Bay Area, from east bay, Benicia to Halfmoon bay, Newark and back the range is what is stated. I start with 216 miles at 90% and always has 40 miles left
Nope. 68 max on the cycle, plenty of level road 45 mph travel which should raise the range higher than expected
On highway the Model 3 will have the best efficiency thanks to its aerodynamics, but not range because it simply has a smaller battery.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide So you had regen on Standard during the test? Also were the outside temperatures the same when testing these vehicles? I own a Model 3 AWD and in normal driving, on >60 degree days, I get the rated range on the dot.
The numbers just don't add up and are not consistent with the forums at all. I think the SR is limited in many ways and not surprising.
Think I'd take the Kia. The ride and noise in the Tesla would be a deal killer, plus the parts issues (availability problems and you can't even install a part yourself), plus the extra insurance costs, plus the shitty paint and build-quality, plus the shorter warranty, plus the too-aggressive-regen would probably drive me nuts.
Wonderfully detailed comparison. It’s a shame it had to be filmed in a field :,
Your Model 3 range results should not go unquestioned. That's too different from EPA and the experience of other M3 owners to be normal. I'd love to see an episode where you discover the issue - either with the car or your range testing methods.
Actually, they are almost identical to the EPA score. The Model 3’s combined average is 133 MPGe which translates to 3.9 miles per kWh and we got 3.85 miles per kWh which is essentially the same.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide I appreciate your efforts here. How can the EPA rate 133 MPGe translating to 190 miles while at the same time the EPA rated range is 240? The sticker shows 25 kW-hr per 100 miles which is only 200 miles on a 50 kWh battery.
For those that don't get the big picture with Tesla, 50kw battery is 50kw. No way are you going to make up a 10kw deficit with 45psi tires to match 60+kw battery range with the other cars.
Exactly. Finally someone that gets it!
I assume you mean 50kWh
@@pepstein believe it or not, kW can be considered shorthand for kW*h since that is what is implied. Remember a Watt by definition is [energy per unit of time] so time is already implied in the term. I tend to use kW to reference total capacity and kW/h as a rate of power measurement over time. The confusion lies in Watt having a measurement of time built-in. So yes you can stick with only kW*h and be correct when talking car batteries etc.
@@a.e.w.384 If you're taking about the capacity of the battery, the correct units are kWh, not kW or kW/h.
@@pepstein As soon as you cite real-world examples of kW*s or kW*min used in everyday applications I will only use kW*h until then I don't have issues using kW as a stand alone term. I was incorrect in using kW/h.
Dang dude that is quite descriptive comparison. 🙏 Kia for the win.
Until u need to go above 250 miles, good luck with that.
@@shankhadeepshome3982 that's when you need to recharge I would say same applies to all electric cars 😂
Would definitely go with the Kia. Bigger trunk door, in my opinion much more preferable interior, but also external design and longer range. And of course 400$+ per year for insurance is lot.
What would also interesting to me is light/visibility in the dark and options for seats (adjustable seat base length and side bolsters, would not buy one without anymore).
My problem with the Kia is, if you're going for a Niro EV, why would you take it over the regular non-EV Niro for half the price? It's like buying an EV Corolla for double the price of a regular Corolla.
One thing Alex never says about the Telsa is that the infotainment screen is one of the hardest to navigate and not intuitive...difficult to change regular settings like radio and A/C. After a while that's going to grate on your nerves I'd think. Also no AM, no Apple integration?! Of the three, Kia would have to be the way to go.
I actually find it easy to use. Although as I’ve said no XM, AM or CarPlay
@Alex some Model 3 SR were delivered in SR+ configuration and later downgraded via SW update - that is why you had 240 miles of range on the sticker. Your actual range is 220 miles.
You can test this by driving both your SR and someone in SR+ next to each other on a highway (starting with 100% full pack) - you will run out +-20 miles before the other car.
His run was prior to the SW upgrade.
Alex, great job on this comparison....
Alex, great review as always. Are these batteries just as efficient after 3 to 5 years of constant use? How do these cars behave in frigid cold climates?
For Tesla, expect 1% degradation a year.
For the Leaf expect 10% loss per year (20% if you live in hot states like Arizona or Nevada)
Tesla Model 3 all the way.
Not sure why anyone would pick the leaf. Niro and 3 are so much better.
Price mainly as Alex alluded to. Should be able to get one of these in the mid to upper $20ks after incentives. Where I live, there is more Chademo than CCS adapters. Finally if you dont live in a desert climate and don't require more than one fast charge per day, the passive cooling will be a non-issue for its owners.
I have an older Leaf... I'd never buy one again due to no support for the battery. 50k miles and it's lost almost 20% of the range and $8500 for a new battery. I paid just barely more than that for the car when I got it 3 years ago.
Leaf sales fell off a cliff in 2019, I think the leaf+ might have some legs, but as far as I can tell the market in general agrees with you
really good information you delivered. can we have comparison between kona and eniro. in terms of actual range, acceleration and top speed