A Newport Adventure in the Kia Niro EV

Electric vehicles are becoming more common, but they’re still a little unnerving for people who’ve never driven one. Early EVs had short ranges that were often under 100 miles, which understandably freaked out the average American looking to drive wherever the heck they wanted, whenever the heck they wanted, without worrying about finding a charger. Today’s EVs have much longer ranges, typically around 250 miles, which makes them easier to fit into daily life. We tested out that theory with a road trip in the all-new 2023 Kia Niro EV.

The Kia Niro is available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric, but there’s no straight-up gas option. If you aren’t quite ready to make the jump to a fully electric vehicle, then pick one of the hybrids as a baby step. We didn’t take baby steps when we planned our road trip. Instead, we took the Niro EV on a drive from Boston to Newport, Rhode Island for a few days.

My co-driver on this adventure was from Atlanta, so I had to make sure she got the full Boston experience before we left town. This included a box of cannoli from Mike’s Pastry, which we devoured in a parking lot at the airport. We then went for lunch after dessert because we’re grown-ups and can make our own choices. Two giant lobster rolls from Yankee Lobster Co. did the trick and we were on our way. Well, mostly. First, we battled our way through a major intersection where all the lights were stuck on red and all the people were honking and gesturing rather rudely. Truly, the full Boston experience.

Driving an EV is something that takes a little getting used to because it’s so quiet. You think you haven’t started the car, but it’s on. You hear more of the sounds around you from other cars to passing trucks to people talking on the sidewalk while you wait at a light. Conversation is easier inside an EV without the background noise of an engine, especially if there are kids in the backseat. And, if you’re on a winding country road on a beautiful fall day, opening the windows and enjoying nothing but the sound of the wind is wonderful.

Power for the Kia Niro EV comes from an electric motor and a battery that delivers 201 horsepower with 188 lb-ft of torque. Those might not sound like terribly impressive numbers, but you’d be surprised. An EV delivers all its torque at once rather than ramping up like a traditional gas engine. That means you get strong acceleration for merging into heavy highway traffic or navigating the madness of downtown Boston.

The Kia Niro EV has a range of 253 miles per charge, so we didn’t need to pull over to charge, but we did need to stop for coffee. We pulled off at a rest area that had four chargers, all of them open, and plugged in while we took a break. Technically, the car was waiting for us and not the other way around. A random guy came over to ask about driving an EV, and we had a nice chat. I think I sold him on the idea, so I may have a career in sales if this whole automotive journalism thing doesn’t work out.

We got back on the road and arrived in Newport right at sunset. It’s off-season so there were no crowds, which made it easy to drive into Fort Adams State Park and watch the sun turn the sky brilliant shades of orange. There’s something to be said for heading to the beach when the tourists are gone and it’s just locals out walking their dogs. The view, the quiet, and the chill in the air were the perfect end to our day.

Since coffee and pastry are high on my list of necessities, we hopped in our trusty EV and ventured forth early the next morning to a place called Le Bec Sucre over in Middletown. We walked into the aroma of fresh baked breads and sweets. We walked out with croissants and baguettes clutched in white paper bags.

A quick stop at Custom House Coffee and we headed for Second Beach where we sat on the rocks and ate breakfast at the water’s edge. Do not underestimate the power of good pastry, rich coffee, and an incredible view. We even made friends with an adorable pug who momentarily escaped his owner and scaled the rocks in a vain attempt to steal our baked goods. He was cute, but I steadfastly resisted and did not relinquish my pastries.

Our next stop was Providence where we spent some time at the Rhode Island School of Design and plugged-in the Niro EV to charge. Once again, we didn’t need to charge, but figured we’d top off the battery since we had the opportunity. While we learned about the innovative ways students are influencing the design of tomorrow’s cars, our little EV happily charged back up to 100 percent. Later that afternoon we drove back to Newport, relaxed at our hotel, and then enjoyed a lovely dinner at Bar and Board. Good drinks, good food, and a make-your-own charcuterie made for a perfect evening.

Our Newport experience was wonderful and driving the Kia Niro EV through it all proved just how easy it is to embrace the electric vehicle lifestyle. It was no trouble finding open charging stations and they were conveniently placed so we didn’t have to drive out of our way. Sure, they’re not as abundant as gas stations, but they’re also not as rare as unicorns. We had more than enough juice to manage our trip just by charging when the opportunity presented itself.

We also had such a wonderful time in Newport that it’s now on our list for a return visit. The summer months might be when most people plan their beach getaway, but an off-season visit to an oceanside town is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy unbeatable ocean views. Just keep an eye out for wayward pugs trying to steal your breakfast.