Some time in mid to late February, you'll start to see a phenomenon take place at your local Kia dealership. There's nothing particularly strange about an EV, and the electrified Niro isn't even the first battery-powered compact from the Korean automaker, but once it's sitting alongside Stingers and Souls, that's when you'll see the electric car holdouts show up. They'll wander around asking about charge times and kilowatt hours instead of horsepower figures, happy because they no longer have to wait for a decent affordable electric car that has buttons on its dash. The moment that happens will be confirmation that the electric invasion has truly begun. No longer will the movement be only for those with deep pockets, now everyone can join. Bring Grandma along too because Kia is has released a ride for those of us who've craved the personality, simplicity, and unpretentious flair of a basic commuter car during the electric revolution.

Kia thought it might be nice if we got a chance to ride it before it hits the dealership, so it shipped us out to Santa Cruz, California and let us loose in a fleet of fully-charged Niros.

