[jaime]

I'm about to buy the newest Niro EV, and I tend to drive offroad (just sand bumpy roads) with my current car, a Jeep renegade.
I'm a bit concerned that this new car I will get wont really do well.
I'm actually a bit scared that I could crash the batteries and burn my car. whereas with the Jeep Renegage (16cms tall ground clearance, same as the new Niro), does actually very well!

Since there is no new niro outthere I wonder how well the current Niro does perform in these particular roads.

 

[Tommy_D]

Well, the Niro is only front wheel drive, so that doesnt make it a very competent off roader to start. Secondly, the battery pack is under the vehicle, so the lowest point on the car is the battery. A large rock could hit and damage the battery if you aren't careful. Can it drive off road? Sure. Will it be good at it? About as good as a Honda Accord.

 

[jaime]

Well, the Niro is only front wheel drive, so that doesnt make it a very competent off roader to start. Secondly, the battery pack is under the vehicle, so the lowest point on the car is the battery. A large rock could hit and damage the battery if you aren't careful. Can it drive off road? Sure. Will it be good at it? About as good as a Honda Accord.

Yeah I'm guessing that I shouldn't take it off road (sand-grass-bumpy roads) too much, and when I do, do it slowly. Also never go over tall rocks. Which I dont do it at the moment with the Renegade anyway. Sadly there aren't currently many other options. And paying 10 grand for a car that does a better (still not brilliant) job i don't think is worth it. I looked the subaru, which is way taller with less trunk and less range. and BZ4X that looks like a tank I won't be able fit in my current parking space easily.

If I ever miss this feature or i see it doesn't do a job job cause it gets hit underneath to much I can always sell the car and get a better one, in a couple of years, where I'm sure there will be plenty of other choices not currently available right now (in EV).

I used to own a VW POLO from 1986 that was absolutely terrible in sand roads, my friends had to get off the car in order to not crash with the floor. That is what concerns me most, I never want to have a car like that ever again . hahaha

 

[rcnesneg]

See attached pictures - I'd take it to the three with the white niro. I would not take it to the rougher places.

Coming from a lifted subaru... The niro is hopeless offroad. Low clearance and an open front diff means wheelspin and dragging the battery tray through the dirt. I believe the battery tray is a 1/4" or 1/2" aluminum plate so it's pretty tough. No issues dragging it through soft dirt accidently but I would try to avoid rocks... On the plus side you don't have to worry about catching grass on fire if you park over it.

As for snow, on snow tires it will get through 12" of fresh soft snow. With 18" of snow you have to stop and back up a few times to get runs at the fresh snow to get through. Try to go over a 24" tall plowed snowbank and it will high center (like a sled). Very easy to pull off but with all 4 tires basically in the air it won't move. (Voice of experience). It seems to be fine if the entire car is sitting on the battery as long as it's on a soft surface like soft snow but I would try to avoid hard dirt that might put too much pressure in one spot.

I'm looking forward to getting an Aptera with 600 miles of range and a bit more ground clearance with the offroad kit... The AWD will be nice too.
If you can't wait check out the Subaru Solterra - it looks a little more capable but charging and range are a little sad. BZ4X and Solterra are the exact same except Solterra gets the tax credit and the BZ4X doesn't.
The other option is to lift an Ioniq 5. But then you get crap range. With the Niro running around 300 miles of range it's hard to beat most of the time - at least until Aptera is out.

 

[jaime]

Yeah a little bit worst than that 3rd picture but definitely not as bad as the 4th picture!

Something like this

Or even like this:

Yeah solterra is OK but has small trunk!
And bz4x takes 4h to charge from 0 to 100%. (but about 65 mins 0-80%)

Both are oversized cars for my garage setup!

 

[rcnesneg]

Yeah a little bit worst than that 3rd picture but definitely not as bad as the 4th picture!

Something like this

Or even like this:


Yeah solterra is OK but has small trunk!
And bz4x takes 4h to charge from 0 to 100%. (but about 65 mins 0-80%)

Both are oversized cars for my garage setup!

It should be fine for the first road! But the potholes look uncomfortable unless I went really slow.

 

[jaime]

It should be fine for the first road! But the potholes look uncomfortable unless I went really slow.

Nice they are usually not that long roads that take me where I need... so going slow it also OK.

Thanks for your help!

BTW, Niro EV (2023 version) has improved the battery cover and position. I'm not sure how much, I haven't seen it in person but i doubt that would be improved very much.

 

[rcnesneg]

 

[Peter Jay]

300 miles would be a stretch for (at least my) '22 Niro EV. I don't take it off-road - at least intentionally.

 

[Dovidan]

See attached pictures - I'd take it to the three with the white niro.

Curious- what is 3 wheeler pod in the last photo?

 

[rcnesneg]

Curious- what is 3 wheeler pod in the last photo?

It's an off-road modified Aptera.

Aptera Motors

Aptera is the world’s first Solar Electric Vehicle that requires no charging for most daily use - giving you the freedom to do more with less impact on the planet.

aptera.us

 

[Griswald]

My driveway is a half mile long sand road. I can see the traction control system turning on and off in the deeper sand, but it just powers itself right through. Never got stuck...yet. I do keep a come-along and a snatching strap under the rear floor just in case. Of course, I also keep a hatchet and sometimes a battery chain saw since trees have a habit of falling on the road. Oh, and keep it in sport mode.

In other words, yes, you can gently off-road, but be prepared.

 

[Druber]

Well, the Niro is only front wheel drive, so that doesnt make it a very competent off roader to start. Secondly, the battery pack is under the vehicle, so the lowest point on the car is the battery. A large rock could hit and damage the battery if you aren't careful. Can it drive off road? Sure. Will it be good at it? About as good as a Honda Accord.

I have a 2017 Kia Niro and I take it on Sandy bumpy roads all the time and it's no problem. I think the idea of covering the battery is good with some kind of skid plate and I am going to look into getting one for my car.

 

[rcnesneg]

I have a 2017 Kia Niro and I take it on Sandy bumpy roads all the time and it's no problem. I think the idea of covering the battery is good with some kind of skid plate and I am going to look into getting one for my car.

2017? You have a hybrid? I think the hybrid and PHEV don't have an exposed battery, right? Just the EV?

 

[Druber]

2017? You have a hybrid? I think the hybrid and PHEV don't have an exposed battery, right? Just the EV?

Yes it is a hybrid, so I don't need to worry about it?

 

[rcnesneg]

Yes it is a hybrid, so I don't need to worry about it?

It's just under your rear seat and front of the trunk right? You should be worried about tearing out your exhaust or rupturing your fuel tank instead.

On the EV they lifted the whole car a few inches and bolted the battery (6 feet wide by 6 feet long) to the bottom of the car. So it's basically a giant sled with a thick aluminum plate on the bottom. Here's my car on a hoist:

 

[Dovidan]

I've taken my 2019 Niro PHEV on some fairly rugged forest service roads in W WA (e.g. Mountain Loop Highway in Snohomish County) with lots of potholes, ruts, and standing water. So far no problems with the 6.5" clearance, but when it gets rough looking, I crawling quite slowly. 🙄

 

[KO2 Niro Nate]

Added KO2 tires and 1" spacers

to my 2017 niro and it gives a solid 1.5-2" of added clearance with a mean tread pattern. Haven't tested off road yet. But I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Peter Jay]

That's some badass-lookin' wheels! Good luck!

 

[Tex88]

That's some badass-lookin' wheels! Good luck!

That's the factory wheels hidden under the factory bolt-on plastic hubcaps...