Today we’re taking a look at the Niu KQi3 Pro and KQi2 Pro, testing each of these eScooters
to review if they are the Best Electric Scooters you can buy for commuting and getting around town.
If you’ve never heard of Niu, they have actually been around for over
5 years and mainly known for their electric mopeds that they sell in over 50 countries
and have sold over 2 million electric vehicles. This year,
Niu launched their new lineup of electric scooters including the KQi3 Pro and KQi2 Pro.
You can buy the scooters on Amazon, The KQi2 Pro retails for $599, while the KQi3 Pro costs $799.
However, there’s a bunch of deals going on right now- and we’ve got special coupon codes that will
save you up to $100 off. So, be sure to check out the description of this video for the best deals.
For the unboxing and setup, they ship in a large box and inside is the scooter, along with
the manual, charger, and some tools. They also include a colorful spare grip tape for the deck.
And if you want to customize your ride, they have other styles available on their website as well.
There’s only minimal setup required, all you need to do is plug in the handlebar,
drop it in the stem and use the included screws to secure it.
Before you get riding, you need to download and install the app to register the scooter. They also
make you follow a beginner tutorial with safety tips. And if that wasn’t enough, the scooter stays
in limp mode with a top speed of 6mph for about 500 meters, or half or mile of riding until you
can change the riding modes. While annoying, we figure they must do this for liability reasons.
Setup aside, the Niu app has a clean UI with some nice features. You can see the battery life,
lock and unlock the scooter, and also track your rides and see ride records.
You can also change some of the settings like check for firmware updates,
turn on cruise control and change energy recovery settings for the regenerative braking.
The dash screen on the top is simple and easy to see, even in the direct sunlight. It show you
simple details like your current speed, battery life and if the lights are on or off. Using the
button underneath the screen, you can change the riding modes or turn the lights on or off.
Looking at the design and build of the KQi2 Pro versus the KQi3 Pro. They both have
similar builds, but the KQi3 is slightly larger with a wider deck and reinforced
frame with steel tubes on either side. That makes the KQi3 also a little bit heavier,
coming in at 44lbs (20kg) while the KQi2 weighs 40lbs (18kg).
For folding and carrying, the mechanism is well made and easy to operate.
The rear latch locks in easily with a button to release. However, with the weight of these
scooters, you’re not going to want to carry them very far as they are heavy.
For power, the KQi3 Pro has a 350 watt motor with a top speed of 20 miles per
hour (32 kmh) and a 486 watt hour battery that will get up to 31 miles (50 km) of range.
Meanwhile the KQi2 has a slightly smaller 300W motor that gives you a top speed of
18 miles per hour (29 kmh) and a 365 watt hour battery with up to 25 miles of range (40km).
The range is the advertised one, your real life range will depend on your weight and the
mode and speed you ride in, while both models have a max rider weight capacity of 220lbs.
We did an acceleration test with both models, and found it to be nearly identical.
The KQi3 Pro will only give you a slightly higher top speed of 2mph compared to the KQi2.
The wheels are 10” inch on the KQi2 and actually slightly smaller at 9.5” on the KQi3,
which helps it get more top speed. The tires are tubeless,
which means you don’t have to worry about replacing any tubes.
Neither the KQi2 or KQi3 have any suspension, but as long as you’re
keeping it to the streets and bike paths and not going offroad - it handles just fine.
In terms of hill climbing, these scooters are not meant to tackle any steep hills. Anything
steeper than a moderate hill will have you crawling, and forget about the even steeper ones.
For brakes, the KQi3 Pro will get you to a quick stop with dual disc brakes front and back,
while the KQi2 Pro features a front drum brake. And they both have regenerative
braking which uses the motor to brake and add a little more charge in your battery.
You can also adjust the regen settings in the app from Low, Medium to High.
In our brake test and comparison,
we found that while the braking on the KQi3 Pro has dual disc brakes compared to the KQi2,
both feature a very good braking system that is comparable and brings you to a quick stop.
Looking at the lights, we especially like the halo headlight that’s found on both the Niu’s.
The halo stays on during the day, and the main light turns on when you turn on the lights.
It’s also adjustable, so you can aim it higher or lower depending on preference.
The scooters are also loaded with reflectors and a rear tail light with brake indicator - so
you’ll be plenty visible at night. The scooter is also built with a digital lock that can be
accessed through the Niu app to unlock your scooter. The app also details ride statistics,
the battery life, and you can even see data on your other Niu rides.
We also like that the app gives detailed information about the battery life,
including how many cycles it’s had, temperature,
and a battery score– so you know if it starts to degrade over time.
Both models also feature IP54 water resistance,
so you can feel comfortable to continue riding if you get caught in the rain storm.
We also really like the charging port on the front that has a sturdy plastic cover that stays snug.
Finally, looking at the warranty. Niu includes a 2 year warranty on the KQi2 and KQi3,
which is one of the longest and best warranties we’ve seen for an electric scooter of this price.
Most other brands offer a 1 year or less warranty.
So, they stand behind their promise that these electric scooters are built to last.
Overall, we think both Niu’s are an excellent choice for electric scooters,
especially for the price. Next, be sure to check out our other videos
reviewing and comparing some of the best electric scooters for this year.