The Kia Niro is a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) which has been manufactured by Kia since 2016. Kia identifies it as an electrification-focused vehicle as it offers hybrid, plug in hybrid, and battery electric options across the range. The second generation model launched in 2021 with a release at the Seoul Mobility Show in November and the second generation Niro EV debuted in April 2022.
Offering a compelling blend of practicality, fuel efficiency, electrification, and fun driving experience, the Kia Niro currently occupies a unique space in the market where it blurs the lines between hatchback and crossover vehicle.
The Niro was the recipient of the Best Electric Small SUV at the 2020 WhatCar? Electric Car Awards and recognised as Cars.com's Top Pick: Commuter EV in 2023, highlighting the appeal and adaptability of the model.
The Niro is built on the Hyundai Motor Group (who owns Kia) K3 platform which allows engineers to lower the centre of gravity for more agile handling and it improves safety due to the usage of a multiload path structure. The second generation launch saw an extension to the tiger nose design from the hood of the Niro to the fender, really embracing Kia's signature styling.
Around the body of the Niro you'll see two-tone colouring, which starts at the front and wraps around the sides with an Aero-C Pillar and body cladding which enhances airflow and aerodynamics. Swinging around to the rear of the car you'll find boomerang style taillights, another Kia signature, a rugged skid plate, and a bold lower bumper.
If you opt for the Kia Niro EV you'll find some unique features such as a two-tone hexagonal front grille, a wide body coloured bumper that incorporates the central charging point, and the option for Steel Grey body cladding and Aero-C Pillar.
Each powertrain also offers different alloy wheel options: custom 17 inch alloys with a 5-petal design and two-colour finish with black accents for the EV and 16 inch or 18 inch alloys for the Niro Hybrid and Niro Plug in Hybrid depending on your chosen trim level of your Kia model.
The highlight of the centre console is the dual 10.25 inch panoramic screen which offers high-definition driver information and infotainment in one sweeping display. Using the Multimode Control touch Display you can easily switch between climate settings and infotainment or navigation and important driving information without losing focus on the road in front of you.
You can combine this with the customisable head-up display to project key driving information such as your speed, turn instructions from navigation, and speed limits onto your windscreen, further encouraging you to keep your eyes on the road without missing anything important.
Kia have also utilised opposing diagonal and horizontal lines to create the dash and door trim layout, resulting in an accessible and intuitive layout. There is also convertible centre storage and moveable cupholders in the front interior space, allowing you organise your belongings without cluttering the space.
The interior space of the Kia Niro has been designed with putting a priority in your comfort and relaxation by combining tasteful styling with cutting edge technology.
Across the range Kia have utilised eco friendly materials that are inspired by nature using recycled components. Trim level dependent, you'll have cloth, cloth-artificial leather, PVC artificial leather, or PU artificial leather which also contains Tencel which is made from eucalyptus.
There's no sacrifice for comfort as heated seats, electric seat adjustment, front relaxation seats, heated outer rear seats and front ventilated seats are available across the Niro range depending on the powertrain and trim level you choose.
Boot space in the Kia Niro does vary a little depending on which powertrain you choose. The EV offers the most space with all five seats in use at 475 litres, then the hybrid follows at 451 litres, and then finally the plug in hybrid offers 348 litres. With the rear seats folded down this is then opened up to 1392 litres in the EV, 1445 litres in the hybrid, and 1342 litres in the plug in hybrid.
As previously mentioned, the Kia Niro is available with three distinct powertrains: hybrid, plug in hybrid, and battery electric.
Starting with the Kia Niro Hybrid, this combines a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine with a 1.32 kWh Li-ion polymer battery which promotes fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions. For the Niro, CO2 emissions run at 100g/km and combined figures for fuel consumption come in at 64.2mpg. It offers a 0-62mph time of 11.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 99mph.
The Kia Niro Plug in Hybrid version takes the 1.6 turbocharged engine alongside a 11.1 kWh battery which provides a great range of 40 miles on a single charge, excellent for your short journeys and saving your fuel. Kia estimates that on a 7.2kW home charger you'll be able to recharge in 3-4 hours and will be faster than this when using a public fast charging point.
The Kia Niro EV uses a 64.8 kWh lithium ion battery and more powerful electric motor for a combined range of 285 miles. With 182kW of electric power, you can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 103mph. AC or home charging with 7.2kW charging will take 9 hours 25 minutes and the Niro EV can utilise DC rapid charging points up to 350kW to charge to 100% in just 43 minutes.
The best thing about the range of powertrains available is that you can choose the level of electrification that suits you. If you're not ready to fully commit to an EV then test the water with a Niro PHEV model or if you don't want to charge your car at all you can opt for the hybrid model and still benefit from the power of the electric motor.
Across all three powertrains there are three different trim levels to the Kia Niro: 2, 3, and 4.
The Kia Niro 2 comes with 16 inch alloy wheels, automatic halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights and rear fog lights, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, roof rails, heated rear window, rear spoiler, manual front seat adjustment, electric front and rear windows, automatic air conditioning and defog system, start/stop button with smart entry system, 10.25 inch touchscreen display, 4.25 inch driver display, multiple USB connections, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, and smart cruise control.
Opting for the Niro 3 adds 18 inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, front fog lights, electrically adjustable, foldable, and heated door mirrors with LED indicators, rear privacy glass, rain sensing wipers, front heated seats, electric front seat adjustment, driver's electric lumbar support, heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad, and front and rear parking sensors.
The Niro 4 adds an electric sunroof with tilting and sliding function, heated outer rear seats, front ventilated seats, electric driver's seat adjustment with memory function, electric front passenger seat adjustment, front passenger relaxation seat, alloy pedals, smart power tailgate, 10.25 inch driver display, customisable head up display, and remote smart parking assist.
The Kia Niro has a four star safety rating from Euro NCAP with standard features and a five star safety rating with the safety pack, which appears to be the features available on the higher spec models.
Standard safety features include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, smart cruise control, intelligent speed limit assist, rear occupant alert, electronic parking brake with autohold, electronic stability control, and hill start control.
Across the range other safety features include remote smart parking assist, highway driving assist, blind spot collision avoidance assistance, and rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist.
Kia's seven year or 100,000 mile warranty is one of the most comprehensive available on a new car and exists because Kia believes in their product so much. You have unlimited mileage on the cover for the first 36 months an it is then capped at 100,000 miles from months 37-84. Any exceptions to the warranty can be found on Kia's website.
Each of the different powertrain options offers a variation in price along with whichever trim level or extras you choose for your Kia Niro.
At time of writing, the Kia Niro hybrid starts at £30,085, the Kia Niro plug in hybrid starts at £35,325, and the Kia Niro EV starts at £37,325. In comparison, the Hyundai Kona hybrid starts at £26,465 and the electric Kona starts at £34,995 whilst the Toyota Prius starts at £37,315 so the Kia Niro is placed well in the segment across hybrid, electric, and plug in hybrid cars.
The Kia Niro is the perfect model to start exploring electric power as it has three different variations of electrification which allows you to pick the best one for your driving needs. With a wealth of up to date technology and safety features and an incredibly comfortable and eco friendly interior, the Kia Niro should be a serious consideration for your next family car.
For more information about any of the Kia Niro models, including help deciding which powertrain might be best for you, the team at John Clark Kia in Peterhead are always available. They can discuss finance options, differentiations in trim levels, show you around the Kia Niro in person, and set you up on a test drive.
