Niro raises game for Mk2 trio
THE SECOND-GENERATION Kia Niro has been “redesigned from the ground up” to meet growing competition, according to the firm’s bosses, who have given full details of the car ahead of UK sales opening later this month.
Although the Niro builds on its predecessor’s styling, it uses a new Hyundai Motor
Group platform for electrified vehicles, the K3 architecture, and has grown slightly. It is 65mm longer, with the wheelbase increased by 20mm, for a mild boost in interior space.
The hybrid version will use a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a 43bhp electric motor, giving total outputs of 139bhp and 199lb ft.
The 180bhp plug-in hybrid features the same engine and a 111bhp electric motor, which is powered by an 11.1kwh battery – up from 8.9kwh in the old model – giving an extended Ev-only range of 40.3 miles. The PHEV model also features a built-in 5.5kwh Positive Temperature Coefficient heater, which helps to extend the driving range in colder conditions and means that owners can utilise a pre-heating system.
The hybrid and PHEV are powered by a six-speed automatic, with reverse gear now solely electric powered.
The Niro EV, due in August, retains the same 201bhp electric motor as the previous model. A 64.8kwh battery will be the only option in the UK, offering a range of around 287 miles, 0-62mph in 7.8sec and a 10-80% charging time of 43 minutes using a DC charger.
It also gains a vehicle-toload output function similar to that of the EV6, with the ability to power devices at speeds of up to 3kwh.
The charging socket has moved to the centre of the car’s front grille and the electric model has gained a 20-litre ‘frunk’, which houses the charging cables. The Niro has a total luggage capacity of 495 litres in EV form, compared with a 451-litre boot in the HEV and 348 litres for the PHEV.