HOLDING OUT FOR A NIRO
Kia’s self-charging hybrid SUV is sure to be a big hit
Maggie Barry
One advantage of the longer nights and shorter days is how much more you can appreciate the light signature of a car – and the Kia Niro hybrid is a case in point.
It lit up as I walked towards it in the supermarket car park, clicking the open button on the key fob – what a beauty.
It really is extremely pretty, with the double arrow lights below the elongated headlights on the slimmed down tiger nose grille.
Built from the start as a hybrid – and not adapted from a previous combustion model – this latest version of the Niro is a rugged SUV shape at the same time managing to maintain an elegant appearance that will at once appeal to country dwellers and urbanistas alike.
With roof bars and skid plates and sitting on 18in alloys, it is quite the package and its powertrain will be very attractive to the increasing number of environmentally conscious drivers. It comes in 2, 3 and 4 trims – this was the 3 – and inside it is extremely comfortable, very well padded, with a clean sophisticated dash and fascia that speaks to what seems to be the new fashion for more pared back interiors in cars.
There is high gloss black, bright silvery chrome and it is all seamlessly blended together. There are five seats and a decent boot too.
Hybrid sales in the UK and mainland Europe have doubled over the past five years and are expected to reach 700,000 annually by the end of the decade.
The Niro in all its forms – pure electric, plug-in hybrid and this self- charging version – is well suited to matching mobility aspirations.
Self- charging means you do not have to mess around with plugs – the car does it for you – and, in this instance, rather well.
It matches a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 32kW electric engine for 139bhp. Both powertrains work together but the Niro can run on all-electric power for short distances. The electric motor boosts the power of the internal combustion engine when needed and power is recovered by braking, coasting and in the Niro by an exhaust heat recovery system.
There are two settings – eco and sport – and I have to admit I ran my car almost exclusively in sport. It was lively and very adept in this mode and it increased the energy stores quicker for the battery.
This sits below the rear seat, giving the Niro excellent balance and stability on the road. The eco mode is terrific for town driving.
The company claims 54.3mpg – and I can believe it. After two days of pottering about, I still had 456 miles to go before refuelling.
The Niro comes with a six-speed auto dual clutch gearbox instead of a CVT (continuously variable transmission), which offers a smoother and less whiny move up and down the gears. There are also paddles on the leather-clad steering wheel should you prefer to do your own thing.
Kia is one of the companies which seems to invariably get it right these days. It has slowly been raising the bar with every new model and the manner in which it simplifies its range is exemplary – few options but loads more equipment with each trim level.
The new UVO Connect system is on trims 3 and 4, with apps already downloaded into the car. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as loads of safety features.
Kia has been leading the charge into electrification and this Niro is a prime example of how well it is accomplishing the task.