ELECTRIC BLUE

Matt Allan switches on to Kia’s first dedicated hybrid

Aquick glance at the modern market place shows two things are big news in the car world – crossovers and hybrid drivetrains. Sales of crossovers continue to climb and hybrid sales have doubled in the UK in the last five years. It seems a no-brainer, then, to combine the two.

Which is what Kia have done with the Niro. Their first hybrid-only vehicle slots in between the c’eed hatchback and Sportage SUV in both size and price and promises to offer a “fun and flexible family car”.

Styling-wise it’s heavily reminiscent of its bigger brother the Sportage. The Niro, however, sits lower to the ground and in certain colour/wheel combinations actually looks more like a traditional estate car than a crossover. That’s not a bad thing but it definitely lacks the 4x4 styling of rivals such as the Suzuki S-cross that some buyers want.

To get it moving the Niro uses an all-new powertrain combining an adapted version of Kia’s 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 32kw electric motor. In tandem they produce 139bhp and 195lb/ft of torque.

Like other non-plug-in hybrids, the electric motor in the Niro is there more to assist the petrol than provide motive power on its own. Starting off or accelerating gently will see the Niro run on all-electric power but under normal driving conditions it behaves as a support act, meaning the petrol unit doesn’t have to work so hard. Allied to a six-speed DCT gearbox this teamwork means the Niro returns 74.3mpg and emits only 88g/km of CO2.

On the road the Niro behaves and feels exactly as you’d expect from a crossover of its size. The hybrid drivetrain switches seamlessly between drive modes and feels well suited to the day-to-day mix of usage the Niro is likely to experience as a family car.

The ride is good across the board but markedly better on the smaller wheels and higher profile tyres of the lower trim levels. Steering is well weighted but in keeping with the Niro’s market positioning the whole package is benign rather than engaging and there’s nothing to encourage “vigorous” driving.

Also likely to discourage enthusiastic driving is that fact that this is a car designed for families and you don’t want the kids puking in the back because you’re pretending to be Colin Mcrae.

Kia claims ample room for five people and their luggage. Five is pushing it but four average-sized adults should be able to get themselves comfortable.

Luggage space is good for the class, with up to 427 litres of storage in the boot. Thanks to clever packaging of the battery under the rear seats the electric part of the system doesn’t eat into the boot space either.

The Niro starts at £21,295 for the basic ‘1’ spec. As standard that comes with 16-inch alloys, cruise control, electric windows, dual-zone air conditioning, LED running lights and DAB radio with Bluetooth and Usb/aux support.

Levels 2 and 3 add more kit and from launch there is a limited-run First Edition model.

Much like the Sportage this is a time-limited spec level and is packed to bursting with kit. Also like the Sportage, it’s a hard purchase to justify. It comes in at a fiver shy of £27,000, which is a lot for a compact SUV, even allowing for the hybrid drivetrain, and especially when the generously specced 3 comes in nearly £2,500 cheaper.

What’s more the First Edition manages to look cheaper and cost more to run than models lower down the scale. The exclusive grey plastic is the same material as in lower spec cars but looks like a throwback to Kias of 15 years ago, as does the grey leather upholstery.

Even worse, the 18-inch wheels on the First Edition mean it goes from sub-90g/km emissions to 101g/km – making owners liable for road tax. And those wheels – shared by the 3 trim – also scrub 10.1mpg off the official economy.

The 2 – at £22,795 – seems to strike the best balance between value and equipment. And its 16-inch wheels mean you make the most of the hybrid’s efforts.

As with so many recent products, Kia have produced the Niro with a very particular target in mind and have hit it dead centre. It’s not a thrilling drive but doesn’t need to be – the combination of compact crossover styling and a hybrid drivetrain ticks so many boxes it’s hard to imagine it not being a runaway success.