Kia Australia has changed its previous, short-lived Niro with a brand new mannequin providing a a lot sharper design inside and outside.
The previous mannequin was as vanilla because it will get, whereas this new model has a greater stance, extra aggressive nostril, bolder high-mounted taillights formed like a boomerang, and contrasted physique cladding.
From the facet profile it’s rather more hatchback than SUV. For a bit of context it’s not all that for much longer or wider than a Hyundai i30 or Toyota Corolla, and has a restricted 160mm of floor clearance.
Whereas the previous Niro vary got here in hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full electrical (EV) variations, this new one is hybrid (HEV) or EV-only – in Australia, anyhow.
Large demand for the Niro at dwelling in Korea (16,000 gross sales on day one) has restricted Australian provide, so don’t anticipate to see a Niro Hybrid on each road nook.
But as a small SUV with a hybrid drivetrain, there’ll be consumers lining up.
How a lot does the Kia Niro Hybrid S price?
The Kia Niro Hybrid S examined right here prices $44,380 earlier than on-road prices, which equates to $49,276 drive-away in Melbourne.
For these after extra options than the Niro S can provide, the a lot better-equipped Kia Niro Hybrid GT-Line prices $50,030 earlier than on-road prices, or about $55,000 drive-away.
In contrast the entry price of a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is $40,500 to $55,600 drive-away relying on variant, the Honda HR-V e:HEV L is $47,000 drive-away, the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid $40,990 drive-away, and the calmly electrified Mazda CX-30 G20e $41,000 drive-away.
From inside the wider Kia household, you can too get a punchier Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD turbo for $45,290 drive-away.
What’s the Kia Niro Hybrid S like on the within?
The method of entering into and beginning the Niro S requites you to fish the important thing fob out of your pocket and press a button, and beginning (in silence as a result of e-motor) requires you twist the important thing in an ignition barrel – feels a bit previous hat in 2022!
At the very least the facet mirrors mechanically fold out and in whenever you lock and unlock.
The material and artificial leather-based seats struck me as flat within the base and subsequently missing thigh help in corners, though they do transfer electrically, and alongside the telescopic wheel column permit folks of most styles and sizes to search out an ergonomically pleasant place.
The design is sort of fascinating, making use of angles and fascinating shapes – exemplified in no larger trend than the weird two-spoke steering wheel with Kia’s swish new branding, which additionally occurs to be fabricated from rental-spec polyurethane quite than wrapped in leather-based.
Behind this sits a crisp, primary digital cluster that adjustments color whenever you regulate the driving mode between Eco and Sport. The velocity and tacho flank a central show that reveals you journey knowledge, tells you what the hybrid system is as much as, and reveals a reside animation of the lane-keeping assist.
Left of it is a slab of drab plastic, with the 8.0-inch touchscreen showing fairly small on this context.
It helps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which work wirelessly (although there’s no charging pad), digital radio, a rear-view digicam, Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, and each USB and USB-C ports. The wi-fi CarPlay glitched a couple of occasions and displayed an error message.
You realize you’re within the base model, when you think about the actual fact the Niro GT-Line provides a ten.25-inch touchscreen that helps satellite tv for pc navigation, embedded AI voice command features, and Kia Join telematics together with distant automobile monitoring and eCalling.
See additional beneath to get a extra detailed breakdown of the added options you get by stepping up into the GT-Line.
Under the display screen and slim horizontal air vents is a slim touchscreen fascia that cleverly shortcuts you to numerous local weather management features, or media management shortcuts. Automobile manufacturers put too many features into screens today, however Kia’s execution felt intuitive.
Total construct high quality felt sturdy, though lots of the supplies really feel extra hard-wearing than premium. On an eco-friendly word, the headlining is constructed from recycled PET supplies, and the seats are constructed from Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus tree fibres.
One frequent grievance we’ve got; an excessive amount of piano black trimming, within the Niro’s case alongside the tunnel, which is little however a magnet for mud, scratches, and solar glare.
The gear shifter is enjoyable in its conventionality, however just like the wheel fabricated from plastic that feels downmarket.
There’s loads of storage, notably the massive centre console with retracting cupholders, and first rate door bins.
The again seats are surprisingly good. I’m 194cm and had ample foot, toe, knee, and head room behind my ultimate driving place. There are additionally rear USB ports, vents, ISOFIX/top-tether anchors, and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.
The boot capability is a claimed 425 litres, increasing to 1419L with the again seats folded. Beneath the ground lives a space-saver spare wheel.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Niro HEV’s drivetrain contains a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine making 77kW of energy and 144Nm of torque, in addition to a 32kW/170Nm electrical motor, for mixed outputs of 104kW and 265Nm.
The electrical motor is mounted within the six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, the compact 1.32kWh lithium-ion battery lives beneath the again seat, and the setup drives the entrance wheels. There’s no all-wheel drive choice.
The small battery’s reserves are stored in play by means of regenerative braking, which is identical manner Toyota’s ubiquitous system features. The upshot is claimed combined-cycle gasoline economic system of simply 4.0 litres per 100km utilizing 91 RON petrol on both the town or nation cycles, equal to 92 grams of CO2 per 100km.
With a 42L tank on board, theoretical driving vary sits above 1000km. For somebody who desires to chop their gasoline payments – AKA everybody – it’s a headline statistic.
Kia claims a 1300kg braked towing capability, however solely a 100kg most towball obtain.
How does the Kia Niro Hybrid S drive?
First off, gasoline economic system is completely wonderful. I averaged a real-world determine of 4.5 litres per 100km over 422.1km of driving together with city and freeway stints.
As is typical with hybrids, the petrol engine normally drives the automobile besides at low speeds the place the battery-powered electrical motor will get you rolling, which means it normally begins up silently.
That stated, I used to be in a position to slowly crawl up a car-park ramp on partial throttle in EV mode, whereas the engine may decouple at larger speeds as long as you aren’t taxing it a lot. I noticed an indicated 84km/h down a slight hill in EV mode.
It feels fairly zippy as you speed up as a result of it makes use of a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission, whereas the e-motor irons out a lot of the anticipated low-speed jerkiness these DCTs typically have. There’s the occasional noticeable powertrain handover however total it’s fairly clean.
It does run out of puff at larger speeds, as its circa 10-second 0-100km/h time confirmed, however round city it gives first rate ranges of response.
One draw back is the shortage of regenerative braking adjustment through the paddles, which is a function that solely comes within the GT-Line variant. The Niro S does, nonetheless, get Eco and Sport modes that regulate the drivetrain response barely on preliminary throttle utility.
The suspension contains impartial McPherson strut and multi-link rear designs with passive dampers, whereas the electrical energy steering system gives a ten.6-metre tuning circle.
The Niro additionally underwent an area trip and dealing with program to make sure its suitability for Australia’s distinctive roads – Kia Australia’s first full native growth program because the begin of the COVID pandemic.
It’s a lot sharper in corners than the pre-update mannequin, providing good physique management in corners and fairly responsive and direct steering. It additionally rides moderately effectively with loads of tyre sidewall to behave as further cushioning, although NVH suppression was solely reasonable.
Its driver-assist aids are typically well-calibrated – it will probably provide you with a warning when the automobile forward departs in case you’re not paying consideration, match the velocity of the automobile forward, steer between street traces for brief intervals, and cease itself in emergency braking conditions.
As ever, these ‘Stage 2’ driver aids require you to be answerable for the automobile always.
What do you get?
The Niro S’ options listing is restricted, with a number of options that we’d anticipate on a circa-$50,000 automobile not included – except you step up into the Niro GT-Line grade.
Niro HEV S highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Momentary spare
- Halogen projector headlights
- Nightfall-sensing headlights
- LED daytime working lights
- LED tail lights
- Heated, power-folding facet mirrors
- Rear parking sensors
- Polyurethane steering wheel
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Material and synthetic leather-based seats
- Eight-way powered driver’s seat
- Folding key, goes in barrel
- 8.0-inch touchscreen show
- Digital radio, AM/FM
- 6-speaker audio
- 4 x USB (3 x sort C)
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wi-fi Android Auto
- Reversing digicam
Niro HEV GT-Line provides:
- LED projector headlights
- 18-inch wheels
- Entrance parking sensors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privateness glass
- Powered tailgate
- Gloss black C-pillar choice
- Keyless entry and begin
- Steel scuff plates
- ‘Premium’ steering wheel
- Artificial leather-based seats
- Entrance seat heating and air flow
- Shift-by-wire gear shifter dial
- 10.25-inch central touchscreen
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.0-inch head-up show
- Wired Android Auto
- Wired Apple CarPlay
- Voice recognition, instructions
- Manufacturing unit satellite tv for pc navigation
- Kia Join telematic app providers
- Wi-fi telephone charger pad
- Ambient inside lighting, 64 colors
- Sounds of Nature program
Briefly, the usual options listing on this base Niro HEV S is stingy, contemplating its price.
Is the Kia Niro Hybrid S protected?
The Niro has the utmost five-star ANCAP security ranking with a 2022 date stamp.
It scored 88 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 84 per cent for little one occupant safety, 76 per cent for weak street person safety, and 87 per cent for security help options.
Commonplace security tools consists of:
- Twin entrance airbags
- Twin front-side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- Driver’s knee airbag
- Entrance-centre airbag
- 3 x prime tethers, 2 x ISOFIX
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Automobile, Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management
- Lane-keeping help
- Lane-following help
- Blind-spot collision avoidance help and avoidance
- Driver consideration alert, lead-driver departure alert
- Rear cross-traffic collision help and avoidance
- Protected exit warning
Niro GT-Line provides:
- Reverse AEB for parking
- Protected Exit Help ( retains door closed)
- Powered rear door little one locks
- Distant Good Park Help
- Distant eCall operate
How a lot does the Kia Niro Hybrid S price to run?
Whereas the gasoline economic system and seven-year/unlimited-mileage guarantee are excellent, the service prices are usually not.
Kia caps its service pricing and the intervals are both annual or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
Niro HEV service pricing:
- 1 12 months or 15,000km: $276
- 2 years or 30,000km: $653
- 3 years or 45,000km: $370
- 4 years or 60,000km: $1035
- 5 years or 75,000km: $311
- 6 years or 90,000km: $818
- 7 years or 105,000km: $533
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Niro Hybrid S
The brand new Kia Niro HEV S seems to be the half, drives fairly effectively, and is very fuel-efficient.
However I’m much less positive concerning the value-for-money equation, particularly given the massive listing of fascinating options restricted to the higher-spec GT-Line variant.
Does it ship a extra compelling bundle than a Honda HR-V e:HEV L or incoming Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid? On paper, I’d say not in S grade as examined.
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