Kia continues to bet heavily on electrified mobility and the interesting thing is that it does so using different technologies. Its new electric models EV6 and EV9 lead this electric offensive, but the Korean brand has other practical and versatile cars to fight for decarbonization. This is the case of the Niro PHEV, a very functional SUV-style vehicle, which has the advantages of 100% electric vehicles without their main drawback. That is, by having a gasoline engine - in addition to the electric one - it does not depend exclusively on electricity.
It should be noted that the Niro has a very practical size, halfway between the Stonic and the Sportage, within Kia's SUV range. With external dimensions of 4.42 meters long, 1.82 meters wide and 1.57 meters high, the trunk is made up of 348 liters due to the presence of the battery. Enough, in any case, for the luggage of four passengers.
Inside, Kia has made a series of visual and material modifications that create a more exclusive atmosphere and enhance the quality of the cabin. Thus, the upper part of the dashboard is finished with a high-quality, soft-touch coating, while the rest of the dashboard and instrumentation feature a gloss black finish with silver or satin chrome highlights.
All key controls have been ergonomically positioned to be within reach of the driver. An off-center dashboard houses two adjacent, frameless 10.25-inch screens to control the driving and infotainment systems, while a multifunction touch panel allows you to adjust ventilation and heating, minimizing driver distractions. A head-up display system projects essential driving information such as speed, ADAS (driving assistance systems) data and navigation directions directly onto the windshield, increasing safety and the comfort.
In the cabin, the commitment to the environment has also been taken into account. The headliner is made from recycled wallpaper, the door panels are finished with paint without volatile organic compounds and the seat covers are made of vegan polyurethane leather and contain Tencel material from eucalyptus trees. Likewise, the trunk cover is made with 75% recycled fibers. They are all sustainable elements that are respectful of the environment, with natural finishes that are pleasant to the touch.
The Niro PHEV uses Kia's plug-in hybrid technology that combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine that develops 105 HP with an 84 HP electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In total, the set delivers 183 HP, with a good thrust capacity available at all times (265 Nm of maximum torque). With the Emotion finish, it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 162 km/h, which are correct figures and appropriate to its ecological nature.
In any case, the Niro plug-in hybrid moves well on all types of roads. It is quite agile, with contained body movements, although it is designed for family use, quiet driving, and certainly relaxed. Above all, its electric range of 65 km stands out, sufficient for most daily trips. And the six-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission. As a curiosity, in this second generation of the DCT transmission, to make it more efficient, the reverse gears have been eliminated. Instead, it is the electric motor that performs reverse gear, which further improves comfort.
The driver has two driving modes, Eco and Sport, which are easily activated with a button on the steering wheel. In Eco driving mode, the steering wheel paddles are used to vary the intensity of regenerative braking. There are four levels, the first of which does not retain anything and the car circulates freely. The maximum retention level, the one that recovers the most electricity, is very useful in the city since when you release the accelerator pedal the Niro stops, practically without braking. In this way, it is easy to play with the paddles to achieve progressive decelerations without (almost) touching the brake pedal.
In Sport mode, the paddles allow you to change the gears of the DCT transmission. This program makes it easier to recharge the battery, but consumption increases slightly. Also indicate that it includes an EV mode that forces the electric motor to be used exclusively, if there is a charge in the battery. With EV mode, the Niro PHEV can achieve a top speed of 134 km/h without intervention from the gasoline engine.
With the standard 3.3 kW Niro PHEV charger, it takes about two and a half hours to fully charge the battery. Standard equipment includes active cruise control, rear traffic assistant, rear camera, traffic sign recognition system, keyless entry and start or involuntary lane change alert.
