The Niro has been a roaring success for Kia. It’s the brand’s second best-selling vehicle in the UK, trailing only the Sportage and accounting for around 20 percent of the company’s total sales. That’s a good chunk of income, especially when you consider that the Niro sits amongst a range of 11 cars.
Now, Kia has confirmed it will launch a replacement for the Niro – and first impressions suggest that the apple won’t fall far from the tree. This new model is an evolution of the old one, which features a similar range of hybrid and electric powertrains, but updated styling and technology.
The second-generation Niro will rival family SUVs such as the Toyota C-HR, Peugeot 3008 and SEAT Ateca, as well as electric family cars like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf. Kia plans to release full UK prices and specifications for the new Niro at the end of April 2022.
Like the outgoing model, the second-generation Kia Niro won’t be available with a pure petrol-powered engine. The company is striving to become an electric-only manufacturer by 2035, with 14 new electric cars planned between now and 2027. The new Niro will be instrumental in getting the company’s electrification strategy off the ground.
What engines will it have?
The new Niro will be available with a choice of three powertrains, all of which will be familiar to owners of the current model. The cheapest variant will feature a full hybrid system based on Kia’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with an output of 141hp.
Above that, there’ll be a plug-in hybrid model which is based on the same petrol engine, but adds a more powerful electric motor and a larger battery pack. Output increases to 183hp, and Kia says that the PHEV Niro will be able to cover 40 miles on electric power alone.
Both hybrid systems feature a new intelligent Green Zone Drive Mode, which uses the car’s navigation system to automatically force the car to run on electric power in built-up areas. The system is programmed to activate near schools and hospitals, although the driver can store personal Green Zones using the infotainment system.
In the interest of efficiency, Kia has also removed the reverse gear from both hybrid cars’ six-speed automatic gearboxes, saving 2.3kg of weight. Now, the Niro relies solely on its electric motor for driving in reverse, which the company says helps to trim down the SUV’s emissions when manoeuvring.
The pure-electric version of the next Kia Niro will feature the same drivetrain and battery pack as the high-capacity version of the outgoing e-Niro. That means a 201hp motor sending drive through a single speed transmission to the front wheels. The system is powered by a 64.8kWh battery pack mounted under the car’s floor.
Kia says the new Niro will be able to travel 288 miles between charging stops, which is around six miles more than the old car. A 10–80 percent charge will take 43 minutes using a rapid charging station, while 0–62mph takes 7.8 seconds.
What’s it like inside?
A lot like the pure-electric EV6. The new Niro gets the same dual-screen infotainment setup, with a pair of 10.25-inch displays mounted ahead of the driver. One handles infotainment functions, while the other presents info like speed and range. A 10-inch head-up display will also be available, projecting items such as navigation instructions and speed onto the windscreen.
Other technology highlights include natural voice recognition, fast-charging USB-C ports mounted in the rear seats and remote smart parking, which allows the driver to exit the vehicle and have the car park itself in tight spaces. The EV model also has a vehicle-to-load function, meaning drivers can power external appliances (such as power tools or lights) using the energy in the car’s battery pack.
In-keeping with Kia’s latest eco-conscious business model, the Niro’s cabin has been trimmed in eco-friendly materials. The seats are finished in a vegan leather made from Eucalyptus trees, the cargo screen is made from 75 percent recycled fabric and the headlining is made from recycled wallpaper. Kia has also fitted the new Niro with more sound deadening than the old model to help with refinement.
Kia says the next-generation Niro will be one of the most spacious models in its class. The Niro EV’s has 495 litres of storage space (taking its conventional boot and front cargo area into account), while the hybrid and PHEV models offer 451 and 348 litres respectively. Fold the rear seats flat, and space increases to as much as 1,445 litres.
What safety technology does it come with?
Highlights include lane-keeping assist, high-beam assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist and navigation-based smart cruise control, which uses the sat-nav system to anticipate upcoming corners and automatically reduce the car’s speed when required. The system will then return to the set cruising speed once the conditions are safe to do so.
There’s an arsenal of parking technology, too. In addition to the remote smart parking system, buyers get an array of cameras and ultrasonic sensors. There’s also a reverse parking collision avoidance assist system which can prevent the driver from backing into a bollard by automatically applying the brakes.
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