Niro is a brand new model from Kia, a car without the predecessor. Is a response to market demand, which is increasingly looking for SUVs and crossovers, but also vehicles with alternative drives. So, here we go, Kia Niro!

2016 Kia Niro highlights

• A mixture between an SUV and a conventional car.
• A parallel hybrid, and (only) front wheel drive.
• Perhaps, in the future, purely electric drive.
• Rich serial equipment.
• Interior roominess among the best in class.
• Shorter and lower than Sportage, but with more space for passengers.
• Built on the new group platform, designed for alternatively powered vehicles.
• On-sale in Europe from Q3 2016.

Kia Niro fills the gap between Cee’d, Soul and Sportage

At first glance, an observer is confused. It seems as if Kia Niro is “only” a Sportage, with hybrid drive under the hood. But it is not. In fact, Kia analyzed the market and find a gap between the small sports SUV (Soul), medium-sized Sports Activity Vehicles (Sportage) and cars of the lower middle class (Cee’d). In their view, the gap is large enough to be worth filling.

Kia Niro vs Kia Sportage (video comparison)

While Sportage is already recognized as a classic SUV, Kia Niro shows more like a crossover. In other words: Niro is lower, closer to the ground, but on the whole more of a passenger car than the Sportage. On top, also has a hybrid drive.

Kia Niro is not available with a conventional (gasoline or diesel) engines

From the very beginning, from a blank sheet of paper, Niro is a different car than the Sportage. It is based on the new Group platform, which was developed specifically and exclusively for vehicles with alternative drive. At Hyundai, this honor belongs to Ioniq, now joined by Kia Niro. Again, compared to the Sportage, Niro is shorter (and, as already stated, lower), but also more efficient at using the given centimeters, due to the longer wheelbase. Therefore, it is not much smaller inside than the Sportage.

Some measures are even higher and there is surprisingly a lot of knee space on the rear bench. Of course, its appearance is in accordance with the company commandments and may indeed be too similar to Sportage. But we are sure it will be easily recognizable. The front and rear have some peculiar bright metallic flaps at the bottom part.

Five strengths of Kia Niro: appearance, space, equipment, drive and driving dynamics

So they believe and are confident in at Kia. It is clear that the appearance did not go far from Sportage, as the Sportage makes a lot of sales also due to the good looks. The internal space main ace is primarily the height, which is the best in its class, front and back. Trunk poses no record volume, but seats can be divided into thirds and offer flat surface when they are folded.

Kia Niro equipment includes, today almost mandatory, modern assistance systems. Among other things offers in eight directions electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory, four heated and two (front) cooled seats, bi-xenon headlights, and wireless mobile phone charging. Campers will appreciate the possibility of towing trailers up to 1,300 kilograms. Naturally, also the music is very important today. Therefore, the system with six speakers comes serial, but for an extra charge, you get a JBL with eight speakers, powered by a 320-watt amplifier.

Assistance systems

Serial in Niro is the (passive and active) system to prevent unintentional traffic lane change. In addition, the buyer can surcharge an automatic emergency braking (identification of vehicles and pedestrians), radar cruise control system for blind spots and warning against cross traffic when backing.

In addition, Niro offers other, less widely used systems for driver assistance. When traveling, the navigation device can predict turns ahead and advise the driver in time to withdraw a foot from the pedal of gas. Furthermore, and that is an innovation in the automotive industry, it can detect when the road goes up or downhill and adjusts the drive ratio of petrol and electric drive, for lower fuel consumption.

The parallel hybrid drive runs the front wheels

Even the hybrid drive was decided on the basis of the analysis. An SUV with a conventional drive is not “city driving friendly” and causes higher pollution. And conventional hybrids are today (depending on external measures) dimensionally limited, unattractive and in particular non-dynamic in driving. Therefore, the Kia decided to combine the advantages of both listed: driving dynamics, modern look, multifunctionality, ecological acceptability, economy (consumption) and technical innovation.

The drive is, therefore, the classic parallel hybrid, which means that you can run Kia Niro solely on gasoline, electricity or both simultaneously, depending on many factors. And everything is, of course, controlled by electronics. The entire propulsion package for this platform, which can power only the front wheels, is placed under the front bonnet: four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection (which operates under the Atkinson cycle), a six-speed dual clutch gearbox with integrated thin, modern electric motor and a control part, composed of two inverter, converter and electronics. The drive battery and fuel tank are positioned under the rear seats.

Dual clutch gearbox for more driving dynamics

The decision for the dual clutch gearbox in Kia Niro is not accidental. It is the one element in the drive, which in comparison with the conventional hybrid vehicles CVT transmissions provides significantly more driving dynamics. Kia Niro plays the two programs, which are selected by the driver with the gear lever (Eco and Sport, the setting also affects the response of the steering wheel), and you can shift manually. Kia figured out that the importance of sports, or at least a dynamic driving style, is more and more important. From 2009 until today, the number of customers with such needs rose by half, which cannot be ignored.

And driving dynamics also requires other approaches: a rigid body, light materials (aluminum on both covers, front bumper holder and on some elements of the chassis, fiberglass for “hand” brake pedal…) and aerodynamics (air “curtain” for smooth flow around the front wheels, optimized upper rear part of the chassis, active closures for engine air inlet, rear diffuser). The Kia Niro coefficient of air resistance is 0.29. At the same time, they took care of a low cabin noise and reduced vibrations in the interior.

Connectivity: navigation device and smartphones

Seven and eight-inch central touch screens are available, with Bluetooth, digital tuner, and the TomTom navigation system. The navigation system is loaded with different connectivity services (traffic, speed radars, weather forecast…). For an additional charge, the connectivity to phones with the Android operating system is already available, while the owners of IOS operating system will have to wait until the end of the year. Already mentioned wireless charger will warn the driver to charge his phone when (if) he will leave the car, show charging status and prevent the overheating of the phone during use.

Why is the difference in consumption with different wheels so big?

All of the above is largely true. Niro is significantly more dynamic than the average hybrid-powered vehicles, but it is also true that is somehow not fully showing the total system power of 141 HP. At almost 1,500 kilograms, Kia Niro is relatively responsive up to a speed of about 80 kilometers. Above this speed, the dose of dynamics decreases. Also, the consumption under five liters for hundred kilometers, produced in a short test, seems a very good result. Especially because the air conditioner was operating at full steam, and during test drive, nobody can be specifically gentle with the gas pedal.

Looking at declared fuel consumption, some doubts arise, as 18-inch wheels clearly spending more fuel than 16-inch ones. But Kia explains that this is just a tax on the desired (with selected wheels) dynamics. Larger wheels are less aerodynamic, somewhat heavier tires on them are more sporty and therefore require more fuel, which ultimately adds up to 0.6 liters per hundred kilometers higher consumption. But 1,184 (16-inch wheels) versus 978 (18-inch wheels) kilometers of total range can be an importantly decisive number.

Kia Niro cheaper or more expensive than Sportage?

Prices are not yet known. But it is clear in advance: in principle, it will be cheaper than the Sportage, but only in theory. Due to the fact that it will be better equipped and with a serial hybrid drive. Which means that the cheapest Sportage will probably be noticeably cheaper than the cheapest Niro. It’s so – Niro is targeting on a narrow range of customers with specific wishes and requirements.

2016 Kia Niro competition and rivals

• Hyundai Ioniq hybrid (video comparison below)
• Nissan Juke
• Toyota C-HR (video comparison below)
• Chevrolet Trax
• Honda HR-V
• Fiat 500X
• Jeep Renegade (video comparison below)
• Mazda CX-3

Hyundai Ioniq hybrid vs. Kia Niro hybrid

Niro vs Ioniq. These two Koreans are strongly connected because they are sharing the same powertrain. Although Ioniq has slightly better performance, Niro represents the increasingly popular SUV / Crossover vehicle class. Overall, the small difference in price should not play an important role.

Kia Niro vs. Toyota C-HR

Kia Niro vs. Jeep Renegade

New 2016 Kia Niro technical specification (for Europe)

Body and chassis

Five-door, five-seater hybrid crossover, with steel and aluminium unitary construction bodyshell. Gasoline four-cylinder engines and parallel hybrid system driving the front wheels via six-speed double-clutch transmission.

Powertrain

1.6-Litre / 105 Ps GDI

Type: DOHC, four cylinder in-line
Capacity:1.6-litres
Bore and stroke: 72.0 x 97.0
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Max power: 105 ps (77 kW) @ 5,700 rpm
Max torque: 147 Nm (108 lb ft) @ 4,000 rpm
Valves: 16 (four per cylinder)
Fuel system: Gasoline direct injection
Emissions class: Euro Stage 6b

Battery And Electric Motor

Battery type: Lithium-ion polymer
Voltage: 240 V
Energy: 1.56 kWh
Max power (motor): 44 ps (32 kW) @ 1,798-2,500 rpm
Max torque: 170 Nm (125 lb ft) @ 0-1,798 rpm

Combined Hybrid System

Total power: 141 ps (104 kW) @ 5,700 rpm
Total torque: 265 Nm (195 lb ft) @ 1,000-2,400 rpm

Transmission

Six-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT)

Drivetrain

Front-wheel drive

Suspension and damping

Front: Fully-independent by subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar
Rear: Fully-independent by subframe-mounted double wishbones, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar

Steering

Type: Electric motor-driven rack-and-pinion power steering
Steering ratio: 13.9:1
Turns, lock-to-lock: 2.66
Turning circle: 5.3 metres

Brakes

Front: 15-inch ventilated discs
Rear: 14-inch solid discs
Parking brake: Foot-operated

Wheels and tyres

Standard: Alloy 16-inch, 205/60 R16 tyres
Optional: Alloy 18-inch, 225/45 R18 tyres
Spare: Tyre mobility kit or optional temporary spare wheel

Dimensions (mm)

Overall length: 4,355
Overall width (excluding door mirrors): 1,805
Overall height: 1,535
Wheelbase: 2,700
Front overhang: 870
Rear overhang: 785
Ride height (ground clearance): 160

Capacities

Fuel tank: 45 litres
Luggage compartment (VDA): 427 litres

Weights (kg)

Curb weight: 1,425
Gross weight: 1,930
Tow capacity, braked: 1,300 (Optional Towing Pack available from Q4 2016)

Performance

Top speed (kph): 162
0-100 kph (secs): 11.5

Economy litres / 100 kilometers

Combined: 3.8 (4.4 with 18-inch wheels)
Urban: 3.8 (4.4 with 18-inch wheels)
CO2 (g/km): 88 (101 with 18-inch wheels)

Image credit: Kia