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Kia Niro First Edition 1.6 HEV
September 2016
Likes:
- Good amount of standard equipment
- Doesn't shout about its environmental credentials
- Handles relatively well
- Offers better value than you might think
Gripes:
- Petrol engine drones slightly under load
- Expensive compared to crossover rivals
- Higher trim levels increase fuel consumption and emissions
- Vague steering spoils otherwise solid driving dynamics
Kia's new crossover may look like any other small SUV-cum-hatchback, but the ordinary bodywork hides a complex hybrid powertrain. As well as taking on the Fiat 500X and Skoda Yeti, the Niro is pitched as a high-riding alternative to eco-friendly hatchbacks like the Toyota Prius.
The Niro is Kia's first dedicated hybrid - the old Optima hybrid simply shoehorned an electric motor into a chassis built for internal combustion engines - but it doesn't really shout about it. At first glance, it looks like any other small crossover, but that's the whole idea. This is a green car that doesn't shove its eco credentials down people's throats.
It's fairly normal inside, too, where there's a mix of parts lifted from other cars in the range. That's no bad thing, though - it's well put together and there's nothing wrong with how it looks. It will set you back a few pounds, though, with base models costing about GBP7,000 more than the entry-level Fiat 500X.
On-board tech is generous, however. Two-zone climate control and alloy wheels are standard features across the range, and all but the most basic cars get goodies like touchscreen infotainment systems. Top-spec cars, meanwhile, come with a whole host of toys, including a panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats.
But the centrepiece is the hybrid powertrain, which combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to send 139bhp to the front wheels. In more modestly equipped cars such as the '2'-grade model on test, it only emits 88g of carbon dioxide per kilometre and officially returns more than 74mpg.
The Niro is Kia's first dedicated hybrid - the old Optima hybrid simply shoehorned an electric motor into a chassis built for internal combustion engines - but it doesn't really shout about it. At first glance, it looks like any other small crossover, but that's the whole idea. This is a green car that doesn't shove its eco credentials down people's throats.
It's fairly normal inside, too, where there's a mix of parts lifted from other cars in the range. That's no bad thing, though - it's well put together and there's nothing wrong with how it looks. It will set you back a few pounds, though, with base models costing about GBP7,000 more than the entry-level Fiat 500X.
On-board tech is generous, however. Two-zone climate control and alloy wheels are standard features across the range, and all but the most basic cars get goodies like touchscreen infotainment systems. Top-spec cars, meanwhile, come with a whole host of toys, including a panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats.
But the centrepiece is the hybrid powertrain, which combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to send 139bhp to the front wheels. In more modestly equipped cars such as the '2'-grade model on test, it only emits 88g of carbon dioxide per kilometre and officially returns more than 74mpg.