- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Kia Niro SUV. 1st generation, 2019 restyling
The Kia Niro is a compact hybrid SUV manufactured by Kia (South Korea) since 2016. In 2021, Israeli buyers can purchase the first generation SUV after the restyling in 2019 (as of 2021). There are two versions, including a rechargeable hybrid and a mild hybrid.
If you look at the Niro carefully, you will see that it is not really an SUV, but an estate ‘elevated’ above the road. Yes, it has ‘off-road characteristics’, including large 18-inch wheels and a protective body kit made of unpainted plastic on the sills and wheel arches. The vehicle can be either hybrid or fully electric. Since the start of sales in 2016, a total of 270 thousand units have been sold. In Israel, the Kia Niro is very popular. Thus, in 2019 and 2020, the vehicle came in second in terms of intra-brand sales, while it held the third place in 2018.
Distinctive features
What place does the vehicle occupy in the model range? The new Kia Niro is 45 mm longer than the Kia Ceed hatchback (4,355 mm long), 20 mm wider (1,800 mm) and 60 mm higher (1,535 mm high). The SUV’s trunk is slightly larger than that of the hatchback: it will hold about 400 liters, and a full-size spare wheel is hidden under the floor. After restyling, the vehicle has acquired a more energetic exterior, featuring new LED headlights, the new shape of the bumper and the radiator grille. Running lights in the form of double converging arrows attract attention and will definitely not allow you to confuse the new model with its predecessor. The vehicle has different taillights, although the overall look of the rear end is a bit boring.
Inside, there is a new front panel, finished with more expensive and softer plastic. The list of options includes a two-color interior and a new parking brake that is activated not with a standard ‘pedal’, but with a button, and is equipped with an electric drive.
Powertrain
The hybrid system of the 2019/2020 Kia Niro has not changed: it is based on a 1.6-liter petrol direct fuel injection engine with 105 hp, generating a total output of 141 when paired with an electric motor and a torque of 265 Nm. The Niro has a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission and only front-wheel drive. The combined consumption is 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers.
Compared to the Niro Hybrid with a modest electric motor, which only ‘helps’ the petrol engine, and the 1.56 kWh lithium-polymer battery, the Plug-in Hybrid version is more powerful. The vehile has an electric motor with 61 hp and 170 Nm and a battery of 8.9 kWh, which provides a driving range of 49 km in 100% electric mode (WLTP).
Equipment
In Israel, the 2021 Kia Niro SUV comes with 2-zone climate control and 9 body colors. There are two trim levels: EX and Urban Out. The first one is equipped with the following safety systems: automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (the restyled version has acquired the ‘Start-stop’ function for driving in traffic jams), pedestrian recognition, a rear-view camera and automatic low/high beam switching. The more expensive Urban Out features the additional automatic detection of two-wheeled vehicles and an active lane departure warning system, operating at speeds up to 180 km/h.
