At the heart of the Niro is a compact 1.6L 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 104 horsepower. This engine alone would make the Niro a poor performer, but luckily there is an electric motor as well helping to motivate the vehicle. Combined with the electric motor, the Niro produces 139 horsepower and a very robust 195 foot-pounds of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Unlike most other hybrids, which use a continuously variable transmission, the Kia's dual clutch unit helps provide strong acceleration at the cost of a slight penalty to fuel economy. The tradeoff is worth it; the Niro doesn't feel anchored to the ground like some other hybrids, while still returning up to 53 mpg in combined city and highway driving in its most basic form.
The Kia Niro comes in five trims, LX, EX, EX Touring, SX and SX Touring. The base LX trim has fewer amenities than its siblings but still comes with all the notable features one would expect in a compact car or SUV these days. Standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, steering wheel mounted controls for the sound system and cruise control, five USB ports, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated power external mirrors and 16-inch wheels.
The EX trim primarily adds an adaptive cruise control system, auto-high beams and push-button start system. Meanwhile, the EX Touring trim builds on the EX by offering cloth and leather seating trim, a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with 2-way power lumbar support and satellite radio. SX features a power liftgate, power sunroof, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated and ventilated front seats, driver seat memory, an 8-speaker sound system, 10.25-inch touchscreen,
At the top of the lineup is the SX Touring which adds LED headlights and front fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a leather wrapped gear shifter, heated steering wheel and wireless device charging.
Standard safety items on the Niro includes anti-lock brakes, front seat belts pretensioners, stability control, brake assist system, a bevy of airbags and a hill start control system. Advanced safety features across the lineup include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW), Pedestrian Detection and a Driver Attention Warning (DAW) system.
The Kia Niro gets a full redesign for 2023.
The Niro competes with other small SUVs and crossover vehicles such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The Niro won't break the bank, while still offering far better mileage than any of its competitors. Like all Kia's, the Niro comes standard with all the basics one would expect from a compact car and at the other end of the spectrum, the Niro is positively loaded with the kind of items that were only sold in luxury cars a few years ago.
