Test Kia Niro HEV 141 CV Emotion 2022 (with video)

The second-generation Kia Niro was unveiled in 2022 as the South Korean automaker 's most significant new model , at least in terms of sales volume. This car is always electrified , offering three distinct versions: a conventional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and a fully electric variant.

In our case, we ordered a standard Kia Niro hybrid, the non-plug-in version , because we believe it's the option that best suits the needs of most customers in our country. It's also the most affordable, starting at €27.800 . We tested this Kia Niro HEV with the top-of-the-range Emotion trim.

New Kia Niro, new forms for the same concept

Aesthetically, the new Niro is a bold car . Like its predecessor, it boasts a crossover aesthetic , somewhere between a compact car and an SUV. However, it has abandoned rounded shapes in favor of straighter lines, opting for a more distinctive design. Take a look at the front, with its very thin grille, large headlights, and a prominent lower grille.

The side profile also has a lot to say, combining the green bodywork with significant black areas, especially the contrasting rear pillar. But what caught my eye most about this rear pillar is that it has actual air channels that end in the taillights. Kia says that this reduces turbulence and, therefore, improves aerodynamics.

At the rear, the slim, boomerang-shaped vertical LED taillights and the roof spoiler stand out. One thing I'm not entirely convinced about is the placement of the turn signals and reverse lights at the bottom. They're always easier to see at mid-height, so I'd prefer them positioned slightly higher.

Great evolution in technology for the passenger compartment

Once inside, let's start with what's been most eye-catching lately: the screens . We have a very well-executed and partially customizable 10,25-inch instrument cluster. Right next to it is the 10,25-inch screen for the multimedia system . It feels very fluid and is easy to use, which is always a plus.

The climate control can be operated from the screen or from a lower section, similar to the Sportage or EV6. As you can see, there are a couple of traditional rotary dials, but other functions are touch-sensitive . It's well-organized, but I still prefer all the controls to be traditional buttons. If you press a button, the climate control menu disappears and switches to other menus for map, radio, audio, and so on, with the rotary dial now used to control the volume and radio station.

We also have USB and cigarette lighter sockets, wireless phone charging , decent storage compartments, and further in the center we find the gear selector and buttons for heated seats , steering wheel controls, AutoHold, parking sensors, and more. Unfortunately, as you can see, there's a lot of glossy black plastic , which looks great when it's perfectly clean, but that's not the case even when you first get the car from the dealership.

Regarding the steering wheel, it's a new design and, curiously, only has two horizontal spokes, whereas usually they also have at least one vertical spoke in the lower section. I wasn't very comfortable with it at first, but it's true that you eventually get used to it.

Although with improvable details

In terms of quality, it falls a notch short of the Sportage. Mind you, the materials chosen, except for the Piano Black trim, are more than adequate, as are the fit and finish. But there are a couple of minor details, such as the material chosen for the headliner and the dome light , that could be improved. It's clear they've cut costs a bit there.

Finally, before moving on to the rear seats, we're in the Emotion trim, the top of the range, which means we have electric adjustments and heating for both front seats . I found these seats very comfortable, by the way. Now, let's move on to the second row.

The rear side seats are very spacious.

In terms of rear passenger space, the back seats offer ample room for two adults of virtually any size—within normal limits—in the side seats. In my case, with the driver's seat adjusted to my height of 1,76 meters, I have plenty of legroom and several centimeters of headroom.

The central plaza is quite narrow, although it will come in handy for short one-off journeys.

In another order of things, in this second row we find a magazine rack, USB sockets in the front seatbacks, ventilation outlets -without temperature control- and a central armrest with cup holders.

Solvent trunk for a family

This Emotion trim level features automatic tailgate opening. Once the tailgate is open, this non-plug-in hybrid version offers 451 liters of cargo space . The PHEV (plug-in hybrid) variant offers 348 liters, while the electric E-Niro boasts 475 liters.

That said, as you can see, it's quite a usable space. The wheel arches are a bit of an inconvenience, though not too much, and we have a double-height floor with a good-sized storage area. What strikes me as odd is the style of the tray. It's thin and clearly doesn't weigh much, but… I don't know, it feels like tissue paper.

Motors: Electric, plug-in hybrid and normal hybrid

As we mentioned at the beginning, the Kia Niro is available with three powertrains. Let's start with the e-Niro, the all-electric version . It has a 64,8 kWh battery that powers a 204 hp motor. Its official combined-cycle range is 460 kilometers, which isn't bad at all.

Next up is the plug-in hybrid , which combines a 105 hp 1.6-liter gasoline engine with an 84 hp electric motor for a combined output of a more than respectable 183 hp. The electric component draws its power from an 11,1 kWh battery. Its electric-only range is 65 kilometers.

We're testing the conventional, non-plug-in hybrid Niro. It has a 1.6-liter gasoline engine producing 105 hp and a 44 hp electric motor powered by a small 1,3 kWh battery. Together, they deliver 141 hp and 265 Nm of torque, and among other performance figures, we find a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 10,4 seconds and a top speed of 165 km/h. The official combined fuel consumption is 4,4 l/100 km.

Unlike other conventional hybrid vehicles, this Niro uses a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. And as a curiosity, this transmission does not have a reverse gear, but the electric motor will always take care of this function.

At the wheel of the KIA Niro HEV

We've covered all the theory, so now, what's it like behind the wheel of this car? Well, honestly, it's a very easy car to drive. It's practically flawless; there are only a couple of points I think could be improved, which I'll detail later, but the truth is, it's one of those cars you barely need any time to get used to. It feels like you've been driving it for years.

Its response is smooth, yet powerful at low speeds if, for example, you want to accelerate quickly from an intersection. That's where the electric motor's instant torque is most noticeable , allowing for very rapid acceleration. Furthermore, it also helps to keep fuel consumption down in those situations.

Comfortable suspension, too comfortable?

The suspension has a relatively soft setup , making it comfortable for long journeys or city driving. However, in my opinion, it lacks a touch of stiffness to better control body roll, as some inertia is noticeable in corners or under hard braking.

And since I've mentioned braking, here's one of the points I think could be improved. Mind you, if you brake hard, the car stops quickly and safely. But as is the case with most hybrid or electric cars, we don't get a good feel for the brake pedal.

This is due to regenerative braking, and sometimes it's difficult to gauge it with complete precision. There are times when we're braking relatively gently and we get the feeling that we're not judging correctly, that we're tailgating the car in front of us. As I said, this is common in electric cars. I hope manufacturers start working more on this aspect to improve driving comfort.

Acoustic insulation one point lower than expected

On the other hand, we have two driving modes—Eco and Sport—which are controlled by a button on the steering wheel. In Eco mode, the engine response is smooth, perhaps too smooth, and the paddle shifters allow us to manage engine braking when we lift our foot off the accelerator, which is very useful. Meanwhile, in Sport mode, the engine reacts more immediately, and in this case, the paddle shifters allow us to manage the six gears of the transmission.

The other thing that caught my attention about this car, and not in a good way, is the sound insulation. More road noise reaches the cabin than I expected , especially tire noise. This probably surprised me because Kia is putting a lot of effort into these details in other models, like the Sportage, but I don't think they've done as well with the Niro.

Adjusted and stable consumption

Where there can be no complaints is in the fuel consumption section . You don't need to drive very efficiently to see very low consumption figures on the trip computer.

On the highway at normal speeds, it achieves around 5,5 l/100 km, while in the city, where we get the most benefit from these hybrid models, it's easy to achieve consumption figures of 4,5 liters simply by accelerating gently from a standstill. In fact, during this week of testing, the total consumption has been 4,7 l/100 km.

Conclusions after testing the Kia Niro

As you've seen throughout the video, I expected a little more from the Kia Niro in some details, such as the cabin noise or the finish of the headliner. In these aspects, I think it could be a tad better.

However, it has many positive aspects , such as a bolder design, a very smooth and comfortable ride (except for the aforementioned brake feel), and, above all, remarkably low fuel consumption under normal driving conditions. Furthermore, I believe it's a car that performs very well as a single vehicle for a family of four.

Equipment Kia Niro

Concept

• Front and rear windows
• Electric parking brake
• Roof bars
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lights
• light sensing
• Rear Seat Occupant Alert
• Lane Following Assist
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear USB charger
• Dual zone air conditioning
• Cruise control
• Instrument panel with 4,2-inch screen
• Driving mode selector
• rear parking sensor
• 8-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• speed limit recognition system
• Height adjustable driver and passenger seat

Drive (add)

• rotary shift selector
• darkened moons
• Mirror caps in black
• Electric and heated exterior mirrors with built-in indicator
• roadside driving assistance
• Blind Spot Assist
• Bluetooth with voice recognition
• wireless charger for mobile phone
• Adaptive cruise control
• shift paddles
• Kia Connect Navigator
• 10,25 inch digital box
• electrochromic mirror
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Emergency braking at intersections
• Electronic start and smart key
• Driver's seat with electric adjustments and lumbar adjustment
• mixed upholstery

Emotion (add)

• Chrome interior handles
• sports pedals
• Chrome door sill guards and handles
• heated steering wheel
• Full-LED headlights
• 18-inch wheels
• Sunroof
• Head-Up Display
• hands-free tailgate
• Harman Kardon audio system
• remote parking with key
• Heated front seats with electrical adjustments
• Ventilation in the front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Faux leather upholstery

Kia Niro Prices

Official prices according to the Kia configurator.

Editor's opinion

Kia Niro Gallery