Road test: Kia Niro HEV GT-Line

Tuesday, 18 July 2023

The new Kia Niro has ditched the drab looks of its predecessor for styling that’s much more appealing.

Electric versus plug-in hybrid versus hybrid … it’s a conversation that echoes in our comment sections and in our chats with friends and family on a near constant basis. Few questions are more important these days for both consumer and carmaker. Do you prioritise one, or do you try to champion all three? Do you take a leap, or do you go conservative?

With bans on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles looming in markets like Europe, it seems most brands are edging towards focusing all of their brain power on full electric. But there’s something to be said for those carmakers, and those cars, that offer variety to their customers. Case in point, the Kia Niro.

The contrast-colour blade on the C-pillar can be optioned in the same colour as the rest of the body, or even bright red if you so choose.

Kia’s electrified crossover has always been a Goldilocks dream; offering full electrification for those who want it, alongside plug-in hybrid and traditional hybrid options. Paired to solid practicality and typically cracking value, few contenders have been able to touch the Niro for versatility.

The cabin’s swoopy dash will be familiar to anyone that’s sat inside a Kia EV6 or Sportage.

The problem with all of this is that, whilst all things Tesla, BYD, and Toyota dominate the EV and hybrid sales charts, there’s a good chance that you might have never heard of the Niro before. It’s never been a particular sales darling, despite its strong attributes and Kia’s increasingly strong reputation.

I suspect the Niro’s struggles centre around the drab, bland looks of its first generation. Fantastic versatility could not shake how its featureless styling would seamlessly blend into any background. The right product, issued at the right time, let down by sleepy looks.

Kia has given the Niro small SUV a hefty update for 2022. Check out all the details.

If my hypothesis is correct, then, the Niro is set for a popularity upheaval. Overhauled last year and arriving on our shores in early 2023, the new Niro looks absolutely brilliant. Retaining the people-mover-esque proportions of its predecessor, its silhouette is coloured in with plenty of interesting detailing.

Its concept-car looks stem directly from Kia’s 2019 HabaNiro concept. The chunky two-tone trim piece that wraps around the front end and forms the front wheel arch extensions stops at the back door. Its matching rear trim includes a ‘blade’ that envelopes the tail lights – which themselves frame a functional vent cavity in the C-pillar.

Unsure about the blades? Well, you can option them in the same colour as the rest of the car. Love the blades? Opt for them in black, or even bright red. It’s a refreshing take on what can sometimes be quite a homogenous looking segment.

The menu layouts in Kia’s latest software take a little getting used to, and the same goes for the ‘toggleable’ control panel under the main air vents.

Sorry, I’ve spent so much time talking about design that I forgot there’s an actual car underneath all that metal and plastic.

The new Niro is a smidgen longer and wider than its predecessor, while also being a touch less tall. Its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV models start at $44,990, $55,690, and $68,990, respectively. Whilst the plug-in hybrid and EV still benefit from Clean Car Discount, the hybrid recently lost its rebate privileges – falling just a couple of CO2 grams short.

It might look a little ‘fake’, but this is a genuine vent in the C-pillar with an open exit.

The Niro pictured here is the flagship hybrid; the $59,990 Niro HEV GT-Line, garnished with all the toys and wrapped with a sportier exterior. All HEVs feature the same 104kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid, paired to a 1.32kWh battery and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. And all Niros, regardless of thrust type, are front-wheel drive.

Inside, the Niro gets a dashboard similar to what we’ve seen in the EV6 and Sportage. A plunging top edge frames dual 10.25-inch screens housing Kia’s latest infotainment software. A head-up display, Harman Kardon audio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate, voice recognition, and USB-C plugs all feature.

The Niro’s ‘glow up’ could see it become the popular electrified option that it deserves to be.

It’s undoubtedly well kitted out, while also looking and feeling like a $60k car should. The screens are very high resolution with sound black levels at night time. As with the EV6 and Sportage, the touch screen control module under the central air vents (which toggles between being your air conditioning and audio hub) takes quite a bit of getting used to. Those with limited patience for technology are unlikely to be fans.

Space is, no surprise, excellent. Three adults can be housed in the back seat with ease thanks to huge amounts of legroom (although the centre seat still has to deal with a sizeable transmission tunnel hump). The boot can host up to 451L of your junk with the seats up, jumping to 1445L with them down. The Niro’s squared-off tail means a considerable opening and generous floor space.

The Niro’s boot space has a nice wide opening, with an integrated false floor.

Kia’s software looks good, although the digital cluster can look a little crowded at times.

The GT-Line has a packed spec list, with heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel on the list.

The Niro’s silhouette sits halfway between a hatchback and a compact crossover.

The Niro is Kia’s most affordable hybrid, although strictly speaking the ‘Niro Plus’ owns the crown.

Beyond its looks, the Niro’s best attribute is the way it drives.

It is far from quick, taking about 10 seconds to reach 100kph from a standstill. But it is refined. This is despite balancing an ICE engine and an electric motor, while also making use of a DCT – a transmission form that typically cannot match a torque-converted auto for smoothness.

The way the Niro transitions from petrol to electric is near enough seamless, with next to no unsettling clunks or sudden blurts of revs. The transmission is slick, too. Few brands have DCTs nailed down as well as Kia and Hyundai. It rides superbly, too, with its Continental rubber and sharp steering offering an admirable amount of support should your route include a craggy piece of road.

The Niro’s penchant for refinement continues to its fuel economy. Kia claims 4.4L/100km combined is possible and we almost equalled that, sighting 4.6L/100km during our week with it. For even better figures in urban areas, if you have enough battery in supply it will happily sit in EV mode up to 50kph.

For those wanting a car that can do it all, the Niro HEV has always been an excellent bet. The new Niro moves the bar up a few notches, with refinement good enough to match anything from hybrid maestros Toyota, and styling that creates genuine appeal.

Bonus images