Kia Niro PHEV test: expected to go on sale

It is not always the case that the cars that make the most of themselves are also the most successful. A good example is the Kia Niro.

It was originally a fairly faceless crossover, one of many models in this category. But then Kia came out with the news that the Niro would also come in an electric version and then set off here at home!

Before Christmas in 2017, the importer opened orders. It went so well that after a short time they had to shut down the booking solution and focus on keeping the waiting time almost in check. The factory was unable to meet the demand. This eventually led to quite a few frustrated Norwegian customers.

Now it’s ready for a whole new generation of Nero. The first cars are in place in Norway.

The electric version is only a few weeks away. But the first is the additive hybrid. It starts at NOK 389,900 (comfort), while the well-appointed Exclusive Edition starts at NOK 469,900.

Read on – and you’ll find out why we think this car will be a rare sight in Norway.

Note: This is a short test. This means that we have tested this model before. Now we’re testing it as a plug-in hybrid. You’ll find a more comprehensive test of the new Kia Niro EV here:

what’s new?

Talk about a design change! Where the former Niro was almost anonymous and beloved, Kia went for more here. Of course, it is also useful that the concept car has a rather special green color, as well as several design elements that are clearly there for the car to notice.

Now at first, Nero is attracting attention, including from the guy who comes by to say he’s ordered the electric car version and is looking forward to receiving it.

The interior is also completely new. The dashboard is a slightly scaled down version of what we find in the EV6 electric car. This means, among other things, a much more expensive screen solution than we used to find in this class in the past.

The drivetrain combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor. The total, the so-called system power, is 183 horsepower. The car must run 59 kilometers of electricity, before it discharges the 11.1 kW battery pack. As before, front-wheel drive is applied, Kia does not offer all-wheel drive on this.

The Nero has grown a few centimeters in length, and now it is 4.42 meters long from bumper to bumper. So we’re still talking about built-in measures.

All about Kia at broom.no – click here:

How it works?

The first thing we notice is a rather high sitting position. It’s almost a little weird that the driver’s seat can’t be adjusted down, but that’s usually how you get used to it.

Inside is a fun place. The dashboard is dominated by two 10.25-inch screens that merge into one. We also learn about the EV6’s infotainment system. Here, the Niro is capitalizing on Kia’s significant investment in electric vehicles and technology.

The steering line fits the car well. At the same time, it is quite clear that Kia has no ambitions to make a racing car. 0-100 km / h in 9.6 seconds confirms this. Many competitors in some cases noticeably faster.

59 kilometers of electricity seems quite realistic. With varied driving in temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees, we end up many times at around 60 kilometres.

There are many driving programs. You can lock the car to start electrically, and you can also “save” the energy in the battery pack, until you’re driving downtown, for example.

The fact that the gasoline engine is not bulky is a positive for consumption when the battery pack is empty. In especially large and rechargeable SUVs, fuel consumption can be disproportionately high. With the Niro, we ended up with about 0.60L/mile on the regular road, after the battery was empty. The system also naturally continues to regenerate thereafter.

As usual with plug-in hybrids, your driving style has a lot to say about how useful the car is. If you drive mostly short distances and are good at charging – it runs almost like an electric car and you rarely have to visit a gas station. However, if you do a lot of long-distance driving, a good part of the point will also disappear.

The last thing that might be worth noting here is the trunk. With 348 liters, it is surprisingly small. As an electric car, the Niro has a 475-liter luggage compartment, there is a big difference and it shows quite clearly which of the versions Kia gave the highest priority. With so little room for luggage, many would likely think that the rechargeable Niro would at least be made as a family car.

Here we tested the e-Niro for the first time – in France

conclusion:

There are many good things about the new Kia Niro, and this also applies to the rechargeable version. However, we think it may take a long time between every time you see a car with a PHEV badge on the tailgate.

In this category, the vast majority of customers want an electric car. The price of the electric Nero starts at just 2,000 SEK higher than the price of the rechargeable version, more specifically from NOK 391,900. The Attractive Exclusive Edition is cheaper as an electric vehicle compared to a rechargeable hybrid, NOK 456.900 versus NOK 469900. This probably does not make the choice more difficult.

In addition, the luggage compartment in the electric car version is the size of a family car, which we can not say about 348 liters in the plug-in hybrid. In return, you can tow a trailer weighing 1300 kg here, the electric car is enough for 750 kg. As for the roof load, the numbers are 100 kilograms for a plug-in hybrid. The electric vehicle version is also approved for roof carry, but the final figure here isn’t clear yet.

None of the versions were offered with 4×4. This is another loss for some potential buyers.

How can this be so cheap?

The right car for you if:

You’re not ready for an electric car – instead you want a fuel-efficient, compact hybrid.

Not the right car for you if:

You see the plug-in hybrid as an intermediate solution that we no longer need.

This is probably the safest car purchase in Norway

What does the angel think?

in brooms car manualNorwegian owners can talk about their cars. Much like Tripadvisor for cars. So far we have received over 10,000 comments!

You can also tell us about your car: click here – It’s done quickly.

Many owners of rechargeable Kia Niro cars gave their car reviews. Click here to read their opinions on the topic:

This is how we said goodbye to the previous generation, Nero

Video: Here we met the new Nero for the first time