Kia Niro Hybrid – Back to Basics

Kia Niro Comfortline, €31,995

If you are interested in a Kia Niro but don’t feel like messing around with charging cables, there is nothing to choose from when it comes to powertrains. The only Niro without a plug is the variant with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder coupled to an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The maximum system power of the Niro HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) is 141 hp, good for a standard sprint time of 10.4 seconds and a peak speed of 165 km/h. Please note: then you are dealing with a Niro on 16-inch wheels, because with the heavier, less aerodynamic 18-inch ones, the 0 to 100 is 10.8 seconds and the top is 162 km / h. The Niro can tow up to 1,300 kg on its (available at extra cost) towbar.

Apart from those smaller wheels, the cheapest Niro can be recognized by the lack of both parking sensors and fog lights at the front. The white unilak is the only ‘free’ color, other (metallic) colors cost €795 extra.

Poker

If you see a white 16-inch Niro driving by, know that the owner has basically done nothing wrong by going for a basic version. He or she could have gone for a Dynamicline, DynamicPlusline or Executiveline, but with the cheapest Comfortline you will soon be comfortable. That’s thanks to the ever-present dual-zone automatic air conditioning and a host of systems that make traveling with the Niro safer and easier. Even adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assistant is standard equipment. In addition, the steering wheel is always adjustable in depth and the front seat in height, so that a comfortable sitting position is perfectly possible.

You sit in a standard Niro on seats wrapped in black fabric, with a view of a simple digital instrument panel and an 8-inch infotainment screen. From the Dynamicline, Kia has replaced both screens with larger ones with more functions, so you can also recognize the entry-level model by the size of the screens. The instrumentation of the basic version is more about an on-board computer with color display than a whole that can be fully configured to taste. The tachometer and speedometer are ‘just’ given a permanent place in the Comfortline. Striking: it is the only variant with a lever to operate the gearbox. In more luxuriously equipped Niros, this makes room for a rotary knob.

Modern traffic jams

The no-cost Niro’s 8-inch screen offers access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and can also play music via digital radio or a Bluetooth connection. Its operation is via the steering wheel or by touching the screen. If you take the somewhat old-fashioned-looking automatic lever to put the car in reverse, the screen will show the view behind the car. Indeed, a reversing camera is part of the standard equipment, along with rear parking sensors. The lighting around is always LED (including LED daytime running lights), but the front and rear indicators use incandescent bulbs in the cheapest version.

Before we get to the rest of the driver assistance systems, heated side mirrors complete the standard equipment (besides the expected things). Active safety and driving assistance systems include emergency brake assist, fatigue detection, high beam assist and active lane assist. The latter, in combination with the adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assistance, ensures that traffic jams with a basic Niro are not too unpleasant.

What’s missing?

Modern delights such as automatic air conditioning, traffic jam assistant and LED lighting are always present on the Kia Niro, so that you do not have to miss out on the comfort of a contemporary car – even with the slip-on. However, we can imagine that you would like a built-in navigation function, partial leather upholstery and keyless go (and entry), for example. For that you have to go a step higher for the Dynamicline (from €34,695). Things like seat heating, privacy glass and an electric tailgate only come into play with the Dynamicplusline. Larger wheels (18 inch) are always in the accessories guide, but are only standard on the top version. It is always quite complete, including rear seat heating, all kinds of accents and leather upholstery, but costs almost €10,000 more than the entry-level model.

We suspect that the basic version will win over quite a few buyers, because it can actually do everything you would expect from a modern car. A tan on top and for less than 33 grand you’re done. Or is there something you would really miss in an entry-level Niro? Let me know in the comments.