In detail: new Kia Niro

The Kia Niro has been the best-selling passenger car in the Netherlands for two years in a row. The new Niro, which was unveiled in November 2021, is therefore a particularly important model for the Dutch Kia importer. Especially thanks to its idiosyncratic design, there was enough to say about the car during the debut of the new Niro, but technical specifications kept the brand under wraps for a while. Now we’ve got our hands on more information about Kia’s potential new bestseller.

First of all, the sizes are now known. The new Kia Niro grows on all sides with its generation change and with a length of 4.42 is almost 7 centimeters longer than the Niro that you still find at dealers. The second generation Niro is also two centimeters wider and one centimeter higher than its predecessor. The wheelbase also increases, by two centimeters to 2.72 meters. The increased outer dimensions also have a favorable effect on the luggage space of the Niro. The Niro Hybrid swallows 451 liters, 15 liters more than the current model. It is not yet known what the Niro Plug-in Hybrid and electric e-Niro can handle. With a capacity of 324 liters, the luggage space of the current Niro Plug-in Hybrid is more than 100 liters smaller than that of its Hybrid brother. The e-Niro, on the other hand, swallows just as much in the back as the new Niro Hybrid.

New Kia Niro

Hybrid

The powertrain of the new Kia Niro Hybrid provides few surprises. That seems to be the same as the hardware that you find in the current Niro with hybrid powertrain. Kia is again talking about the presence of a hybrid powertrain with a combined power of 141 hp. The combustion engine is again a 105 hp and 144 Nm strong 1.6 GDi petrol engine. The electric power source produces 44 hp. Kia links the powertrain to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, as does the outgoing Niro Hybrid.

Interior Kia Niro

Interior and safety

Then the interior. The infotainment screen is 10.25 inches and the Niro will soon be available with mood lighting with 74 adjustable colors. Kia also mounts a 10-inch head-up display in the compact crossover. There is no shortage of active and passive safety systems in the new Niro. Kia not only mentions systems such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, but also mentions an intelligent automatic speed limitation, an autonomous parking function where you do not even have to be in the car and thanks to a collection of systems such as Smart Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist can also drive the Niro semi-autonomously on the highway (Highway Driving Assist).

The new Kia Niro will not only be marketed as a Hybrid, but like the current model, it will also be available as a Niro Plug-in Hybrid and as an electric e-Niro. Kia will release technical data for those engine versions later. The new Niro will come to the Netherlands in mid-2022. Prices will follow in the run-up to the market launch.

Read more about the new Kia Niro here.