A Comprehensive Guide to the Kia Niro

The Niro is Kia's award-winning flagship family crossover. The all-new Niro was launched in the summer of 2022 with a brand-new design and three electrified powertrain options. 

The Niro is one of the most popular cars in the Kia range, second only to the all-conquering Sportage. It is available as a hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a fully electric vehicle (EV). All three models provide high performance and reliability, while achieving excellent efficiency. 

We're going to explore each member of the Niro family, and you can decide which version of the eco-friendly crossover is best suited to you. 

How far can I drive in a Niro EV?

The Niro EV is the fully electric version of the Niro. It runs on a powerful 64.8 kWh lithium-ion battery and has a WLTP driving range of 285 miles. 

WLTP (World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) is a method of determining a 'real-world' electric driving range, dependent on a mixture of driving scenarios and weather conditions. 

The Niro EV can achieve up to a massive 375 miles of exclusively city driving. But if you throw in a mixture of motorway cruising and frosty mornings, the overall range will be closer to that 285-mile total.

How long does the Niro EV take to charge?

When it comes to charging, the Niro EV can be powered up in as little as 43 minutes using a 300kW rapid public charger. 

Getting the Niro EV fully charged at home with a wallbox will take longer - around six hours. The optimum time to charge an electric car is overnight when demand for electricity is at its lowest. This means it will cost you less to leave your Niro on charge for that longer period than during the day. 

Practicality and convenience

Perhaps the most useful feature of the Niro EV is its Vehicle to Load (V2L) function. This allows you to use the car as your own portable power source, from which you can use the EV battery to power other electrical devices. 

This comes in very handy if you ever need to plug in a vacuum when cleaning your Niro, or you can power-up electrical equipment when camping remotely. 

As Kia moves to a more sustainable model of manufacturing, the Niro EV is not only eco-minded thanks to its zero carbon emissions. The leather upholstery is entirely vegan too! 

How does a Plug-in Hybrid work?

The Niro PHEV (Plug-in Electric Vehicle) runs using both a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an 11.1 kWh battery. 

The two components work together to provide greater fuel efficiency than you would get in a regular petrol or diesel car, and massively lowers carbon emissions. The 18g/km of carbon emissions that the Niro PHEV produces mean you'll pay zero road tax for the first 12 months.

How often should I plug in a PHEV?

The batteries in PHEVs are much larger than those you would find in regular hybrid cars, so need to be plugged in to be charged. The charging time for the Niro PHEV is around 3 hours, which is standard for a plug-in hybrid. 

The Niro PHEV has an EV-mode feature, in which it can travel short distances (typically up to 40 miles) entirely dependent on the battery power. This makes it an excellent choice for city drivers who make short commutes. By regularly using the battery power alone, you can cut down on fuel costs and even bypass city centre congestion charges. 

Unlike an EV, if the battery runs out of charge, the PHEV will simply run off the petrol engine instead. 

Cutting-edge design

The Niro PHEV recently won a 2023 Red Dot Award for Product Design. The accolade was given to the Niro PHEV thanks to its innovative aesthetic that is guided by Kia's 'Opposites United' design ethos. 

Materials used in the production of the Niro PHEV includes the vegan leather upholstery that is derived from Eucalyptus trees, 75% recycled fibres in the rear cargo screen, and even recycled wallpaper!

How is a hybrid different from a plug-in hybrid?

The Niro HEV, or Hybrid Electric Vehicle, uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.32 kWh battery. 

This battery is much smaller than that found in the other two Niro models. It charges itself using regenerative braking, which is why HEVs are also known as Self-Charging Hybrids. 

You'll never need to worry about running out of charge at an inconvenient time. Just visit the filling station as usual and carry on your journey. 

Practical and safe

As with the other two Niro models, the HEV comes with a large collection of driver assistance features to keep you and your passengers as safe as possible. These include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist System, Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Go Functionality, and Highway Drive Assist. 

The Remote Smart Parking Assist feature even allows you to park your car without you even being in the driver's seat. Simply press a button on the Smart Key fob and the Niro will park itself, so you'll never need to worry about squeezing into a narrow parking spot again. 

Award-winner

Since the all-new Niro was released in 2022, it has received high praise from all corners of the motor industry for its design, practicality, and eco-friendliness. 

The Niro was named 'Best Crossover' at the 2023 UK Car of the Year Awards, and was shortlisted for the Overall UK Car of the Year. 

The Niro also took home a hat-trick of 2023 Carbuyer Car of the Year Awards. It was named 'Overall Car of the Year', 'Best Small Family Car', and 'Best Hybrid'.