Auto Express – August 20, 2019

34 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Richard Ingram

[email protected]

@rsp_ingram

NEWCARS KiaNiro

NEED

TO KNOW

Both Hybrid and

PHEVNiros have

been updated,

bringing them

in line with the

electric e-Niro

launched lastyear

THEKoreans,forwhateverreason,don’t
conformtotheindustry’sstandardised
seven-yearproductcycles.So,barelythree
yearsafterthelaunch oftheKiaNiro,we’re
inthedriver’sseatofitsmid-lifefacelift.
RevealedattheGenevaMotorShowin
thespring,theHybridandPlug-inmodels
getalltheusualupdates:afreshface,
tweakedbumpersandnewalloywheel
designs.There’ssomenewtriminside,
too,aswellasimprovedtech.
Whileitwouldbeastretch tosuggest
thatthisNiroisinstantlyrecognisableas
thefaceliftedcar,thestylingiscertainly
sharperthanbefore.ThenewLEDdaytime
runninglightsgivethecrossoverabetter-
definedsignature,whiletheupdatedrear
lightclustersofferasubtleimprovement
ontheoldcar’splainerdesign.Itschunky
bodycontinuestogiveittheedgeover
thepolarisingToyotaPrius,too.
It’sinsidewhereprospectivebuyers
willnoticethebiggestdifferencestothis
latestNiro.Theentry-level,2-trimmed
modelgetsaneight-inchdisplay,but3-spec
carsandabovehaveaslicknew10.25-inch
touchscreenwhichsitsneatlyinthemiddle
ofthedash.Withourcar’sfreshseven-inch
digitalinstrumentcluster,it’sthekindof
set-upyou’dexpectinatop-specBMW,
ratherthanasub-£30kKiacrossover.
Itallworksreallywell;thecentral
screenisclearandresponsivetothe
touch,andwithstandard-fitAndroidand
Appleconnectivity,it’seasytouseyour
smartphone’sfunctionsonthemove.The
wholeset-upfeelsbeautifullyintegrated,
althoughit’sashameyoucan’tgetthemap
(onlylimitednavdirectionshere)todisplay
withinthedials–asyoumightinanAudi.
Overall,interiorqualityfeelssolid,with
onlyafewcheapandscratchyplastics
withinreach.Thekitlistforourflagship
4-spectestcarincludeseverythingfrom
heatedandventilatedleatherseatsto
wirelessphonechargingandaneight-
speakerJBLstereo.Thethingsyoutouch
mostoftenarenicelyscrewedtogether
andvisibilityisdecent–helpedbythe
standard-fitreversingcamera.

Connected
AlsonewonthisrevisedNiroisKia’sUVO
ConnectServices.Mimickingmanypremium
manufacturers’takeon‘live’connected
services,theNirocannowprovidereal-time
informationonthingssuch asthetraffic
andweather.There’sadownloadable
smartphoneapp,too,allowingowners
tocheckthingsliketripinfo.
Thethreepowertrainchoices(Hybrid,
Plug-inandElectric)remain–although
thee-NiroEVversiononlywentonsale
latelastyear,sojusttheHEVandPHEV
modelshavebeentweakedfornow.
Kiahaslefteverythingundertheskin
alone,whichmeansthe(non-plug-in)
Hybridwe’redrivingherecarriesoverthe
1.6-litrepetrolengineandelectricmotor,
producing139bhpand265Nmoftorque.
TheNirostartsupinitsEcosettingby
default;thisworkswondersforitsfuel

Kia Niro

FIRSTDRIVE Hybrid SUV’sfacelift brings moretech and newdash

“This is notafastcar,yet it’ll soothe

its wayupto60mph with minimal fuss”

economy, buthamperstheperformance

somewhat.Thisisnotafastcar,yettake

thingseasyandit’llsootheandrelaxitsway

uptothenationalspeedlimitwithoutfuss.

It’shushedaroundtown,too,running

forshortdistancesonelectricpoweralone.

Butwhentheenginedoeskickinit’smore

intrusivethaninthelatestToyotaPrius,and

wepreferthatcar’sCVTgearbox,too.

Fewbuyerswillevercaretohustlethe

Nirodownabendybackroad,butthose

whodowillfindithandlesneatlyand

predictably.Again,theToyota’schassishas

theedge,buttheKia’ssteeringisdirectand

thebrakesprogressive;there’snoneofthe

violentregenerationfoundinthee-Niro.

Butarguablythebiggestreasonyoubuy

ahybridisforitslowemissionsandrunning

costs–andwhiletheNiroisamongthe

cleanestSUVsonsale,itcan’tcomecloseto

thepenny-pinchingPrius.Eventheflashiest

versionoftheToyotaemitsjust82g/kmof

CO 2 ,whichputsitoneBenefit-in-Kindtax

bandlowerthantheKiaintop-spectrim.