Kia Niro (2022 - )

The Kia Niro first came along around six years ago, so it’s arguably not due a refurb for another couple of years.

But such is the fast pace of progress in the automotive industry that Kia has decided to press the button now to bring its new creation to the masses.

It arguably didn’t need to do it so quickly. Why? Because Kia is getting more popular and increased its sales by a fifth in 2021. That is incredible when you consider the world was grappling with the impact of the Covid pandemic, which saw most manufacturers suffer a downturn.

Of course, it also had the e-Niro, the all-electric version. That is now no longer a separately branded car and is being integrated into the standard Niro range.

Nevertheless, both standard and electric variants were well-received, backed up by Kia's unbeatable seven-year warranty.

As well as the all-electric Niro, the new cars continue to be available as self-charging and plug-in hybrids. In addition, all variants get a choice of three trims.

On the hybrids, the entry-level ‘2’ trim gets 16-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, cloth upholstery, and smart cruise control.

The ‘3’ trim gets 18-inch alloys, cloth and vegan leather upholstery, and lumbar support for the driver. It also packs in heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a wireless phone charger.

The ‘4’ grade adds a head-up display, power opening tailgate, ventilated front seats, and a relaxation passenger seat. You also get a tilt and slide sunroof, vegan leather upholstery and a Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The trims vary slightly for the all-electric version (notably, all grades get 17-inch wheels), but the other differences are subtle.
 

Models aren’t yet available, even for us to test drive, so we’ll have to make do with what we know so far.

You get a 64.8kWh battery in the all-electric version, producing 204PS.

The plug-in hybrid has a more modest 11.1kWh battery, and power is delivered by an electric motor connected to a 1.6-litre petrol engine, producing 182PS.

By comparison, the self-charging hybrid has a tiny 1.32kWh battery, with an electric motor coupled to the same 1.6-litre petrol, producing 141PS.

This means the power output for the hybrids is the same as the outgoing model. Meanwhile, the nought to 62mph time is 9.6-seconds for the plug-in (top speed 104mph), 10.4-seconds for the self-charging (top speed 102mph). However, performance figures for the electric version are yet to be released.

In the self-charging hybrid, the engine will switch on and off as and when required. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid is built for prolonged periods of all-electric driving (we don’t yet know how much, but the old one managed 36 miles, so we’re expecting something similar).

All models come with a regenerative braking system which allows for one-pedal driving. Therefore, you can simply lift off the accelerator and gently come to a stop, putting some charge back into the batteries as you do so. As in most cars with this feature, the strength of the regenerative braking can be adjusted, too.
 

The old Kia Niro took a middle ground between a comfortable cruiser and a keener handling SUV, so we expect the new car to have similar traits.

Like its predecessor, we won't anticipate it to be too nimble on twisty back roads, although decent and well-weighted steering was a strong point of the old Niro.

The upside should be a decent level of ride comfort and a car that can smooth out most lumps and bumps in the roads.

The car is longer than the outgoing model, too. So, we’ll be intrigued to see if that’s upset the handling. However, it doesn't feel like you're driving a lengthier vehicle from what we've been told.

In the plug-in hybrid, and especially the all-electric version, the low-set batteries will help the centre of gravity, which could aid the handling. Kia says the PHEV’s batteries weigh 111kg, while the figure is 443kg in the all-electric version.
 

The exterior looks have been overhauled, and although 2022’s Niro looks modern, whether it’s an improvement is probably open to debate.

A thinner horizontal line has replaced the old dumbbell-shaped front grille. Meanwhile, there’s a large cut-out on either side which houses the headlights. These lights sit lower than you might expect, aiding the car’s somewhat odd aesthetics.

The lower grille is more intrusive, providing an open-mouthed shape, also housing the number plate.

From the side, the new Niro looks more athletic than before, with a sizeable crease towards the bottom of the doors. At the same time, there’s a coloured panel towards the rear.

The back has the taillights running down each side, with a roof spoiler that has a sizeable overhang above the rear window.
 

The interior has had a significant overhaul. It now looks like it’s been carefully and deliberately designed around the dashboard, rather than looking like it’s been bolted in place.

It sweeps up from the passenger side, with the digital displays integrated into the shape, making it look more attractive. With versions that have the larger displays, both sit in the same unit, blending into each other seamlessly.

Kia will also fit the latest version of its infotainment software. The system is known for its user-friendliness, while the systems in most Kias are clear and responsive, although they're not class-leading.
 

Thanks to the longer length of the new Niro, there’s more room inside. This is most noticeable in the back, which has increased legroom, helped by the new front seats, which are thinner than before.

The Niro’s boot space is now 451-litres in the self-charging hybrid (the old Niro was 382-litres), 348 in the plug-in hybrid and 475-litres in the electric version.

This expands to 1,445, 1,342 and 1,392-litres, respectively, with the rear seats folded down.
 

The all-electric version boasts a 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This results in a claimed range of 286 miles - a tiny increase on its predecessor. Meanwhile, charging speeds of 85kW means a 10-80% top-up takes under three-quarters of an hour.

Fuel economy and emissions for the hybrids are yet to be confirmed. However, the outgoing plug-in achieved 201.8mpg (31g/km of CO2), while the self-charging hybrid managed 58.9mpg (110g/km of CO2). Therefore, it’s likely Kia will be expecting to beat these figures, even if it’s only by a fraction.

Suffice it to say, the plug-in hybrid and the all-electric versions will be the ones to go for if you’re a company car user. Why? Well, the savings in benefit in kind (BIK) make choosing anything else pointless.
 

Kia is one of the most dependable brands for reliability, so it’s ironic that you probably won’t need its market-leading guarantee.

Nevertheless, peace of mind is provided with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty and 12 months breakdown cover.

You will need to service the Niro every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
 

Hopefully, the new Kia Niro will be put through its paces by crash-test body Euro NCAP, as the last Niro to be tested was six years ago.

It only scored a four-star rating, but it was then re-tested with its Advanced Driving Assistance Pack. This additional tech was enough to get it up to five stars, with a 91% rating for adults, 80% for children and 81% for safety assists.

All trims get forward collision-avoidance assist, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and smart cruise control with stop and go. Emergency stop signalling, lane keep assist, and lane follow assist are also part of the package. Meanwhile, the mid-range ‘3’ trim adds front parking sensors. Finally, the flagship '4' grade adds remote smart parking assist and blind-spot detection with rear-cross traffic alert.
 

Overall, the latest Kia Niro looks to be a noticeable improvement on the last one, even if the performance figures are reasonably similar.

While the questionable looks remain, they’re at least modernised. Meanwhile, the new interior bears no resemblance to the old Niro and is a vast improvement.

While we can’t yet tell you what it’s like to drive, early indications are it will have a similar feel, but hopefully with more refinement than its predecessor. At the same time, the increased length should solve the old Niro’s problem of feeling a little cramped in the back.

However, there's no shortage of small crossover SUVs nowadays, and even other models in Kia's range will rival it.

If the all-electric version tempts you, just be aware that the top-of-the-range trim pushes it right into the price bracket of the excellent and arguably more desirable Kia EV6. Therefore, we'd recommend settling for a lower grade in the Niro or going for the sister car.

Deliveries start in the coming months – and we’re eager to drive it.

So far, this looks to be a big step forward from the old Niro.