

Kia niro hybrid driver#
The AI algorithm will learn a driver’s on-road habits and adjust the SCC to best mimic how the driver actually drives and reacts. When equipped with the available smart cruise control (SCC), the Kia Niro also comes with machine-learning capability.

But although the fuel economy was superb, the performance attributes of the Niro Hybrid were lacking. What did we average? Oh, 52.85 combined mpg just like the feds guestimated. And with the distinct personality of two drivers, myself and my co-pilot. It’s all the same and fuel economy will still be fantastic, as was the case during my time with the Niro Hybrid.Īlong a nearly 100-mile journey through San Diego County in Southern California, the Niro Hybrid experienced its share of speed variations, elevation changes, traffic congestion, canyon carving, and wide-open throttle straights. You just get in and drive like you would anything else with a gasoline engine. They don’t require learning a new method of driving, pedaling, or fueling. Hybrids remain the gateway vehicle into the world of electrification.

Kia corporate estimates that two-thirds of buyers will opt for the hybrid, likely due a starting price of less than $30,000 and an EPA-estimated 53 combined miles per gallon, a best-in-class figure. Rather than trickle in the new powertrains like in years past, all three - hybrid, PHEV, and BEV - are new in the same model year. In which case, shop for a larger vehicle? I’ve Got The Power Not a big deal, though, unless your noggin is constantly scratching against the headliner. And none of it looks bad or weird! The headliner is a bit rough, resembling the feel of molded pulp used for shipping and packaging. Just goes to show that cars can be built using all kinds of trash, er, I mean, recycled and reusable goods.
Kia niro hybrid free#
No koalas were starved in the process, I’m sure.Īlso, the paint used on the door panels is free of BTX toxins and the headliner is made from recycled wallpaper. Okay, not exactly but the automaker did implement eucalyptus leaves into its vegan leather seats.

With the new Niro, Kia pushed its Team Earth goals further ahead by partnering with koalas. Sustainability is as much about carbon footprint as it is about emissions. Worth noting is that Kia is deftly serious about its Plan S future.
Kia niro hybrid for android#
But you do downgrade to a wired connection for Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Everything else gets the 10.3-inch touchscreen that also comes with navigation, satellite radio, a premium sound system, and Kia Connect remote services, including a shareable Digital Key. The 8.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard but only for entry-level LX models. By showcasing the screen this way, the cabin instantly feels upscale. The infotainment screen sizes carry over but their placement is now atop the center console rather than within it. The Niro interior has been cleaned up quite a bit, too. At this point, half of the vehicle is black contrasting paint so the $395 premium for some colors should be equally discounted. Enough with the random black splotches on perfectly nice paint jobs already. The lighter color combo is more appealing than the drastic and moody black trim offered on the hybrid and PHEV. Also, its Aero Blade can be optioned in silver to match the lower side moldings. And because of the smaller grille opening, the EV looks less grumpy. Yes, it does serve an aerodynamic purpose and, yes, the contrast coloring is optional.ĭistinguishing the Niro EV from its ICE-equipped brothers is a smoother, flatter minimalist front fascia. For the record, the D-pillar trim is referred to as the Aero Blade. They can be equipped with the same wheels and the same black-painted D-pillar. On looks alone, the hybrid and PHEV models look nearly identical. Character lines are distinctive, giving the small Niro a toned profile, like it’s been working out. Kia sharpened the exterior design, better defining the corner edges away from yesteryear’s bean-like curves. A little bug of a car when it debuted in 2017, the second-generation Niro is less bubbly and bulbous for 2023.
